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  • 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

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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
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Sections

Spring enrollment opens on October 16!

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This course applies to the following programs:

Certificate Program in Writing

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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

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

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