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 27 – 29	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 Sep 3 – 5	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. Journal #3: First river observation (see handout or D2L).
3 The Scene and the Sense 10 – 12	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 17 – 19	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 24 – 26	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).
	Journal #8: choose any exercise from chapter 6.
6 Workshop Oct 1– 3	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 8 – 10	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 15 – 17	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 22 – 24	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 29 – 31	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 Nov 5 – 7	Conference on #3.
	Conference on #3 Journal 14: Third River Visit.
12 Visiting Writer 12 – 14	Visiting Writer #2 (Post to D2L in your group). Come with comments written down.
	Visiting Writer #2
13 Publish 19 – 21	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 Dec 3 – 5	Read Your Best Piece So Far
	Read Your Best Piece So Far
Exam	Final revisions and self-evaluation due at exam time.