Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Course Schedule:
The readings listed for a given date are to be read before that class. Please arrive
ready to discuss.
Week 1: Introductions
W, 1.21 Introductions to the course and each other
Discussion of Creative Nonfiction (based on reading of Brenda Miller,
Where to Begin)
Read and discuss Anthony Doerr, Miracle Day
Ostranenie Exercise
Homework: Brief history of yourself as a writer, your
intentions/goals in taking this course, any questions you have for me
(500-word minimum). Email to me by no later than Friday at
noon.
Week 2: Memoir: Memory & Reflection
M, 1.26 Craft: Katie Roiphe, This is How You Write a Memoir
Phillip Lopate, On the Necessity of Turning Oneself into a
Character (CCN, 69)
Essays:
Ryan Van Meter, First
W, 1.28 Craft:
Phillip Lopate, Reflection and Retrospection: A Pedagogic
Mystery Story
Essays: Kevin Brockmeier, Excerpt from A Few Moments of Radiant
Filmstrip
Meghan Daum, Music is My Bag (CCN, 145)
Homework: By no later than Thursday at noon, email me a
proposal for Essay 1 with the text in the body of the email.
Week 3: Memoir: Self & Family
M, 2.2

Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola Writing the Family (TIS, 17)
Essays: Tony Early, Somehow Form a Family (CCN, 17)
David Sedaris, Repeat After Me

W, 2.4 Craft:
Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola Taking Place: Writing the
Physical World (TIS, 25)
Barry Lopez, Landscape and Narrative (CCN, 271)
Essays: Edwidge Danticat, Westbury Court (CCN, 89)
Barry Lopez, Introduction [to Desert Notes]
Week 4: Memoir: Family & Place
M, 2.9
(TIS, 3)

Craft:

Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola The Body of Memory

Essays:
Phillip Lopate, Portrait of My Body
Due: Four copies of your Small Group Workshop essay.

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

W, 2.11 Essay 1: Small Group Workshops

Craft: Steven Pinker, The Source of Bad Writing
Due: Two copies of your response to each essayone for the author
and one for the professor.
F, 2.13 Shoptalk: Love Poems with Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Murphy House

Week 5: Memoir: Experience & Expertise

M, 2.16 Craft: Lia Purpura, Against Gunmetal
Essays: Li Thi Diem Thuy, The Gangster We Are All Looking For
(CCN, 35)
Rebecca McClanahan, Interstellar
Due: Essay 1.
W, 2.18 Craft:
Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola The Tradition of the
Personal Essay (TIS, 89)
Essays:
Rebecca Solnit, The Open Door
Annie Dillard, Seeing (CCN, 260)
Th, 2.19
Recital Hall

Reading with Visiting Writer Kevin Brockmeier, 7:30 Reves

Week 6: Looking Outward: The Personal Essay

M, 2.23 Craft:
Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Writing the Larger World
(TIS, 63)
Essays:
Leslie Jamison, In Defense of Saccharine
Maxine Hong Kingston, No Name Woman (CCN, 302)
W, 2.25 Craft:
Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Using Research to
Expand Your Perspective (TIS, 71)
Essays:
Eula Biss, Time and Distance Overcome
Brian Doyle, Joyas Volardoras
Due: Come prepared with a potential topic or two for research.
Week 7: Looking Outward: Place & Family
M, 3.2 Essays:
Terry Tempest-Williams, The Clan of One-Breasted
Women (CCN, 236)
Leslie Jamison, The Empathy Exams
Due: A proposal for Essay 2.
W, 3.4

Craft:
Binyavanga Wainaina, How to Write About Africa
Essays:
Eula Biss, Is This Kansas?

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Week 8: Looking Outward

M, 3.9

Craft:
Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Writing the Arts (TIS, 47)
Essays: John Updike, Fast Art (CCN, 185)

W, 3.11 Essays: Susan Orlean, Meet the Shaggs (CCN, 52)

Workshop:
1.
2.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).
Week 9: Looking Outward
M, 3.16 Essays:
David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster
Workshop:
3.
4.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).
Due: Copies of your Small Group Workshop essay.
W, 3.18
Essays:
Lia Purpura, The Lustres
Essay 2: Small Group Workshops
Due: Two copies of your response to each essayone for the author
and one for the professor.
Week 10: Form and Function
M, 3.23 NO CLASSSPRING BREAK
W, 3.25

NO CLASSSPRING BREAK

Week 11: Form and Function

M, 3.30 Craft:

Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Playing with Form (TIS,

107)
Essays:
Fakes
Workshop:
5.
6.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).
Due: Essay 2
W, 4.1 Craft/Essay: Brenda Miller A Braided Heart (TIS, 235)
Workshop:
7.
8.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Week 12: Form and Function

M, 4.6

Essay: Anthony Farrington, Kissing

Workshop:
9.
10.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).
Homework: By no later than noon on Wednesday, email your
proposal for Essay 3
W, 4.8 NO CLASSPROFESSOR ATTENDING A CONFERENCE
Week 13: Form and Function
M, 4.13 Essay: Maggie Nelson, Bluets
Lorrie Moore, How to Become a Writer
Workshop:
11.
12.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).
W, 4.15 Essay: Dinty W. Moore, Son of Mr. Green Jeans
Workshop:
13.
14.
Th, 4.16

Reading by Visiting Poet Carolyn Forche, 7:30 Reves Recital Hall

Week 14: Form and Function

M, 4.20 Essay: John McPhee, The Search for Marvin Gardens (CCN, 117)
Workshop:
15.
Due: Small Group Workshop Essays
W, 4.22 Small Group Workshops
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,
one for professor).
Th-Su, 4.23-426 Arkansas Literary Festival, www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org
Week 15: Mutual Appreciation Society
M, 4.27 Reading Practice
Due: A brief passage of one to two paragraphs that you will read
aloud to the class.
Revision Day (if possible, please bring a laptop)
Homework: Prepare to read an excerpt of one of your essays that
lasts NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

W, 4.29

Class Readings
Due: Essay 3
Letter of Reflection

Week 16: Finis

M, 5.4

NO CLASSPROFESSOR ATTENDING A CONFERENCE (Happy Finals!)