Course schedule for the Interdisciplinary Studies in Writing Graduate Certificate Program, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

Course Descriptions and Schedule

Interdisciplinary Studies in Writing Certificate Requirements

Four Units of any Writing Courses

May include Writing Workshops, an independent study (not to exceed one), Publishing and Professional Development courses, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing, any graduate literature course, any MCW 490 elective course, or any other related courses identified by the SPS Graduate Office..

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MCW 461-DL : Nonfiction Writing Workshop

Description

In this workshop we’ll read and write reviews and descriptive and critical essays. Writing essays in response to creative works sharpens our perceptions, deepens our concentration, improves our descriptive and analytical skills, and inspires ideas. The strongest, most lucid and engaging writing stems from close observation, a spirit of inquiry, and the act of translating impressions into narratives that involve readers in your quest to understand what you’re scrutinizing, why it compels you, and the feelings the work engenders. The reader should feel that she, too, is making discoveries.

We will read and discuss essays and reviews. To stimulate our powers of observation, the instructor will provide images of works of art for writing prompts. We will do in-class writing exercises and talk about the results. Each student will also select a work of literature or art, in consultation with the instructor, to write about in a long-form essay, drafts of which will be submitted at different stages. These will be fresh, exploratory, and personal responses, not academic papers. This course is designed to enrich our reading experience, transform looking into seeing, and amplify nonfiction's vitality and illumination.

Note: This class meets weekly online.