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Course Offerings

Course Details

Fall 2009-2010
JRN 440 (LA)   na, npdf

The Literature of Fact - Narrative Writing

Evan W. Thomas

ENROLLMENT BY APPLICATION OR INTERVIEW. DEPARTMENTAL PERMISSION REQUIRED.

This is a course in the art of telling true stories. We will examine all the essential aspects of successful narrative writing: timing and pacing, character development, the sharpening of conflict and plot, the art of interviewing and reporting - how to write stories that move and are human. There will be individual conferences every other week to go over written work as well as guest speakers and a class trip to Newsweek headquarters in New York.

Sample reading list:
Walter Lord, A Night to Remember
William Manchester, The Last Lion, volume II
Jonathan Harr, A Civil Action
Gay Talese, "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" from The New Yorker
Janet Malcolm, "The Journalist and the Murderer" from The New Yorker
Evan Thomas and Newsweek staff, Decision 2004

Reading/Writing assignment:
Approximately 6-8 hours a week of reading, researching and writing. Three short pieces and one longer narrative one.

Requirements/Grading:
Papers - 70%
Precept Participation - 30%

Other Requirements:
Not Open to Freshmen.

Prerequisites and Restrictions:
Applications at http://humanities.princeton.edu..

Other information:
Evan Thomas is Editor-at-Large of Newsweek and the author of six books. He has written over 100 cover stories on national and international news and is the recipient of a National Magazine Award.

Website:  http://humanities.princeton.edu

Schedule/Classroom assignment:

Class numberSectionTimeDaysRoomEnrollmentStatus
24534 S01 1:30 pm - 4:20 pm T   Henry House 16   Enrolled:18 Limit:18 Closed