Reading and Writing Creative Nonfiction, English 208

Fall 2024
MW 12:30pm - 1:50pm
UH 118

Professor Suzanne Scanlon

Office UH 029
Email [email protected]
Office Hours: Weds 11am-12 in person, Fri 1-2 on Zoom, by appointment

“Creative nonfiction” is a recent term and broad category, full of different kinds of writing, attentive to
the self, and to the world - to journeys both outward and inward. In this class, we will read a range of
works, from memoir to literary journalism to letters, lists, and lyric essays. We’ll discuss how the root of
the word “essay” – from the French essayer, or to try – links to nonfiction. We’ll also talk about the
history of effort; though nonfiction writers may not always succeed in putting their entire mind on the
page, sometimes effort is more interesting than success. We’ll look at the essay as a space for wandering,
wondering, and recursivity. Focused on narrative methods and strategies, we’ll discuss how to borrow and
incorporate new techniques in our own writing.

What you will read:

Reading material for the course will be posted on the Canvas site and occasionally passed out in class.
The other essential text for the course is your writing and the writing of your classmates.

What you will write (all new material, written after Sept 25, 2024):
-Two short essay sketches, based on prompts of your choice - I won’t comment much on these
experiments, but I will note your effort and completion of each. We will share these in class.
-Two original complete essays (you will receive feedback from me and your peers)
Essay #1 / 2-3 pages will be discussed in small group and conference with me
Essay #2 / 3-6 pages will be discussed in workshop by the entire class
-A substantial revision of Essay 2 (in Final Portfolio)
-A creative response to one classmate’s essay (assigned midway through the term)
-Workshop responses for each student in the class

Workshop
When it is your turn for workshop you must turn your essay in the week before your workshop. When you
are reading the work of your peers for small or large group workshop, you are required to participate fully
in the conversation and to write a letter to the author of the piece (before we begin workshop, we’ll devise
a set of guidelines for these letters).

What you will be graded on:

60% your writing (three essay sketches; two essays; workshop notes for classmates, one creative
response; final portfolio). Your final in this course is a significant revision of Essay 2.
40% class participation: Your class participation grade will be based on your willingness to contribute to
discussions; the depth of your engagement with readings and with discussion topics; the degree to which
your comments reflect close reading and critical thinking and your ability to provide your peers with
constructive criticism. Class participation is an essential part of the course. If I don’t hear from you,
eventually I will call on you.

Attendance:
You are permitted to miss class twice. More than two absences will bring your grade for the course down
by a full letter; an A becomes a B (each additional absence an additional letter grade and so on).
Excessive absences (5) will result in a failing grade. If you need to miss class because of covid or illness,
please let me know.

Classroom policies:
You are expected to read classmates’ work with respect and patience, and to respond with a spirit of
helpfulness. Respect is very important. The workshops and your peer’s essays should be considered
confidential - do not discuss these outside of the class. I want us all to feel safe to take risks, fail, and be
vulnerable with each other.

Formatting:
Your assignments are to be: Typed. Double Spaced. 12 pt Times New Roman font. And they must be
submitted as Word docs or as PDFs. Essay 1 and 2 must be printed and stapled to turn in to your
instructor. You will need to make copies of Essay 2 for everyone in the class (18 total).

What is included in the final portfolio:

-your Creative Response
-A substantial revision of Essay #2
-A one-page revision reflection that explains how you approached your revision.

Classroom Conduct: I expect you to come prepared, ready to participate, and to engage with your peers
and with me in a manner that is respectful, open, and enthusiastic. A college education is, on some level, a
sort of professionalization. This expectation leads to some pretty basic rules of behavior: no texting, no
slacking off, no sleeping in class, no rudeness. Please know that you may be marked absent if you behave
inappropriately. In class, you may address me any way in which you feel comfortable. Please call me
Suzanne, or Professor, or Prof Scanlon, or any combination that works for you. I know some students are
reluctant to address professors by their first name, so Professor is fine. However, calling me Suzanne is
also fine. In e-mails, however, please note that my expectations are different (see below).

E-mail Conduct: Use proper e-mail etiquette. Use the following formal address in all e-mails: “Dear
Professor Scanlon,” and follow it with succinct messages. When in doubt, refer to the link. I usually
respond to e-mails during weekdays within 24 hours.
Northwestern Policies & Necessary Syllabus Inclusions:

Plagiarism: Students in this course are required to comply with the policies found in the booklet,
"Academic Integrity at Northwestern University: A Basic Guide". All papers submitted for credit in this
course must be submitted electronically unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Your written work
may be tested for plagiarized content. For details regarding academic integrity at Northwestern or to
download the guide, visit:
https://www.northwestern.edu/provost/policies-procedures/academic-integrity/index.html

You are prohibited from using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) to produce any materials or
content related to this course. Any use of GAI will be viewed as a potential academic integrity
violation. Any form of cheating, including improper use of content generated by artificial intelligence,
constitutes a violation of Northwestern’s academic integrity policy.

Community health remains our priority. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, do not
attend class and follow the steps outlined by the CDC for testing and isolation. Contact your instructor as
soon as possible to make plans to complete your coursework.

