ENG 401B: Advanced Nonfiction

This English course satisfies Silver Core Objective 13: Integration & Synthesis

Students will be able to integrate and synthesize Core knowledge, enabling them to analyze open-ended problems or complex issues. Many Core Capstones also satisfy other Core Objectives, but at a minimum a Core Capstone must integrate one of the Core Objectives 9, 10, 11, or 12. In addition, the Core Capstone must integrate CO1 and either CO2 or CO3. This course integrates COs 1 (Effective Composition and Communication), 3 (Critical Analysis and Use of Information), and 12 (Ethics).

General Course Overview

Writing of nonfiction modes from the classical essay to contemporary imaginative prose.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course:

1. Students will be able to assemble a polished writing portfolio targeted to specific professional writing goals, using effective drafting, revision, and editing strategies in several nonfiction genres.
2. Students will be able to revise effectively for style, using readers’ feedback,  with attention to such qualities as clarity, concision, coherence, and variety.
3. Students will be able to conduct rhetorical inquiry into professional and academic contexts and purposes for advanced nonfiction writing.
4. Students will be able to critically discuss key genres and documents of creative nonfiction and professional writing—such as narrative journalism, memoir, proposal, and investigative report.
5. Students will be able to conduct appropriate research for assigned topics and effectively incorporate research results into their creative and professional writing.
6. Students will be able to provide constructive responses to the manuscripts of other writers.
7. Students will be able to list, use, and evaluate resources that assist with developing and revising nonfiction writing for various settings and publication venues.
8. Students will be able to produce oral and written reflections on ethical issues in creative nonfiction and professional writing.

This section of Advanced Nonfiction puts nonfiction writing to work. The course will focus on two broad emphases:

•  Nonfiction acting on the community
•  Affordable/housing/homelessness

These emphases have been chosen for a number of reasons. A primary reason is that this is a CO13 that requires integrating and synthesizing Core and major learning, which must be active learning. Second, taking your academic preparation into the world outside of campus is important and useful. There are so many different ways to engage with this topic that almost any interest or perspective can find a way to connect. A lot of other folks have done good work and proposed smart ideas in this area, so you won’t have to start from scratch. Rather than adding another set of academic exercises to an already extensive list, you can actually make a positive impact on the world around you. However, always keep in mind that:

•  We can only do what our context allows.
•  We can’t solve these problems, but we can have input and/or an impact.
•  We will invest in developing responses to facets of these issues, not solving these problems in their entireties.
•  We will understand and keep in mind the wise differentiation between offering our support and requiring outcomes in order to deem our work successful.
•  Compassion and reason for/with ourselves and others are priorities.