Stories We Think We Know (Adv) ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This course will engage students in the exploration of women’s letter writing from the Colonial Period to the present day. Through reading and analyzing letters written in a myriad of formats from the Colonial Period to the present day, students will learn about women's letter writing as a form of personal (and at times public) representation of feelings, thoughts, and historical recordings. Additionally, the course builds upon and enhances students’ understanding of the craft of creative writing with a focus on creative nonfiction in the form of epistolary writing (the writing of letters). Using literary techniques inspired by the real life events and content of primary source letters, students will engage in research and refine their writing craft through creative non-fiction epistolary (letter) writing. Students will move beyond the tools of basic storytelling and character development to scene development, dramatization, dialogue, and description. During this course, we will cover the themes and topics of letter writing and its evolution; creative non-fiction; primary source analysis; research; and the concept of public versus private discourse. Note: Students should only take the introductory or advanced level of this course and not both.