Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Intermediate Creative Nonfiction Writing (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 3040-01

Course: ENGL 3040-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: English
CRN: 33361

Course Description

This course focuses on writing memoir, personal essay, portrait, and essay of place. Students also read literary journalism as well as these sub-genres to provide models for their own creative endeavors. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2320 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Required Texts

Miller, Brenda and Suzanne Paola. Tell It Slant 3rd edition. ISBN:  978-1260454598

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. define what creative nonfiction is and is not, name and explain its conventions,
  2. situate yourself within contemporary creative nonfiction,
  3. name, analyze, and explain CNF craft in the works of others and in your own work,
  4. hone your writing process, and 
  5. write your own creative nonfiction essays using a variety of lengths, approaches, and craft foci.

Course Requirements

Reading Annotations and Assignments (30% of overall grade)


Annotations: If you want to write well, you have to read well, therefore, reading carefully and closely--to figure out how a text works--will be a foundational part of your grade. I substantiate a student's engagement with the text through their annotations on a text. You will print out each reading you are assigned and annotate it by hand. This is better for engagement, recall, and discussion. Annotating is not merely highlighting or underlining, nor is it notes on a separate piece of paper. Annotating is adding notes to the text.

For the craft readings, focus on your comprehension of the text and connecting what you're reading to other readings and concepts in and out of our class as well as asking specific questions you may want to raise in class. Below are some things you can do as you're completing annotations for a craft reading.

        • Paraphrase parts of the reading
        • Elevate and elaborate on ideas
        • Connect the text's ideas to your life and experience
        • Connect the text's ideas to other fields or other learning
        • Connect the text's ideas to other readings or parts of this work
        • Argue with or question the ideas of the authors/text
        • Note questions you want to ask during in-class discussion or during office hours

For the creative readings work to notice the craft elements we've discussed so far with a special emphasis on the craft element we're currently focusing on. Reader-response readings, e.g. "I love this!" or "What?" are not good annotations for the creative readings. You're working to see the craft in the piece. Make sure I can see how you're seeing things.

If you want to complete your annotations some way other than printing them and annotating them by hand, come speak with me in the first two weeks of class, otherwise I will only accept handwritten annotations directly on a printed work.

Assignments: While the majority of this grade category will be your reading annotations, you may occasionally have other small assignments or exercises to complete. If participation and discussion on readings in class isn't generous, this grade category may adapt to include required in-class reading quizzes, reading responses, discussion questions and/or another alternate.

Essays and Reflections (35% of overall grade)


You will complete at least 4 essays this semester. For each essay you complete, you will also draft a substantial reflection on it, possibly with annotations, explaining how the essay works. I will give you starter prompts and exercises often, but what each essay, individually, looks like is up to you. By the end of the semester, though, you must have tried out each of the lengths and tools listed below, so keep them in mind as you're constructing or revising your essays.

Length

      • Flash (under 750 words)
      • Standard (1-2k words)
      • Longform (2k-10k words)

Structure/Forms

      • Hermit crab/false document (part or all of an essay)
      • Segmented essay (whole essay should be segmented)

Position of “I”

      • The persona/their history is the subject of the essay (whole essay)
      • Essay wherein the persona/their history is not the subject (whole essay)

Tools

      • Speculation (part or all of an essay)
      • A non-I POV (part or all of an essay; use a collective first, second, third, or an I that isn't you as the author/narrator)

Workshop (10% of overall grade)


We will hold workshop periodically over the course of the semester. The goal of these workshops is to get your classmates' perspectives on your work, yes, but the most useful aspect of workshop is to give you an opportunity to analyze the craft in an unfinished essay. I rarely give feedback on workshop pieces; they are almost always essays I've already read and given you feedback on elsewhere.

Any time we workshop, you will complete three assignments. (1) You will submit your own, correctly formatted workshop draft. (2) You will read, annotate, and give end notes to your classmates. (3) You will complete a workshop digest, plan, and scoresheet.

Your workshop grade is determined by your classmates. They will give you a score based on the helpfulness of and effort behind your comments. I will mediate these scores.

Final Portfolio (25% of overall grade)


Your final assignment of the semester will be a portfolio of work, some of which will be new and some of which will be revisiting work you've been doing all semester long. The overall focus of this portfolio is to demonstrate that you understand, in theory and in practice, how successful CNF works.

The final portfolio will consist of (1) your essays from the semester, collected, ending with a revision of one of your semester's essays, (2) a paper wherein you will directly reference and discuss your own work to point out the variety of approaches and craft you used in your essays, as stipulated in the CNF Essay Checklist, (3) A short reflection on your revised essay discussing what you revised and how the essay works now (4) a recorded reading of the essay you're proudest of, and (5), a paper articulating your personalized definition of CNF which will include copious, direct, and specific references to the semester's readings as well as your own work this semester.

If you keep the final in mind all through the semester, it will be quick and simple to put together. If you don't read closely, annotate, take notes while reading and in class, take your exercises seriously, etc. then the final may very well be overwhelming. 

If at any time you wish to discuss your grades, set an appointment with me or leave me a message on the relevant Canvas assignment. I cannot discuss grades via email.

