"ve worked hard at putting together a nice set of readings to help ground you in Creative Non-Fiction and the variety of what is found within. Now I'd like you to spend some time perusing some of the places online where you can find more Creative Non-Fiction stories.
I've provided you with links that will provide you with lots of stories to choose from. Have a look at them, pick a story, read it and respond to it. At the end of this post you will find that I have included a generic response form that I would like you to complete.
I look forward to seeing what wonderful stories you will find and why you picked them.
Susan Orlean's article archive
The Santa Fe Writer's Project Archives (I suggest you look at the literary awards program stories)
2009 SFWP Literary Awards Program Stories
2007 SFWP Literary Awards Program Stories
Next, print your story. (Please note: If the story you choose is short, please pick a second one to go with it and do the activity twice.)
Now, please do the following:
Read the story and -
* Highlight the parts the you find interesting;
* Annotate in the margins -
- What questions do you have (for the author, about the topic, etc.)
- Have a conversation with the writer
* Make connections between you and what you read. What does this make you think about? How might you have reacted? Have you ever had something similar happen to you? And so on...
* What is your reaction?
Finally, complete "Creative Non-Fiction Article Review and Analysis" (below)
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The Worksheet
Title: Author:
Type: (circle one or two that seem to fit )
personal essay (any subject)
memoir (memories of a life)
literary journalism (using fictional elements to tell a news story)
narrative history (retelling an event in history)
travel journalism
nature/science essay
Reason for Choice: Why did you pick this essay?
Real life: What real life event is this essay about?
Create a summary of what the text is about. (What is going on? What is the story this writer tells?)
Sense of place/setting: What does the setting look like?
Feel like? Where is it? When is it?
Point of view: Who is telling the story?
Why did the author choose him/her?
What can he/she see or know that others might not or don't know?
Voice: Choose three of the following adjectives to describe the narrative voice in your essay
serious | casual/informal | instructive | sincere |sarcastic | cocky | reflective | young | old | indignant | optimistic | pessimistic | honest | _________________________________ your own adjective
Explain why you chose those adjectives using reasoning and quote specific examples from the text:
*
*
*
Character: Who is the dominant character or person in this essay?
What do you know about him/her? Appearance? Personality?
What is it that he/she wants/needs/cares about, etc.?
Language
What is the tone (emotional quality) of this essay? Use an emotion word for your answer.
How effectively does the author use any of the following:
Dialogue
figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, etc.)
imagery. Choose one of these and give an example and say something about how it helps you understand the story.
Purpose/Theme/Impression: What does this essay reveal about life? Is it about human relationships? Is it about
right and wrong? Is it about what is important? Be specific.
Style/ Quality:
In terms of the author's style and the major theme(s), what do you think are particularly significant passages (generally, 20 to 50 words each)?
What specific qualities of the text warrant its characterization as a work of literary nonfiction?
What are the distinguishing characteristics of the work?
What sort of reader does the writer seem to be targeting--and what sort of reader might gain the most enjoyment out of the work?
What is your overall evaluation of the reading
Do you think I should consider the piece you read as one of our required readings? Explain your answer with specific and clear reasoning. (Please be sure to note if there are any mature theme, curse words, etc. in the piece.)
This worksheet has been an adaptation of the works of:
© 2008, Dawn Hogue ▪ Permission granted for classroom use only. Reprinting without permission not permitted.
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Here are some that some people found interesting:
"The Unwedding" Elizabeth Chase
"Dogs in Guatamala" by Patricia King
"Where Luck Lies" by Mary Larkin
"Animal Action" by Susan Orlean
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