Course Info

"We tell ourselves stories in order to live."

Joan Didion remains one of the most iconic, quoted, and anthologized writers of the last century. By placing Didion-- her life, her work, her style-- at the center of our study of nonfiction prose, we will move back and forth between California and New York, between a journalistic revolution spurred by the chaotic Sixties and a period of intense, personal grief urging contemplation about the universal experiences of aging and loss. We'll use Didion and renowned works like Slouching Towards Bethlehem, The White Album, and Blue Nights as jumping-off points to consider the anatomy of various prose genres. We'll think deeply about forms of criticism and life writing, including the book review, the memoir, and even the obituary. As we pen 5,000 words of formal writing in response to Didion's prose and the contexts in which she worked, we will remediate our writing to create multimodal artifacts, including infographics and scrolling multimedia webpages, using Adobe Express. The semester will culminate in a digital creator portfolio which will allow you to reflect on your growth as a writer, reader, and critical thinker. Not only will you leave this semester with a stronger grasp of what it means to read and write nonfiction prose, but you will also gain a plethora of new critical thinking and digital literacy skills that will transfer to a variety of personal, academic, and professional contexts.

Course: ENG-L206 (Intro to Nonfiction Prose)

Course Type:

Intensive Writing Course for

Hutton Honors Students & English Majors

Cap: 25 students

Taught Spring 2024

IUB English

Assessment Spotlight: The Anatomy of a Genre Project

On creativity, digital tools, and the amplification of literary analysis:

“From creating multimodal projects in Adobe Express, I learned the importance of digital literacy in today’s world. But more importantly, I learned to use these tools creatively—to make my work stand out in a sea of digital content. I have found a quite a few tools that I can leverage in my search for a job. The Generative AI feature would allow me to create pictures that never existed and use them to further my creative expression. The resume templates would help me stand out amongst the competition in the hiring process. Lastly, the webpage tool would set a great foundation for my career portfolio, which could highlight my coding projects. This semester, I have grown from someone who simply consumes content to someone who creates it... Adobe Express emerged as the linchpin in compiling my reading analyses, transforming a scattered collection of thoughts into a cohesive digital portfolio. It was the canvas where my textual interpretations became visual narratives. With its handy design tools, I could seamlessly integrate quotes, themes, and critical perspectives into interactive web pages. The platform’s versatility allowed me to curate content with ease and embed multimedia elements. Each webpage became a chapter, each click a revelation of my journey through the prose of Joan Didion. Adobe Express didn’t just house my analyses; it amplified them, granting my words a dynamic form that engaged and inspired. It was here that my creative expressions found a place where academic endeavors met digital artistry, resulting in a website that was not only a space of knowledge but also a testament to the power of creativity. Adobe Express was instrumental in this process, turning the lead of raw analyses into the gold of digital, creative expression.”

“The integration of digital literacy and creativity has been instrumental in shaping my identity as a multifaceted creator. The digital landscape of both the Scrolling Essay and the Anatomy of a Genre Infographic offers a canvas brimming with possibilities. This course equipped me with the tools to navigate and innovate within this dynamic realm. As time went on I learned to love this additional form of creativity that I could pour my heart into. From crafting visually compelling presentations to experimenting with multimedia storytelling, I embraced digital platforms as extensions of my creative expression... The multitude of different artifacts in my portfolio stand as testaments to this amalgamation of traditional prose craftsmanship and digital fluency, illustrating my adaptability and versatility as a modern creator. The creative exploration was truly cathartic.”

On preparing the next generation of teachers:

“I’ve adopted a more liberated mindset, allowing myself to think freely without the burden of rigid essay structure and tapping into a wellspring of creativity and authenticity. This newfound freedom not only enhances my writing process but also fosters a deeper connection with my subject matter, enabling me to explore ideas with greater depth and insight... This uninhibited exploration not only enriches my understanding but also infuses my writing with authenticity and passion. Embracing this mindset has become instrumental in nurturing creativity and enabling me to produce work that is both meaningful and compelling. From these initial thoughts, I can then distill the most prominent themes and concepts, shaping them into a cohesive narrative... Moreover, by exposing [my own future high school English students] to modern communication tools and formats, I’m preparing them for the demands of the digital age and equipping them with valuable skills for academic and professional success. In addition to enhancing the learning experience of my students, the reflective practice and continuous improvement mindset cultivated in this course can also benefit the effectiveness of my teaching. Incorporating multimedia presentations allows me to present information in dynamic and engaging ways, capturing students’ attention and enhancing their understanding of complex concepts. Whether its utilizing videos, interactive slideshows, or digital storytelling projects, these tools can help make learning more interactive and accessible. By regularly evaluating and refining my instructional methods, I can adapt to the evolving needs of my students and maximize their learning outcomes through empowering their ideas creatively and effectively.”

“I am studying Secondary English Education with a license addition in English as a New Language. Learning how to use Adobe Express will be helpful for illustrating my content to students best while keeping them engaged. I want to teach both English as a New Language and Language Arts at some point in my career. Creating visuals is especially essential for English as a New Language instruction because often the only common understanding between me and my students will be visuals. I see myself creating relevant images through Adobe Express and encouraging students to test the website and learn the basic English functions for buttons through this resource. For Language Arts classes digital literacy will make my classes more engaging and I could encourage students to create their own multimodal projects which could improve their digital literacy.”

On connecting writing with visual design:

“Another component of this course was making visual aids to help engage the audience with the content of my essays. One of these assignments was a scrollable essay in the format of a website, utilizing photos and videos from the era featured in the essay. Another assignment included making an infographic in Adobe Express to summarize the main points of the essay. Making these visualizations was a great exercise in connecting written and visual creative disciplines. Designing visual content that aligns thematically with written material is something I will likely need to do in my career in software engineering or web development, so it was fun for me to see how this skill can be used in another context like English class.”

Career Competencies

In Fall 2023, I participated in the IUB College of Arts & Science’s Career Connections Fellowship. This experience inspired me to rethink my approach to designing intensive writing & literature curricula with a new emphasis on digital literacy & creativity. Click here to learn more about the Career Connections Fellowship.