Stories that Matter: The Craft of Writing Nonfiction
ENGL S2461 (CRN: 30258)
Instructors: Tara McKelvey
Dates: Session B, June 29 - July 31, 2026
Course Mode: In-Person
Meeting Times: M-F 9.00-12.15
Distributional Requirements: Writing
Eligibility: Open to pre-college and college students
In-person Course. This course teaches the craft of writing nonfiction. Students learn how to produce features, essays, and profiles, and develop skills in critical thinking. Through close readings of exemplary reportage, students acquire a deeper understanding of narrative structure. Above all, this class shows students how to see the world as a writer. It is an exhilarating experience, one that will expand your horizons, and it comes in part from being out and about—visiting places, talking to people, and taking notes. By the end of the course, students will have a new language for understanding the world, a richer, more literary one, and will be able to tell stories with verve and confidence. Students will tackle contemporary works of journalism and earlier pieces, including nineteenth-century dispatches and investigative articles. Students will look at ways that news organizations have served to fortify democratic principles such as freedom of expression and the rule of law, then and today. Students will grapple with real-life ethical questions and will leave the class with a better understanding of the role of the media in a liberal democracy. 2 Credits. Session B: June 29 – July 31. (This course is part of the YSS Program in Journalism. Program Cost: $10,805. Please refer to the program website for more details.)