Students who experience other personal emergencies should contact the instructor as soon as possible to
arrange to complete coursework. Should public health recommendations prevent in-person class from
being held on a given day, the instructor or the university will notify students.

Prohibition of Recording Classes by Students

Unauthorized student recording of classroom or other academic activities (including advising
sessions or office hours) is prohibited. Unauthorized recording is unethical and may also be a
violation of University policy and state law. Students requesting the use of assistive technology as
an accommodation should contact AccessibleNU. Unauthorized use of classroom recordings –
including distributing or posting them – is also prohibited. Under the University’s Copyright Policy,
faculty own the copyright to instructional materials – including those resources created specifically
for the purposes of instruction, such as syllabi, lectures and lecture notes, and presentations.
Students cannot copy, reproduce, display, or distribute these materials. Students who engage in
unauthorized recording, unauthorized use of a recording, or unauthorized distribution of
instructional materials will be referred to the appropriate University office for follow-up.

Accessibility
Northwestern University is committed to providing the most accessible learning environment as possible
for students with disabilities. Should you anticipate or experience disability-related barriers in the
academic setting, please contact AccessibleNU to move forward with the university’s established
accommodation process (e: [email protected]; p: 847-467-5530). If you already have
established accommodations with AccessibleNU, please let me know as soon as possible, preferably
within the first two weeks of the term, so we can work together to implement your disability
accommodations. Disability information, including academic accommodations, is confidential under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Support for Wellness and Mental Health

Northwestern University is committed to supporting the wellness of our students. Student Affairs has
multiple resources to support student wellness and mental health. If you are feeling distressed or
overwhelmed, please reach out for help. Students can access confidential resources through the
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) and the Center for
Awareness, Response and Education (CARE). Additional information on all of the resources mentioned
above can be found here:
https://www.northwestern.edu/counseling/
https://www.northwestern.edu/religious-life/
https://www.northwestern.edu/care/
Schedule (Subject to change with notice)
–You are required to read all assigned reading even though, in class, we may not discuss every assigned
reading.

Week One
Weds Sept 25 Course Introduction & syllabus, Lopate’s Characteristics of the Form, In-class reading
and writing (Joe Brainard)
Assign Sketch 1 - A Kindness (Kushner) or a Delight (Gay)

Week Two Classic & Contemporary Texts

Mon Sept 30 Classic: James Baldwin: Autobiographical Notes, Notes of a Native Son
Contemporary: Rachel Kushner, In the Company of Truckers
Ross Gay, Book of Delights
Sketch 1 Due
Weds Oct 2 Classic: Virginia Woolf: The Death of a Moth, Street Haunting
Contemporary: Ocean Vuong, A Letter to My Mother She Will Never Read
Kiese Laymon, Dear Uncle Jimmy, We Will Never Ever Know I Love You (Optional)
Assign Sketch 2 - A Letter or a Close Look/Attention

Week Three Writing About Place and Home / Contemporary

Mon Oct 7 David Foster Wallace, Tennis, Trigonometry, and Tornadoes
Chris Dennis, We Were Hungry
Weds Oct 9 Akwake Emezi, Sometimes the Fire is Not Fire
Sandra Cisneros, Only Daugher and I Can Live Sola and I Love to Work
Sketch 2 Due
Assign Essay One: Home / Obsession / Open

Week Four Writing Into Silence, Stigma, and Taboo / Classic and Contemporary
Mon Oct 14 Classic: Maxine Hong Kingston, No Name Woman *tw mention of suicide
Classic: Joan Didion, In Bed
Contemporary: Jenny Zhang, How It Feels *tw mention of suicide/depression
Weds Oct 16 ESSAY ONE DUE 2-3 pages
Small Group Workshop Essay One

Week Five
Mon Oct 21 Individual Conferences ½ class
***Tues Oct 22, 5:30pm Galvin Recital Hall - Sandra Cisneros reading
Weds Oct 23 Individual Conferences ½ class

Week Six Writing About Art and Ideas: Lyric / Lists / Fragments / Collage
Mon Oct 28 Contemporary: 41 False Starts, Malcolm
Maggie Nelson, Bluets *tw lots of sex!
Classic: Sei Shonagon, Pillow Book
***ESSAY TWO 3-6 pages - Due for Weds Workshop (3 Students)
Weds Oct 30 _______________ _____________________ _____________________
***ESSAY TWO 3-6 pages - Due for Next Week’s Workshop (6 Students)

Week Seven
Mon Nov 4 Workshop _______________ _____________________ _____________________
Weds Nov 6 Workshop _______________ _____________________ _____________________
***Essay Two Due for Next Week (6 Students)

Week Eight
Mon Nov 11 Workshop _______________ _____________________ _____________________
Weds Nov 13 Workshop _______________ _____________________ _____________________
***Essay Two Due for Next Week (3 Students)

Week Nine
Mon Nov 18 Workshop _______________ _____________________ __________________
Weds Nov 20 Creative Responses Due for Class Presentation ½ class

Week Ten
Mon Nov 25 Creative Responses Due for Class Presentation ½ class
Weds Nov 27 Last Day / Optional Conferences TBD

***Dec 6 Final Due to Canvas by 5pm