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Appalachia: Workshop in Creative Nonfiction
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
The Workshop in Creative Nonfiction is designed for students in the Appalachian Seminar who want to deepen and extend their immersion experiences. Prior to the immersion, we will read some relevant material to help with your preparation. For instance, portions of James Agee's and Walker Evans' "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men," which details their time spent with three sharecropper families in Hale County, Alabama, in the summer of 1936, will provide a classic nonfiction example of both process and genre. While in Appalachia, you will keep a journal to document and reflect upon your activities and encounters. Upon returning, we will work to transform your experience into an engaging nonfiction account. In doing so, we will pay attention to how forces and values manifest themselves in individual lives, families, and communities. Whether socioeconomic, political, religious, or cultural, such forces get under the skin and shape the thoughts and actions of people in everyday settings. In transforming experience into expression, we will afford people particular documentary scrutiny and strive to realize a compelling final product that bears witness to life, identity, and region.
(Combined schedule for Appalachia Seminar and Appalachia Workshop)
COURSEWORK
Students accepted into the Appalachia Workshop must do the assigned readings for the Appalachia Seminar and Appalachia Workshop, and participate fully in both courses. However, they will not have to write the assigned papers for the Appalachia Seminar. Instead, they will direct all their writing energy into their creative nonfiction work, due May 4, 2011. Details forthcoming in syllabus.
WORKSHOP APPLICATION PROCESS
A limited number of seats are available for this special workshop, and they are open to students at all levels. To apply, complete the online application and also email Professor Benedict Giamo by 11:59 p.m., Friday, January 14, 2011. Students will be notified of their acceptance by 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 17, 2011. Students must then register for the Workshop in addition to the main Appalachia Seminar, for a total of two credits. Workshop students may request and enroll in any Appalachia site. Complete registration details will be sent upon acceptance.
