ENG 482, Life Writing

Department of English & Journalism • Western Illinois University
Bradley Dilger, Associate Professor of English
Simpkins 308, T Th 9:30–10:45am

Email: cb-dilger@wiu.edu
Mailbox: Simpkins 122, M–F 8:00am–4:30pm
Office: Simpkins 217, 309.298.2212 (hours tentatively T Th 11–12, & by appt)
Home: 309.836.1454 (before 9:00pm; please leave a message)
Course web: http://faculty.wiu.edu/CB-Dilger/s09/482/

Introduction

This course will examine the issues surrounding personal, political, and professional (auto)biographies of all kinds: memoirs, family histories, creative non-fiction, and polemical essays.

Objectives

1. Through reading and discussion, become familiar with common genres of life writing.
2. Improve your ability to write and revise your life writing by applying relevant theory to course texts and other students’ work.
3. By reading and application, learn research techniques relevant for life writing: interviews, archival work, etc.
4. Compare similar texts and learn how to evaluate the information, scope, style, organization, and approach of life writing.
5. Understand the ethical issues involved in all types of life writing.

Texts

If you buy your books online, use the ISBN numbers below to ensure you get the correct editions.

The first five books:

• Anonymous, Evasion (available online)
• Roland Barthes, Roland Barthes 9780520087835
• Carl Rollyson, Biography: A User’s Guide 9781566637800
• Joe Williams, Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace 9780205605354
• William Zinsser, Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past 9781569243794

I ordered the next four books very late. They’ll be available at the WIU bookstore in a few weeks. Or you can get them online.

• Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter 9781400066124
• Johnny Cash, Cash: The Autobiography 9780060727536
• Barbara Kingsolver et al, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life 9780060852566
• Michael Streissguth, Johnny Cash: The Biography 9780306815652

I will add some essays. And you will add reading of your own which supports your writing. We will screen James Mangold’s Walk the Line in class.

Assignments

Details are available via the links below. Please read all the assignment sheets ASAP.

1. Autobiography. 150 points.
2. Class participation. 150 points.
3. Biography. 150 points.
4. Book review. 100 points.
5. Revision of (auto)biography. 350 points.
6. Final examination. Comprehensive; mixed format (short answer and essay). 100 points.

Course policies

1. Accommodations for special learning needs are gladly given. Contact me ASAP.

2. Attendance and active participation are required. Under-prepared students may be asked to leave class. Reading and bringing course texts is part of preparation.

3. Ethical and professional conduct is required: academic honesty, collegiality in class, and professionalism when dealing with the community as part of course activities.

4. Feedback from you regarding the course is welcome at any time. Contact me, put a note in my mailbox, or speak to Dr. Joan Livingston-Webber, my department chair.

5. Grading uses a 1,000 point system based on powers of ten: A=100–90, B=89–80, etc. Keep all graded assignments. Keep track of your grades.

6. Late work is not accepted unless you have prior permission from me.

7. Milestones and drafts are graded with check-plus (100%), check (85%), check-minus (70%), or U (0%). If you receive a U grade, you must resubmit your work for regrading, and you will earn no higher than a check-minus.

8. Working with students is never a bother to me. Please contact me as often as needed.

9. Your privacy is important to me. I don’t want to know your WIU or Social Security numbers.

WIU policies

In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Support Services and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 309-298-2512 for additional services.

It is the responsibility of the student to comply with the prerequisites/corequisites for a course that he/she plans to take. Instructors who place the appropriate information on the syllabus and emphasize it during the first three class periods may exclude a student from the class who does not meet the prerequisites/corequisites by sending a note to the student with a copy to the registrar within the first two weeks of the term.

Course schedule

Class will not be held Feb 12 (yay Abe) or Mar 12 (I’ll be traveling).

Please refer to the detailed course schedule often; it reflects any changes I have made, provides specific prompts to focus your reading, and includes small assignments designed to prompt discussion and support other activities.

Bradley Dilger, Associate Professor of English, Western Illinois U
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