Course Description
Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, students will begin researching, developing, and writing a customized narrative project with a focus on advanced techniques and craft elements on nonfiction.
Athena Title
Nonfiction Writing I
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
With the guidance of an assigned faculty mentor, students will learn how to research, develop and write a narrative nonfiction project from idea to completion. Students will understand the techniques and appropriate craft elements necessary for their projects, which may take the form of biography, personal essays, long-form magazine pieces or other forms of narrative nonfiction. Students will complete a first draft of a magazine project or essay by the end of the course, or a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline for a book-length project.
Topical Outline
I. Finding and developing ideas. II. Pitching magazine and book ideas. III. The history of journalism and New Journalism. IV. Basic reporting. V. Interviewing techniques and strategies. VI. Writing proposals.