The Art of the Personal Essay
ENGL 259Z
Summer 2026
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
WRCT 228Z |
We all have stories to tell. But there is hard work in the act of transforming our intimate experiences into meaningful and captivating stories. This course dives into this labor by focusing on the craft of essay writing. Quite specifically, students will practice a variety of creative nonfiction writing techniques as a means of critically reflecting and analyzing personal experiences in order to produce essays that speak to readers in and outside of our immediate communities and contexts. Course assignments will include a writer's journal, workshop letters to classmates, two micro/flash essays, a longer essay whose subject and style is decided by the writer, and a reflective collage essay. Readings will include essays published notable essayists and memoirists such as (but not limited to) Kiese Laymon, Jose Antonio Vargas, Zadie Smith, and Gloria Anzaldúa. We will also read chapters from Mary Karr's book on writing craft, The Art of Memoir. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 - Summer Session I |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
:
Mary Karr, THE ART OF MEMOIR
Gina Barreca, FAST FALLEN WOMEN: 75 ESSAYS OF FLASH NONFICTION
Various essays from: Gloria Anzaldúa, Zadie Smith, Kiese Laymon, Gerald Callahan, Jose Antonio Vargas, etc.
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Examinations and Assignments:
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Two drafts due every week
Peer review
Final Portfolio: (2) flash essays, (1) 1500-word essay, and (1) 250-word reflection |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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| Instructor(s): Wallis,Sophie Times: .MTWRF. 01:30PM-03:10PM; Location: ONLINE; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 13 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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