Skip to main content

Update on Remote Instruction Effective March 15, 2023: Changes to vaccination policy. Learn more.

Close
The following fields are required:
Error has occurred. Please reload this page and try the operation again.
  • Agents
  • Student Login
  • Instructor Login
Extension
      • Areas of Study
        • Art and Design
        • Behavioral Health Sciences
        • Business
          • Accounting
          • Business Administration
          • Economics
          • Finance
          • Leadership and Management
          • Marketing
          • Mathematics and Statistics
          • Project Management
          • See the full list
        • Construction and Sustainability
        • Education
        • Humanities and Languages
        • Sciences, Mathematics
          and Biotechnology
          • Biology
          • Chemistry and Physics
          • Clinical Laboratory Science
          • Health Advising
          • Life Science Business and Biotechnology
          • Mathematics and Statistics
          • Online Sciences Courses
          • See the full list
        • Technology and
          Information Management
        • Writing, Editing and
          Technical Communication
      • Transfer Credit
        • Transfer Credit Courses
      • Online Learning
        • Online Courses and Certificates
      • Events
        • Information Sessions
      • Career Services
        • Career-Development Courses
        • Professional Internship Program
      • Custom Programs
        • For Universities and Organizations
      • Academic Services
        • Enrollment
        • Transcripts
        • General Information
        • Community Guidelines
        • Locations
      • Course and Program Information
        • Latest COVID-19 Information
        • Online Course Policies
        • Certificates, Programs and CEUs
        • Concurrent Enrollment
        • International Student Services
      • Student Aid
        • Disability Support Services
        • Financial Assistance
      • Voices
        • Voices Home
        • Educator Insights
        • Student Stories
        • Professional Pathways
        • Industry Trends
      • Events
        • Information Sessions
        • Free and Low Cost Events
  • Berkeley Global

Fact or Fiction: Reading and Writing the Personal Essay

ENGLISH X473

41104
A diatribe against braggarts? A consolation to a lonely wife? An ode to Japanese design? The personal essay genre encompasses it all. In this class, you read across continents and centuries, from Montaigne to Sedaris, to discover the joy of the form that marries the logic of nonfiction to the dialogue and drama of fiction. What is fact and what is fiction in a personal essay? Through the analysis of the writing of renowned authors, explore the personal essay and its meaning, context and style. In class, practice craft exercises, write and workshop your own essays.

Course Outline

Expand or collapse section

Course Objectives

  • Discuss the personal essays of a diverse group of global writers.
  • Gain and hone writing skills through practice exercises and student essays.

What You Learn

  • History of the essay
  • Forerunners of the craft
  • Development of the genre over time
  • Current “state of the essay”
  • Elements of a successful essay
  • Avoiding vagueness
  • Creating composite characters
  • Essay structures
  • Elements of voice
  • Critical reading
  • Giving and receiving of effective criticism to and from other students

How You Learn

  • Reading assignments
  • Writing exercises
  • Discussion participation
  • Student essay workshop, which includes the submission of two essays
Loading...

Sections

Fall enrollment opens on June 20!

Thank you for your interest in this course!

The course you have selected is currently not open for enrollment.

Enter your email below to be notified when it becomes available.

Required Field

We're excited that you have chosen us as your education provider.

Once a section for this class is available, we will email you with enrollment information.

Your privacy is important to us.

Email Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us!

We do not share your information with other organizations for commercial purposes.

We only collect your information if you have subscribed online to receive emails from us.

We do not partner with or have special relationships with any ad server companies.

If you want to unsubscribe, there is a link to do so at the bottom of every email.

Read the full Privacy Policy

← Back to your information.

