02.08.16 Spring 2016/Quest
THE QUEST NYC
Summer 2017
Tues-Thurs 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Prof. Jessica Seigel
The quest is at the heart of our greatest stories, from Odysseus returning home to Nellie Bly’s race around the world–even to cooking every Julia Childs recipe in a year. In this course, students plot their own journey, inspired by classics old and new. We’ll learn quest hallmarks like the role of the challenge, obstacles, character, location, guides, gurus, skeptics, doubt and myth – and all-important narrative structure using present, past, future, suspense and flashback.
In the Quest mindset, you’ll learn key elements of adventure, travel and feature writing through inked stories with themes such as The Last Stop, The Guide, The Place, In The Footsteps and Guinea Pig Adventure. Throughout, we’ll work on balancing first with third person, detailed reporting with personal experience–all while finding your authentic voice. Past student seekers have learned to motorcycle, dressed in drag, tried stand-up comedy, conquered an addiction, lived with the homeless and hunted literary and historic myths from J.D. Salinger’s New York to Shakespeare’s rules for love. What’s your Holy Grail? In this class, you may find it.
The Quest Spirit
We will pursue individual and group odysseys, including boating on the Hudson River in homage to the original Odyssey. When at sea as in the classroom, it’s crucial that everyone rows; you’ll be asked to actively contribute and shape our path forward.
Readings
We will read new and old classics of questing journalism by writers including Joan Didion, A. J. Jacobs, Ernest Hemingway, Tea Obreht, Susan Orlean and Tony Perrottet, among others. How do they use “I” to to tell a story– or not at all? What’s the narrator’s persona and how do you find your own? How do these writers set up and structure their quest? Borrowing from fictional techniques, we’ll discuss character and plot in shaping these non-fiction narratives.
Required Books
“On Writing Well,” William Zinsser (25th anniversary edition or later)
“The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment” by A.J. Jacobs
“Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists” by Tony Perrottet
“Slouching Toward Bethlehem” by Joan Didion (Any edition)
Grading
Your written work and accompanying photographs account for 70 percent of your grade. Class participation including in-class assignments counts for 30 percent. Grades can be lowered for any of these reasons: lateness or absence from class, missed assignments, plagiarism, invented sources, or other ethical breeches.
WEEK 1
Quest Overview —Our journey on paper and in life
Mini-Lecture & Discussion
- The Hunt for Story Ideas—Subjects versus angles, third and first person in plotting your approach, balancing personal voice with factual reporting.
- Writing About Place
Exercises
- Expedition NYC: The city and you
- Brainstorm: Cranking up the idea machine
In-Class Writing
- You, Journalism, and Your Quest
WEEK 2
Mini-Lecture & Discussion
- In Search of and In the Footsteps – Questing traditions
- How People Shape Your Journey—Guides, gurus, aficionados, regulars, and skeptics
- The Last Stop— Ends (and beginnings) in shaping the stories we tell
Tools & Techniques
- Story Know-How—Ledes and nuts
Homework Due
Reading: Ch. 9 The Lead and Ending, Zinsser Ch. 13, Writing About Places: The Travel Article, “ Twilight of the Vampires,” Tea Obreht from Harper’s Magazine
“The Strongest Woman in the World,” by Pagan Kennedy
Day 1—Questing Brainstorm
Three Quest Ideas—Tell the journey’s goal, potential guides, how and where you’ll do it. Three sentences each.
Day 2—The Place Story- 600 words
Summer in the city is bursting with lively hangouts. Find an active place such as park playground, drum circle, skate enclave, prayer group, sports team, social club, community garden. Observe, interview and write about the characters there, blending dialogue, action, and physical description. (Third Person.)
Week 3
Mini-Lecture & Discussion
- Story Arc—Narrative development, episodic, hourglass and onion structures.
- Guinea Pig Adventures—You’re the test subject
- Plotting Your Path—Outlining and organizing on paper and on the road.
Tools & Techniques
- Interviewing – Making contact, preliminaries, follow-up, anecdotes and examples.
- Quoting & Paraphrasing
Homework Due
Reading: Zinsser, Ch. 12, Writing About People:
The Interview; “Excuse Us While We Kiss the Sky,” Matthew Power, GQ,
A.J. Jacobs My Life As An Experiment, Ch. 3, “I Think You’re Fat” and Ch. 5,
“The Rationality Project”
Day 1—Pitch Final Quest
Confirm Guide Story
Day 2—The Last Stop –By foot, train, or wheels, you reach the outer limits
of NYC to capture a slice of life at the end of the line. (First, second, and third person.) 700-800 words
Saturday Field Trip -- Out to Sea on the Hudson
Week 4
Mini-Lecture & Discussion
- First Person & Point of View—The ruby slipper rules and the patsy principle
Tools & Techniques
- Finding Your Style—Reporting versus writing in discovering your voice
- Write like a literary genius in 20 minutes or less.
Homework Due
Reading: Zinnser Ch. 14 Writing About Yourself; ‘Fifty Shades of Greyhound,” By Harrison Scott Key, Oxford American, “Aligning the Internal Compass,” Jessica McCaughey, Colorado Review, “Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream,” Joan Didion from Slouching Toward Bethlehem
Day 1—Boating Trip Write Up
Quest Game Plan
Day 2—The Guide Story: Adventure with a guide, guru, coach or any major character in your Quest, blending profile and place with physical description, action and narrative. 600-700 words.
Week 5
Mini-Lecture & Discussion
- The past is prologue—Building context, meaning and depth
Tools & Techniques
- Editing and Simplicity
- Action – verbs, prepositions, and adjectives
Homework Due
Reading: Selections from “Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists” by Tony Perrottet
Day 1— Quest Part 1
Day 2— Quest Part 2
Week 6
Mini-Lecture & Discussion
- You’re the Guide Now—Smoothing transitions and building themes. Coming Full Circle and looking ahead
Reading: Susan Orlean, “Cruising” from Saturday Night
Day 1—Quest Final Draft
Day 2— Pulling It Together
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