SCHEDULE                            (HOME)

ENGL 399-001: Creative Nonfiction   Spring Semester, 2006  George Mason University
Mondays, 4:30-7:10   Robinson B224

All of the information below is subject to change 

WEEK 1 Monday, January 23

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

WEEK 2 Monday, January 30

Reading: Junot Diaz, “Fiesta 1980,” and Stephanie Vaughn, “Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog,” from the Scribner Anthology
Writing: Reading Response #1

WEEK 3 Monday, February 6

Reading: Charles Baxter, “Gryphon,” and Reginald McKnight, “The Kind of Light That Shines On Texas,” from the Scribner Anthology
Writing: Reading Response #2; AND “Truth and Lies” exercise, with two true and one made-up experience from your life (several sentences each)

WEEK 4 Monday, February 13

Reading: Stuart Dybek, “Pet Milk,” and Thom Jones, “Cold Snap,” from the Scribner Anthology
Writing: Reading Response #3

WEEK 5 Monday, February 20

Reading: From David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim: "The Ship Shape," "Full House," "The Change in Me," "The Girl Next Door," "Repeat After Me"
Writing: Reading Response #4
Writing: A “chunk” (2-3 pages) of your Nonfiction Short Story

NOTE: EMAIL FULL DRAFT OF YOUR NONFICTION SHORT STORY TO GROUP MEMBERS BY FRIDAY, FEB. 24.

WEEK 6 Monday, February 27

Reading: From David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim: "Rooster at the Hitchin' Post" and "Baby Einstein"
Workshop: Draft of nonfiction short story

WEEK 7 Monday, March 6  No class meeting this week: Conferences

WEEK 8  Monday, March 13 NO CLASS (Spring Break)

WEEK 9 Monday, March 20

Reading: Joseph Mitchell, “This Old House at Home,” from Up in the Old Hotel; and Tom Wolfe, “Las Vegas (What?) Las Vegas (Can’t hear you! Too noisy) Las Vegas!!!!” from The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby
Writing: Next draft of Nonfiction Short Story

WEEK 10 Monday, March 27

Reading: “Talk of the Town” pieces, The New Yorker: Mark Singer, "Melnikoff's" p. 299; William McKibben, "Bojangles'," p. 302; Ian Frazier, "Monster Trucks and Mud Bog," p. 326; Garrison Keillor, "Flowering," p. 371; Susan Orlean, "Scouting," p. 384.
Writing: Reading Response #5; AND second round of “Truth and Lies.”
Writing: Idea for topic of second nonfiction piece

WEEK 11 Monday, April 3

Reading: Joseph Mitchell, “Hit on the Head with a Cow,” “Professor Sea Gull” and “A Spism and a Spasm,” from Up in the Old Hotel
Writing: Reading Response #6 

WEEK 12 Monday, April 10

Reading: Tom Wolfe, “The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby,” “Clean Fun at Riverhead,” and “The Last American Hero,” from The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby
Writing: Reading Response #7; and a “chunk” (2-3 pages) of your second long nonfiction piece


NOTE: EMAIL DRAFT OF YOUR SECOND LONG NONFICTION PIECE TO GROUP MEMBERS BY FRIDAY, APRIL 14

WEEK 13 Monday, April 17

Workshop: Second long nonfiction piece

WEEK 14 Monday, April 24 CONFERENCES

WEEK 15 Monday, May 1

Final thoughts, last round of "Truth and Lies," course evaluations, etc.

MONDAY, MAY 15  4:30 p.m.

Portfolio due: All drafts, all returned Reading Responses, final versions of Nonfiction Short Story and Place and People piece