Literary Nonfiction, Fall 2009, O'Donnell

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[ Policies ] [ Calendar ] [ Online Readings ]

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Policies
last update: August 27, 2009

Course and Instructor Information
English 3040 Literary Nonfiction, section 1, TR 9:45-11:05am, Burleson Hall 303

This course is writing-intensive.

Instructor: Dr. Kevin O'Donnell, faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/, odonnell@etsu.edu 423 439-6679
Office: Burleson Hall 313

Fall 2009 Office Hours:  TR 11:15-12:30 and 2:15-3:30; W 1:15-3:15pm

Course Texts

- Tim Cahill, ed. The Best American Travel Writing 2006. Mariner Books, 2006. $14.00 ISBN: 0618582150

- Truman Capote.  In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences.  Vintage, 1994 (1965).  ISBN: 0679745580  $14.00
- Joan Didion.  Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays.  Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 1990 (1968).  ISBN: 0374521727  $14.00
- Christopher McDougall. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. Knopf, 2009. $24.95. ISBN: 0307266303

- Kevin Kerrane and Ben Yagoda, eds.  The Art of Fact: A Historical Anthology of Literary Journalism.  New York: Scribner, 1998. ISBN: 0684846306  $20.00
- Susan Orlean.  The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession.  Ballantine Books, 2000 (1998).  ISBN: 044900371X   $14.00 
- David Foster Wallace. A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments. Back Bay Books, 1998. ISBN: 0316925284 $14.99

- Also, on your own, read Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (1972), or, at the very least, see the 1998 movie directed by Terry Gilliam.

Assignments/ Final Grade Breakdown
- One narrative essay, based primarily on personal experience and observation (1000-1500 wds): 20%
- One essay in the mode or genre of your choice (1000-1500 wds): 20%.
- One extended review essay (1000-1500 wds, plus annotated bib): 20%
- Reading responses (informal written assignments, scattered throughout the semester): 20%
- Participation in discussion of readings: 10%
- Final exam: 10%

Attendance, Due Dates
Attendance: The English Department policy: more than 6 absences and you fail the course. In addition, I've set the following policies:  1) You may miss 2 classes free, no questions asked.  2) No absences will be excused, so use your two freebies wisely!  3) If you miss between 3 and 5 classes, your final grade may be lowered by up to a full letter grade.
Due Dates:  I don't accept late work, and missed assignments cannot be made up.  If you must miss class on a due date, email your work as an attachment to odonnell@etsu.edu, or put it in the U.S. Mail, addressed to me at the ETSU English department, Johnson City 37614.