This class is a seminar about the reading and writing of creative nonfiction. Contemporary personal essays, profiles of public figures, and other examples of this vibrant form will be read and discussed, as well as the art and craft of writing well. The course covers the essential elements of the genre such as characterization, dramatization, voice, and the ethics of writing about real life. Each week, we will analyze published nonfiction and practice writing with in-class prompts; out of class, students will complete short exercises for feedback. Near the end of the course, students will turn in one long piece of creative nonfiction (10-15 pages) to showcase what they've learned.