I grade major assignments in the order in which I receive them. If you're anxious for feedback, consider submitting your work with more clearance from the deadline.

Course Outline

Weeks 1-3: Defining CNF, various approaches to writing CNF
Week 4-5: Truth, fact, research and speculation
Weeks 5-6: Workshop and Conference attendance
Weeks 7-8: Scene, summary, musing, and time 
Weeks 9-11: Point of view, persona, and writing other characters
Weeks 12-14: Form and content
Weeks 15-16: Workshop, final prep and lingering questions


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


Each assignment has a due date. That date is the date on which I will begin grading. You have a natural, built-in grace period though. If I haven’t finished grading the assignment yet, you can still turn your assignment in. Once I’ve entered a zero for your grade, that means I’m done grading that assignment and the grace period has ended. It’s a bit of a gamble to turn something in late; get your work done ASAP. If you really need to, email me and ask me how far out I am on grading. I can give you a rough ballpark. (Note that this late policy does not apply to the final or time-dependent assignments like workshop.)

Accepted late work will be given no feedback, only a grade, and may take significantly longer to be returned.

If you have something exceptional going on, talk with me ASAP. I may be able to work with you, but I also have to be fair to all students, so there are some issues on which my hands are tied.

Computer or user error is not a legitimate excuse for late work, so submit early and double-check that your submissions were uploaded correctly and that they are the correct submissions.

I do not offer extra credit. If you haven't done as well on an assignment as you'd like or as well as you need to in order to maintain the grade you need, get in touch with me as soon as possible so we can discuss how you can do better in the future. 

Attendance Policy


Regular attendance is required. In order to pass the class, your final attendance percentage will need to be at or above 70%. That's very lenient. If someone is missing 30% of class, they're likely to fail without this intervention.

Of course, occasional absences will happen. If you are ill (with anything) or suspect you may be, please stay home and rest. Contact a classmate for notes on what you missed.

If you are every having issues that are keeping you from regular attendance (hospitalization or prolonged, serious illness, etc.) let me know as soon as possible. We will see what we can work out. Note, though, that coming to me at the end of the semester to highlight an issue that began in the early weeks of the semester leaves us with little wiggle room. Even if all you can do is jot a quick email that tells me something is up and you can't even work with me on it yet is better than nothing.

For University-Excused Absences, be sure you're following policy 6.30.

If you have to miss class for any reason, get notes from a classmate, not me. You can always email me with specific followup questions after getting notes from a classmate, but I will respond to "Did I miss anything?" emails with this section of the syllabus.

Course Fees

$12

AI Policy

The Author’s Guild has issued a position statement about the use of AI in publishing, and I teach with those principles in mind. AI tools could take a writing gig away from you one day or keep you from selling a book. In line with the industry standard, I do no allow use of AI in this class. If you use AI on an assignment, you will have to have a face-to-face meeting with me, then redo the assignment from scratch with stricter parameters. If it happens again, you may fail the class. Do not use AI in this course.

Again, use of AI is fundamentally antithetical to our course outcomes, so use of AI, specifically LLMs (large language models) and generative AI, is not allowed in this course.

Similarly, never submit or expose someone else's intellectual property to AI without explicit permission for that person. In this class, that means absolutely not submitting my or your classmates' work to an AI without their explicit, written permission. (I don't think you should submit published work to an AI-driven tool, either, though I carry less responsibility in this.) This includes programs like Speechify (to listen to a text read aloud) and feeding an essay to an AI to ask for a summary or to ask it to generate talking points. I expect you to do this work yourself, as it is the work of the class, and it is professional and personally irresponsible to blow someone else's chance at publication because you violated their intellectual property rights.

A Note on Content and Conduct


This class will operate on a basis of mutual respect, personal responsibility, and professionalism. I expect that you respect me and my time, your classmates and their time, and yourself and your own time. This means being prepared, participating generously, and owning the consequences of all your decisions. Remember, no one will ever take you or your work more seriously than you do. 

Anyone who is disrespectful or uses any discriminatory or vulgar language in discussion or comments toward another student may be dismissed from class and be marked absent for the day. Interrupting someone or chatting while someone else is speaking is disruptive and disrespectful and, if not checked, may also result in dismissal from the day’s class and an absence. Sleeping, doing homework for other classes, and being on a device is also disrespectful. I will address all of these rude and disruptive behaviors openly.

Be aware that some of the material we address this semester—your classmates work included—may contain profanity and/or address topics such as sex, violence, suicidal ideation, homophobia, racism, or other difficult subjects. Students who find such content objectionable or overly difficult are free to forgo any reading assignments or class discussions; however, no alternates will be provided. If there is something in particular you are concerned about, please let me know if the first week or so of class and I can let you know ahead of time the pieces you should exercise caution with. Due to the nature of student creative works and submission, I cannot give you the same heads up on student work, though you are free to work with your classmates to gain a heads up.

Please do practice self-care regarding difficult material. I am not interested in causing students pain and difficulty. If there is a reading or story that is too much for you—one I’ve given you or one a classmate has given you—forgo it and talk to me about it during office hours. Similarly, realize that no one in class is obligated to read your writing on difficult subjects.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.