WEEK 1

Wed., April 17 Introduction/Erroll Morris Films

FILMS: Gates of Heaven (85 min.)
Vernon, Florida (sneak preview)
The Thin Blue Line (101 min.)

READ: “The Art of Literary Journalism” (Sims, LJ, 3-19)
“Breakable Rules for Literary Journalists” (Kramer, LJ, 21-34)
“Preface” (Yagoda, AF, 13-16)
“Making Facts Dance” (Kerrane, AF,17-20)
“Typewriter Man” (Ian Frazier, handout)
“The American Man at Age Ten” (Orlean, LJ, 99- 109)
“Predilections” (Singer, LJ, 261-300)
“So . . . We Meet at Last, Mr. Bond” (Greene, AF, 212-17)
From “Portrait of Hemingway” (Ross, AF, 129- 38)
“It’s an Honor” (Breslin, AF, 466-68)
From Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (Agee, AF, 418-21)

WEEK 2

Mon., April 22 Beginning to Brainstorm/Examples of Literary Journalism (cont’d)

READ: “Comfort Care” (Amanda Cobes, PP)
“Memory” (Kidder, LJ, 371-84)
“Hometown Massage Parlors” (Gudgel, PP)
“Bridges” (Stocz, PP)
From The Pine Barrens (McPhee, 485-93)
“Los Angeles Notebook” (Didion, from Slouching Towards Bethlehem, AF, 480-84)
“House” (Kidder, AF, 199-203)

READ: “Affecting the Blood” (Rodriguez, PP)
“A Family Portrait in Black & White” (Harrington, LJ, 155-75)
“James Wilson Bosley and the CCC” (Bosley, PP)
“This Steer’s Life” (Pollan, handout)
“Recalling Firestone” (Dyer, handout)
“Settlers Pulling Up Stakes: The Midwestern Migration” (Schroeder, PP)
ASSIGNMENT: By the end of this session, you should have a firm idea about the subject for your essay

ASSIGNMENT: Bring the first page of your essay and an outline
with a plan for the architectonics of the piece DUE: First page of essay

READ: “Using Your Writer’s Market to Sell Your Writing” (Writer’s Market, 2-4)
“Getting Published: Before Your First Sale” (Writer’s Market, 5-14)
“Writing for Online Markets” (Writer’s Market, 42-50)
DUE: Hand in three of your magazine profiles, with work you intend to submit attached; you will be given assistance during class, but be sure you are using every opportunity to look at magazines in the library, area bookstores, and the Writing Center

Mon., April 29 Guest visit by Shannon Sexton, managing editor of Yoga International and Hiram alumna (sociology major, Minor in Writing)

ASSIGNMENT: Bring the first three pages of your essay (electronic format) and a list of research/interviews, etc. you need to complete
DUE: First three pages of essay

ASSIGNMENT: Bring the first three pages of your essay (electronic format) and a list of research/interviews, etc. you need to complete
DUE: First three pages of essay
Hand in your final three magazine profiles, with work you intend to submit attached

DUE:Bring four copies of your finished draft (10-15 pages)
READ: “Query Letter Clinic” (Writer’s Market, 19-27)
“E-query Etiquette” (Writer’s Market, 28-29)

READ: “Protecting Your Electronic Rights, Online, and Off” (Writer’s Market, 51-54)
“Minding the Details” (Writer’s Market, 57- 62)
DUE: Completed Essay
Completed Query/Cover letter

Mon., May 6 Revision Session

ASSIGNMENT: Reading and Critique of Essays

ASSIGNMENT: Reading and Critique of Essays

ASSIGNMENT: Continued revision, and completion, of essays in H214
DUE: Revision of Essay
Revision of Query/Cover Letter

2. Prepare a profile of three magazines/journals that seem complementary to the subject and style of the literary journalism essay you write for class. (5%)

3. Prepare a profile of three magazines/journals that seem complementary to the subject and style of work you’ve done in other genres (poetry, short fiction, academic essay, column, book review, personal essay, etc.). (5%)

3. Complete a 10-15 page magazine story, with accompanying query/cover letter. (Story: 30%; query/cover letter: 10%)

4. Revision of magazine story, and query/cover letter. (20%)

5. Participation grade—including class and workshop participation and assigned oral presentations and formal readings, reading quizzes, meeting of deadlines, and attendance (30%).

6. Any absences during the three-week term will severely affect your grade. Also, late arrivals to class will count as full or partial cuts. Be very, very careful about attendance and paper deadlines. No late work will be accepted, except in the most extreme circumstances.