Department of English

Nonfiction Writing Program

Nonfiction Writing Program

The Nonfiction Writing Program, unique to Brown University in its scope, teaches the writing of nonfiction in its predominant modes: the academic essay, creative nonfiction, and journalism.

The Nonfiction Writing Program attracts students from disciplines across the campus, who fulfill the one requirement that Brown’s charter mandates—that students take two writing courses in their educational sojourn here. In the Program, you might encounter a course that asks you to learn about and practice writing biography; or to explore the rich, multidisciplinary archives at the Hay Library; or to contemplate the intersection of the visual and textual arts; or to write as an activist for social change and equity; or to compose specifically for a digital audience; or to learn how best to interview and write to deadline for newspapers and magazines. Our track prepares students to speak for themselves, in writing, in their personal and professional lives.

Courses

View our current offerings

  • Most of our classes are conducted as small seminars, with some innovative online courses as well.
  • Note that sections at the intermediate and advanced levels will frequently have themes.
  • Pre-registration alone does not secure a spot in the class. Registered students must be present and up to date with the coursework to maintain enrollment.
  • Many of our advanced and intermediate courses require a writing sample. As each course requires different foundational skills, writing samples are often unique to the class. Please refer to the course syllabus or email the instructor for the specific guidelines. Placement is determined solely at the discretion of the instructor.

 

For English Concentrators on the Nonfiction Track

0900/0930 do not count toward the concentration. You must take at least three courses in Nonfiction at the 1000 level, at least two of which must be at the advanced (11XX or above) level. Therefore, only one course at the 10XX intermediate level can be counted towards the English nonfiction track concentration. English nonfiction track concentrators tend to take more than the three nonfiction courses required, however, and you are welcome to do so, too.

 

Introduction

ENGL 0900, Critical Reading and Writing I: The Academic Essay (no prerequisites)
ENGL 0930, Introduction to Creative Nonfiction (no prerequisites)

Intermediate

ENGL 1030, Critical Reading and Writing II: The Research Essay (no prerequisites)
ENGL 1050, Intermediate Creative Nonfiction (no prerequisites)
ENGL 1050H, Journalistic Writing (no prerequisites)

Advanced

ENGL 1140, Topics in Literary and Cultural Criticism
ENGL 1160, Special Topics in Journalism
ENGL 1180, Special Topics in Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 1190, Special Topics in Nonfiction Writing
ENGL 1200, Independent Study in Nonfiction Writing

Sign up for our Nonfiction News Group, which uses your Brown email to alert you to opportunities and other announcements!

Curriculum Map and Description

This provides students with a map that illustrates the distinctions between the Nonfiction Writing Program’s courses at all levels; reveals what students will learn, differently at each level; and makes clear how each level is related to, and builds upon, the others. It communicates a firm sense of progression and helps to create equity and transparency for students taking our courses. In describing the curriculum and its levels clearly and completely, the Nonfiction Program faculty members wish to prepare all students for what we expect of them, regardless of their previous training in writing.

Download Curriculum Map and Description PDF

Acquiring

ENGL 0900
ENGL 0930

Knowledge

(e.g., technical skills, traditions, formal devices, rhetorical strategies)

  • Identify historical precedents and the evolution of the genre, including a range of nonfiction subcategories.
  • Name rhetorical strategies and understand their uses.
  • Identify different audiences and purposes for writing.
  • Read “like a writer” not only for content but to analyze and interpret authorial choices.

Attitudes

(e.g., intellectual curiosity, persistence, critical thinking, discernment)

  • Recognize the importance of revision and multiple drafts.
  • Listen to peer feedback.
  • Recognize the value of persistence when facing writing challenges (e.g., “writer’s block”).

Practices

(e.g., habits of writing, developing topics, research, revising, pitching/submitting)

  • Write/collect journals, notebooks, or other caches of ideas.
  • Identify current popular venues where writers might find and read contemporary nonfiction.
  • Understand basic research practices— how and when to incorporate outside texts/voices.
  • Recognize the role of publishing (peer review, editing, marketing, etc.) in contemporary nonfiction.

Practicing 

ENGL  1030
ENGL  1050

Knowledge

(e.g., technical skills, traditions, formal devices, rhetorical strategies)

  • Identify and understand distinguishing characteristics of specific subgenres.
  • Apply different rhetorical strategies to different purposes.
  • Differentiate audiences and purposes for writing tasks or projects.
  • Analyze and interpret texts through multiple perspectives.

Attitudes

(e.g., intellectual curiosity, persistence, critical thinking, discernment)

  • Differentiate between the different stages of the writing process.
  • Use peer and instructor feedback effectively.
  • Develop intellectual curiosity to follow new paths and possibilities.

Practices

(e.g., habits of writing, developing topics, research, revising, pitching/submitting)

  • Prepare compelling writing ideas and inquiries in subject areas and subgenres.
  • Discover venues where writers might encounter contemporary practice within subgenres.
  • Differentiate the purposes of various kinds of source materials and how to use them effectively.
  • Explain the basics of the editorial and publishing process.

Deepening

ENGL 1140, 1160, 1180, 1190
ENGL 1200
ENGL 1993, 1994 

Knowledge

(e.g., technical skills, traditions, formal devices, rhetorical strategies)

  • Identify and understand innovations in contemporary practice.
  • Apply rhetorical strategies appropriate to a nuanced understanding of different purposes and audiences.
  • Assess effectiveness of different writing strategies in subject areas and subgenres.
  • Evaluate reading as an advanced writer in order to discover effective writing practices.

Attitudes

(e.g., intellectual curiosity, persistence, critical thinking, discernment)

  • Develop and use effective self-assessments and revision strategies.
  • Provide constructive feedback to peer work.
  • Deepen capacities for self-reflection and internal motivation and sustain inquiry over multiple revisions.

Practices

(e.g., habits of writing, developing topics, research, revising, pitching/submitting)

  • Build original research topics or questions.
  • Discover and demonstrate familiarity with the work of current practitioners.
  • Develop appropriate and specific list of varied sources as context/research.
  • Describe where writer’s own writing fits in current landscape.

Program Officers

Additional Information

Registration Guidelines

The Nonfiction Writing program like other concentrations has guidelines that must be followed to complete the track.

Honors in Nonfiction Writing

The Nonfiction Writing Honors Program is intended for students who have been highly successful in their English concentration work.