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312 Schedule

(tentative and subject to change -- if it does, I will let you know in class but please check this webpage for updates. First row of week is Tuesday, second is Thursday)

1
Creative Non-fiction
Aug 22 – 24

Greetings and logistics. What is creative nonfiction? Fact or fiction.

Read "Why I Write" by Terry Tempest Williams, George Orwell, and Joan Didion (see links).  Read the intro to WLS (3-9).
Journal entry #1: Why do you write? Somewhere in the piece (perhaps beginning, perhaps end), please also finish this comparison: "Writing is like _______." Or writing is ________.

2
Memoir
29 – 31

Chapter 1 in WLS. Also, from Dillard on snowball throwing. Chapter 2 in WLS. Let's see your map (we'll do exercise one in class). Timeline (in class). Idea notebooks. Wolf, “On Being a Real Westerner.”
Journal #2:
Where will you write (exercise 1.1), when will you (1.4), and famous first lines (1.5--write down three in this entry). 

First New River observation. Van Noy out so do on your own. 
Journal #3
: First river observation (see handout or D2L).

3
The Scene and the Sense
Sep 5 –7

Chapter 3 in WLS and Appendix A, “Into Woods.” Ephron, "A Few Words about Breasts.” Sanders, "Under the Influence.
Journal #4
: Your map story (exercise 2. 2). Also, do your "generic disclaimer" (2.3 to share in class). 

Use Lopate’s “Introduction” to The Art of the Personal Essay to evaluate “Delivering Lilly” (both in link).

4
River
12  14

Chapter 4 in WLS.  Lopate, “On Shaving a Beard.” Roorbach, “On Apprenticeship” (WLS, Appendix C).
Journal #5: Crack a scene open (exercises 3.2, 3.4).

Chapter 5 in WLS. Gay, “Bad Feminist.”  Also, “Who Gets to Be Angry.” Also, “Hills Like White Elephants” (for dialogue).
Journal #6: "On . . . " (exercise 4.4).

5
Essay
19  21

Sedaris, “Letting Go.” Getting started on Paper #1.  Chapter 6 in WLS. Lopate, "Against Joi de Vivre"; Poland, "Going Native.” Paper 1 start.
Journal #7
: Your people, talking (5.11).

Class meets in the LIBRARY for Jim Minick reading.
Journal #8
: choose any exercise from chapter 6.

6
Workshop
26 – 28

Visiting Writer (post your draft by 5:00 Monday). You must post a good draft to participate fully in this peer review. Read the papers in your group and prepare to respond in class. Comments must be written down in advance.

Visiting Writer/Peer Review

7
Research
Oct 3 – 5

Chapter 7 in WLS. Edge, "I'm Not Leaving Until I Eat this Thing"; Hall, "The Edison Cafe"; Cable,"The Last Stop”. Wallace, "Consider the Lobster.” See also, his graduation speech, made into a video, “This is Water.”
Journal #9. Write R (research), O (observation) or I (interview) in the margins of the paragraphs of the Cable piece (the one about the funeral home).  Or on a numbered sheet of paper.

Chapter 8 in WLS. Roorbach, “Shitdiggers, Mudflats, and the Worm Men of Maine.” Field Research Getting started on the second essay, Paper #2.  
Journal #10:
exercise 8.3 or 8.4

8
Profile

10 – 12

Conferences on #2 / Revision of #1.

Conferences on #2 / Revision of #1.
Journal #11: your topic and questions on Paper #2 (bring to conference).

9
Braided
17 – 19

Chapters 9 and 10 in WLS. Bliss, “Relations.” “Kong,” Dighera.
Due: Revised Paper #1 with Writer’s Memo.

Miller, “A Braided Heart,” Keckler, “The Olive Jar” (Appendix B in WLS). Short quiz. Strayed, “The Love of My Life
Journal #12: Second River Visit. 

10

 24 – 26

Trillin, “Alice,” McPhee, “The Search for Marvin Gardens

Listen to a podcast day. Tell us the story and structure in class or write it down and email Friday.  The Moth, Snap Judgement, StoryCorp (or choose another). Some Paper 3 samples: Sample 1, Sample 2, Sample 3

Journal 13: Listen to a Podcast. Tell the story in class (or Zoom) or through email if you didn’t say in person.

11
River
31   Nov 2

Conference on #3.

Conference on #3

Journal 14: Third River Visit.

12
Visiting Writer
7 – 9

Visiting Writer #2 (Post to D2L in your group). Come with comments written down. 

Visiting Writer #2

13
Publish
14 – 16

Kingsolver, “Knowing our Place”; Berry, Wendell, “Mad Farmer Liberation Front,” Shah, “Even If You Can’t See It: Invisible Disability and Neurodiversity.”

Chapter 11 in WLS. Washuta, “I am Not Pocahontas.”
Journal 15: exercise six/eight (and preferably nine) from Chapter 11.
Salon piece on "Afraid of Publishing.”
Fourth Genre; Crab Orchard Review; Now and Then; Appalachian Review; The Truth About the Fact; Missouri;  Ecotone  River Teeth (these links are possibilities—they may not all work—find your own too).

Break
21 – 23

Thanksgiving

14
Read
28 – 30

Read Your Best Piece So Far

Read Your Best Piece So Far

Exam

Final revisions and self-evaluation due at exam time.