SCHEDULE                            (HOME)

ENGL 399-001: Creative Nonfiction   Fall 2008  George Mason University

All of the information below is subject to change. Reading response assignments will be added as we approach them.

WEEK 1 

Tuesday, August 26

Introduction to course, course books, writing assignments, schedules, and so on

Thursday, August 28

Reading: Stuart Dybek, "Pet Milk" (bring printed copy to class)
In-class discussion: Stuart Dybek, "Pet Milk"

WEEK 2

Tuesday, September 2  NO CLASS MEETING

Thursday, September 4

Reading: Junot Diaz, “Fiesta 1980,” and Stephanie Vaughn, “Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog"
Writing due: Reading response #1: What about these stories seems "nonfictiony" to you? If you weren't told whether they were fiction or nonfiction, why would you believe they might be nonfiction? How does a writer construct a sense of reality?

WEEK 3 Tuesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 11

Three pieces from The Washington Post Magazine, Summer Reading Issue 2008: "Real Life," by Julia Glass; "My Explosion," by Jonathan Safran Foer; "Splendid Isolation," by Cheryl Strayed
Writing due: Reading response #2: Write a response (2 full pages, double-spaced, normal fonts and margins) discussing one aspect of one or more of the stories that can teach you something as a writer. What technique, or element of style, or general skill, most caught your eye? In your response, be sure you show me parts of the story that illustrate your point.

WEEK 4  Tuesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 18

Reading: From David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim: "The Ship Shape," "Full House," "The Change in Me," "The Girl Next Door," and "Repeat After Me"
Writing due: Reading response #3: Considering Sedaris and/or any of the other writers we've read, discuss one way that you see a writer creating forward momentum, or "traction" in his/her work. What keeps you moving to the next sentence, next paragraph, next page? Two pages, double-spaced, lots of quotes from the writer you're discussing.

WEEK 5 Tuesday, September 23

Reading: Selections from Christina Thompson, Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story

Thursday, September 25 (NO CLASS MEETING: exchange for Fall for the Book event)

7:30, Dewberry Hall (reception at 6:30): Christina Thompson, Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story

WEEK 6

Tuesday, September 30

Writing due: A chunk (3 full pages from beginning, middle, or end) of nonfiction short story #1
In-class: Workshop meetings

Thursday, October 2

Reading: From David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim: "Rooster at the Hitchin' Post" and "Baby Einstein"
DUE: One-page report on Fall for the Book event
In-class discussion: Fall for the Book events
In-class discussion (if time allows): Sven Birkerts, The Art of Time in Memoir: Then, Again

WEEK 7

Tuesday, October 7

Writing due: Full draft of nonfiction story #1 (2,000+ words) and four additional copies
In class: Preparation for Thursday workshop meetings

Thursday, October 9

In-class workshop: Nonfiction story #1

WEEK 8  Thursday, October 16 (and Tuesday, October 21) No class meeting: Conferences

Due at conference: One-page "workshop response" as follow-up to Monday's group meetings

WEEK 9 Thursday, October 23

Reading: Courtney Brkic, The Stone Fields: Love and Death in the Balkans (first half)

WEEK 10 

Tuesday, October 28

Writing due: A chunk (3 full pages) of nonfiction short story #2
In class: Workshop meetings

Thursday, October 30

Reading: Courtney Brkic, The Stone Fields: Love and Death in the Balkans (second half)
Reading: pp. 1-91, Tobias Wolff, This Boy's Life
Writing due: Reading Response #4

WEEK 11

Tuesday, November 4

Reading: pp. 91-233, Tobias Wolff, This Boy's Life
In class: Discussion of This Boy's Life

Thursday, November 6

Reading: pp. 237-end, Tobias Wolff, This Boy's Life
Writing due: Reading Response #5: Ask your own question, provide your own answer. (The question and answer must deal with Tobias Wolff's writing.)

WEEK 12

Tuesday, November 11

Writing due: Full draft of nonfiction short story #2 and four additional copies

Thursday, November 13

Workshop: Nonfiction short story #2
Before workshop: Sign up for second conference

WEEKS 13 and 14 Tuesday, November 18, Thursday, November 20, and Tuesday November 25 NO CLASS MEETINGS: CONFERENCES

Writing due at conference: One-page "workshop response" as follow-up to Thursday's group meetings
Optional writing due at conference: Last chance to hand in optional revision of nonfiction short story #1 for my close editing

WEEK 15 Tuesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 4

Writing: Reading Response: Playing favorites -- Who was your favorite writer this semester, and why?
Final thoughts, course evaluations, etc.

Tuesday, December 16  Noon

DUE: Final versions of nonfiction short stories #1 and #2