ENC 3310 Spring 2018 Kimball

This course is for upper-level undergraduate students interested in writing nonfiction prose, specifically the personal essay. The class is designed to help students improve their nonfiction writing through discussions of their work, exercises to practice craft, and explorations of published essays for techniques— ie. learning to read as writers.

The best way to become a better writer is to read and write a lot. This course will require both attention and effort, and students should be prepared to devote significant time outside of class to working on their own writing and reading published nonfiction.

The core tenet of the course is this: any piece of student writing submitted for discussion could be better. If it’s your writing, keep that tenet fiercely in mind (desiring improvement more than praise). If it’s the writing of one of your peers, help that piece humanely move toward its most fully realized version. This course will make you a better writer—and a better reader—in a supportive, tough-love environment.

Students will complete an 8-10 page essay, a 4-5 page essay, writing exercises, journal exercises on published readings, a group presentation, and critiques of others’ works.