ENC 3310 Summer 2023 Orchard

Lee Gutkind writes, “Storytelling . . . is as old as the beginning of mankind. People want to receive what's out there in the form of stories, not just facts, opinion, analysis.” This section of ENC 3310: Article and Essay Technique approaches nonfiction as a method of inquiry that spans over thousands of years— across time, space and geography. This historical approach allows us to more closely examine how we assay (“attempt to understand”) personal experiences, as well as what they say about the world beyond ourselves.

Throughout the course, undergraduate students learn the craft of composing nonfiction prose in a variety of modes (e.g. writing character, setting, sensory detail, narrative, point of view). Readings and writing assignments include “traditional” forms such as memoir, personal essay, flash nonfiction, lyric essays, and literary journalism. However, we also immerse ourselves in multimodal and hybrid storytelling, such as: performance nonfiction, narrative-driven comedy specials, podcasts, and photo essays.