This course applies to the following programs:

Certificate Program in Writing

Expand or collapse section

Required Courses

  • The Craft of Reading
  • The Craft of Writing
  • Writing Skills Workshop

Electives (Literature)

  • American Fiction
  • Contemporary Voices: Speaking From the Margins
  • Fact or Fiction: Reading and Writing the Personal Essay
  • Great Novels You Always Meant to Read
  • Great Writers Steal: How the Work of Other Writers Can Inform and Inspire You
  • The Handmaid’s Tale: Writing Dystopia, the Female Gothic and Social Commentary
  • Mystery Fiction
  • Re-envisioning the Past Through Historical Fiction
  • Shakespeare
  • Short-Story Masterpieces
  • Meet the Writer: Guided Study and Discussion With Fiction Writers
  • Ursa Minor Production Class

Electives (Writing Workshop)

  • Exploring Creative Writing
  • Introduction to Writing Fiction
  • Intermediate Fiction Writing
  • Advanced Fiction Writing
  • Writing Genre Fiction: Science Fiction, Mystery, Romance and More
  • Mystery Writing
  • Developing the Novel
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Screenwriting Workshop
  • Writing and Appreciating Poetry
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Poets Studied and in Conversation
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Developing the Memoir
  • Developing the Memoir II
  • Journalism Workshop
  • Science Writing
  • Writing the Feature Story
  • Writing and Editing Internship Program

Courses of Related Interest

  • Story Lab

Learn More About this Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-letters@berkeley.edu | (510) 643-8916

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 115

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

Extension

1995 University Ave., Suite 130

Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

extension@berkeley.edu

Facebook Facebook Icon Twitter Twitter Icon LinkedIn LinkedIn Icon YouTube YouTube Icon Instagram Instagram Icon Medium Small Icon for Medium
WeChat QR code

Locations

  • Berkeley
  • San Francisco
  • Online
  • Other

Resources

  • About Us
  • Career Services
  • Administration
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Privacy
  • Transcripts
  • Gifts
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The University of California, Berkeley, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). UC Berkeley Extension—like all other UC Berkeley schools, colleges and departments—is accredited by WASC through the University.

Copyright © UC Regents

Powered by Destiny One

Cookie Policy

By clicking “Accept All Cookies,” I agree to permit this website to share my information, including a device identifier and my browsing history on this site, with selected partners, including Google, Meta/Facebook and others, to enhance my browsing experience and to ensure that marketing communications are targeted to my needs in accordance with our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy.

Session Time-Out

For security reasons and the protection of your personal information, your session will time out due to a period of inactivity in minute(s) and second(s). Click Extend My Session to continue. For security reasons and the protection of your personal information, your session timed out after a period of inactivity. You will be redirected to the home page.

Confirm

Alert

Processing...

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

This statement explains how we use cookies on our website. For information about what types of personal information will be gathered when you visit the website, and how this information will be used, please see our Privacy Policy.

How we use cookies

All of our web pages use "cookies". A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we place on your computer or mobile device if you agree. These cookies allow us to distinguish you from other users of our website, which helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and enables us to improve our website.

We use cookies and other technologies to optimize your website experience and to deliver communications and marketing activities that are targeted to your specific needs. Some information we collect may be shared with selected partners such as Google, Meta/Facebook or others. By browsing this site you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy. You can revoke your voluntary consent to participate in monitored browsing and targeted marketing by selecting “Disable All Cookies” below.

Types of cookies we use

We use the following types of cookies:

  • Strictly necessary cookies- these are essential in to enable you to move around the websites and use their features. Without these cookies the services you have asked for, such as signing in to your account, cannot be provided.
  • Performance cookies- these cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often. We use this information to improve our websites and to aid us in investigating problems raised by visitors. These cookies do not collect information that identifies a visitor.
  • Functionality cookies- these cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provide more personal features. For instance, a functional cookie can be used to remember the items that you have placed in your shopping cart. The information these cookies collect may be anonymized and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them please visit https://www.allaboutcookies.org/.

Specific cookies we use

The list below identify the cookies we use and explain the purposes for which they are used. We may update the information contained in this section from time to time.

  • JSESSIONID: This cookie is used by the application server to identify a unique user's session.
  • registrarToken: This cookie is used to remember items that you have added to your shopping cart
  • locale: This cookie is used to remember your locale and language settings.
  • cookieconsent_status: This cookie is used to remember if you've already dismissed the cookie consent notice.
  • _ga_UA-########: These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the website. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the website, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. This anonymized visitor and browsing information is stored in Google Analytics.

Changes to our Cookie Statement

Any changes we may make to our Cookie Policy in the future will be posted on this page.