The Non-Traditional Essay
ENGL 156
Spring 2006
| Section:
01
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This course will focus on the reading and writing of non-fictional essays that incorporate techniques of fiction to produce an emerging bent and blended genre. In this genre, authors may make themselves into characters, present real events as short stories, shift the point of view to other characters, act as omniscient narrators, or cast doubt on their reliability as narrators. Sometimes they abandon traditional story form altogether. Through weekly writing assignments, students will try to apply the techniques they see in their readings to their own work. They will write outside the confines of traditional essay form, while still remaining aware of what the reader needs in order to remain engaged in the story. In exploring this form, we will discuss questions about the borders that are drawn between fiction, nonfiction, and sometimes poetry, as well as those between memoir, personal essay, literary journalism, and character study. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Writing, Writing |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Our readings, mostly short non-fiction as well as some critical essays, will include works by: Phillip Lopate, Lee Gutkind, Joan Didion, Jo Ann Beard, Terry Tempest Williams, John McPhee, Toure, Tom Wolfe, Ian Frazier, Hilton Als, Judith Har-Even, Richard Rodriguez, Ntozake Shanga, John D'Agata, Le Thi Diem Thuy, Andre Dubus Sr., and John Edgar Wideman, among others. We will regularly read traditionally constructed essays to provide background and contrast.
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
While there are no prerequisites, students who have experience reading and writing the traditional essay will especially benefit from this course. If you want the course but are unable to get in, please put your name on the enrollment request list. Submitting writing samples or writing me to express your interest is not necessary. |
| Instructor(s): Bobrick,Elizabeth A. Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: DWNY100; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 16 | | SR major: 2 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: -2 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 2 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 11 | 1st Ranked: 4 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 6 |
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