COMM319

Creative nonfiction is an evolving craft that uses the techniques found in fiction and poetry writing to tell true stories. Students will workshop pieces of varying lengths as we explore a variety of creative nonfiction's various subgenres: personal essay, lyric essay, travel/nature writing, memoir, narrative and scriptwriting (biography/profiles). The class will also be a study of prose, as we will review master works in personal essay, memoir and literary journalism. We will use as our guide works by a diverse array of literary experts and essayists. An emphasis will be placed upon maintaining ethics in this new approach to storytelling through a reliance upon fact and the completion of substantial research where necessary. Students will be expected to participate in a public reading at the end of the semester, which will be open to the entire Ramapo College community.