Introduction To Literary Journalism Course Syllabus Fall 202

Introduction To Literary Journalism Course Syllabus Fall 2015 1i

Introduce the course, its objectives, and structure. The course serves as an introduction to literary journalism, focusing on nonfiction prose that offers a richer, more detailed depiction of life events than daily news. It combines immersive reporting with fiction techniques, with roots tracing back historically and gaining prominence as “New Journalism” in the 1960s. The course aims to familiarize students with great examples of literary journalism and teach reporting and writing techniques. Emphasis is placed on close reading of texts and developing readership and writing skills through practice, with an understanding that reading and writing are central to a writer’s growth.

The curriculum involves reading assigned texts, analyzing style and craft, and producing original work, including two primary essays: an analytic article of 3-5 pages and a comprehensive profile of 8-10 pages. Students will submit drafts, revise based on feedback, and learn the importance of revision. Additional assignments include weekly critical reading responses, research logs, participation, and engagement in class discussions, with clear grading breakdowns. The course includes specific policies regarding attendance, academic honesty, and accommodations for disabilities.

Paper For Above instruction

Literary journalism fundamentally seeks to transcend conventional reporting by integrating narrative techniques, immersive storytelling, and detailed character development, making the non-fiction narrative engaging and thought-provoking (Sims & Kramer, 2006). This genre, solidified in the 1960s through pioneers like Tom Wolfe, Joan Didion, John McPhee, and Gay Talese, emphasizes depth over mere facts, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of social, cultural, or personal stories (Lounsberry, 2002).

The course outlined here endeavors to introduce students to exemplary works and technical skills necessary for crafting compelling literary journalism. It recognizes that mastery in this genre is achieved through close engagement with texts—analyzing stylistic choices, structural devices, and the strategic use of details to evoke mood, build suspense, and develop characters (Seitz, 2011). Students will also produce their own analytical essays and profiles with a focus on meticulous reporting, vivid scene construction, and effective storytelling techniques (McPhee, 1994).

Throughout the ten-week program, students will develop an understanding of how narrative craft influences reader perception and impacts storytelling goals. They will learn to observe rigorously, record observations accurately, and employ techniques such as scene construction, point of view, and stylistic variation to enhance their reports (Harrington, 2013). The program emphasizes the iterative process of drafting and revision, highlighting that good writing is shaped by careful editing and feedback incorporation (Graff & Birkenstein, 2014).

Participation, attendance, and active discussion form critical components of learning, reinforcing the importance of engagement and collaborative critique in developing critical reading and writing skills (Bakhtin, 1986). The final assignments—a detailed analytic essay and a comprehensive profile—are designed to synthesize technical proficiency and personal voice, culminating in well-reasoned, compelling journalism that reflects both craftsmanship and insight. The curriculum underscores that dedication, consistent practice, and persistent revision are vital to becoming proficient in literary journalism (Pressfield, 2002).

References

• Bakhtin, M. M. (1986). The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays. University of Texas Press.
• Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2014). They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Harrington, W. (2013). The Job of Remembering: Remembering and Forgetting in Literary Journalism. Columbia University Press.
• Lounsberry, B. (2002). The Writer's Voice in Literary Journalism. University of Michigan Press.
• McPhee, J. (1994). Encounters with the Archdruid. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Pressfield, S. (2002). The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. Black Irish Entertainment.
• Sims, N., & Kramer, M. (2006). Literary Journalism: A New Collection of the Best American Nonfiction. Ballantine Books.
• Seitz, M. (2011). The Art of Literary Journalism. Journalism & Communication Monographs, 13(3), 123–145.
• Walt Harrington. (2013). Prologue: The Job of Remembering. In Sims & Kramer (Eds.), Literary Journalism.
• Wolfe, T. (1973). The New Journalism. Harper's Magazine.