HomeMy WebLinkAboutENG-206
Bergen Community College
Division of Humanities
English Department
Course Syllabus
ENG 206 – Creative Writing Workshop – Creative Nonfiction
Semester and Year:
Meeting: Days/Times/Locations
Instructor Name
Office Location and Phone
Email Address
WebEx Link
Course Description
The course will focus on a study of contemporary Creative Nonfiction (CNF), and
students will gain an understanding of forms such as memoir, personal essay, topical
essay, travel narratives, and reviews. Students will produce a portfolio of original CNF
and will read and discuss each other’s work.
Credits: 3; Lecture 3
Prerequisite: ENG-101 Composition I
Corequisite: None
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, you will be able to:
1. Identify the special genre demands of creative nonfiction by reading and discussing
the work of published writers.
2. Use the elements of craft and style to write original creative nonfiction essays.
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3. Identify publication conventions and apply standards of professional manuscript
preparation for classroom submissions or submissions for publication.
4. Employ critical approaches and exercise aesthetic sensibilities through interaction
with others in the workshop process.
Means of Assessment:
You will be required to do the following:
1. Write and revise several works of creative nonfiction, such as personal and topical
essays, travel narratives, reviews, and short memoir. (SLO 1-3)
2. Practice poetic and narrative techniques through assigned exercises, which will be
reviewed during the semester by both the instructor and peers. (SLO 1-4)
3. Read, interpret, and analyze the craft of professional literary and student works. (SLO
1, 4)
4. Comprehend and apply various literary terms/techniques in discussion of professional
and student works. (SLO 1, 4)
5. Present various works in workshop and participate in the discussion of other students’
work. (SLO 1-4)
6. Participate in discussions and other class activities that support the development of
quality work. (SLO 1-2)
Grading Policy
Instructor’s specific grading policy must be included in the syllabus distributed to
students. Instructors must include an explicit statement on penalties for late or missed
assignments.
Attendance Policy
BCC Attendance Policy: “All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled
meeting of each course in which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies
and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each section of each
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course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.”
Instructor’s specific attendance policy must be included in the syllabus distributed to
students.
Course Texts and Other Required Materials
Specific required textbook(s) will be included in each instructor’s syllabus.
Example: Perl, Sondra and Mimi Schwartz. Writing True: The Art and Craft of Creative
Nonfiction. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.
BCC Statement on Academic integrity (2022-23 Catalog):
Bergen Community College is committed to academic integrity – the honest, fair, and
continuing pursuit of knowledge, free from fraud or deception.
Students are responsible for their own work. Faculty and academic support services staff
will take appropriate measures to discourage academic dishonesty.
The College recognizes the following general categories of violations of academic
integrity. Academic integrity is violated whenever a student does one or more of the
following:
1. Uses unauthorized assistance in any academic work.
● copies from another student’s exam
● uses notes, books, electronic devices or other aids of any kind during an
exam, when doing so is prohibited
● steals an exam or possesses a stolen copy of any exam
2. Gives unauthorized assistance to another student
● completes a graded academic activity or takes an exam for someone else
● gives answers to or shares answers with another student before or during
an exam or other graded academic activity
● shares answers during an exam by using a system of signals
3. Fabricates data in support of an academic assignment
● cites sources that do not exist
● cites sources that were not used
● submits any academic assignment which contains falsified or fabricated
data or results
4. Inappropriately or unethically uses technological means to gain academic
advantage
● inappropriately or unethically acquires material via the Internet or by any
other means
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● uses any devices (electronic or hidden) for communication or
unauthorized retrieval of information during an exam
Accessibility Statement
Bergen Community College is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students
in its programs. If you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability)
and, as a result, need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this class, complete
course requirements, or benefit from the College’s programs or services, contact the
Office of Special Services (OSS) as soon as possible at 201-612-5270
or www.bergen.edu/oss. To receive any academic accommodation, you must be
appropriately registered with OSS. The OSS works with students confidentially and does
not disclose any disability-related information without their permission. The OSS serves
as a clearinghouse on disability issues and works in partnership with faculty and all other
student service offices.
Support Services
Distance Learning Office Room C
334
201-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
English Language Resource
Center
Room E-
156
201-612-5292
http://www.bergen.edu/pages/2182.asp
Writing Center Room L
125
201-447- 7489
http://www.bergen.edu/pages/1795.asp
Office of Specialized
Services
Room L
116
201-612-5270
www.bergen.edu/oss
Sidney Silverman Library Room L-
226
201-447-7131
www.bergen.edu/library
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Sample 15-Week Course Syllabus
Week 1: Introduction
What is Creative Nonfiction?
Exercise 1
Week 2:
Memoir vs. Personal Essay
Readings: Article, Example
Exercise 2
Week 3: Understanding Voice
Readings: Article, Example
Exercise 3
Week 4: The Importance of Setting and Place
Readings: Article, Example
Exercise 4
Week 5 Framing the Essay
Readings: Article, Example
Exercise 5
Week 6 Memory and Truth
Readings: Article, Example
Write Personal Essay
Week 7 Workshop
Week 8 Topical Writing
Readings: Article, Example
Write Topical Essay
Week 9 Workshop
Week 10 Speculation: Writing the Future
Readings: Article, Example
Write Future Essay
Week 11 Reviews: Books, Movies, Restaurants
Readings: Article, Example
Exercise 6
Week 12 Travel Narratives
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Readings: Article, Example
Exercise 7
Week 13 Multimodal CNF
Individual Projects Due
Week 14 Workshop
Week 15 Moving Beyond the Page (and the class)
Portfolios Due