The “I” in poetry & the personal essay
In this course we will read and write personal essays, as well as poetry. The personal essays will include opinion pieces, columns about love and life, political essays and more. The intent is to explore the ways in which authors employ the “I” in their writing, and how the self gets negotiated in their work. The personal as political and also as an effective means of self-expression and sharing one’s personal truth will be studied and discussed. We will also be reading poetry that employs the “I” with some being autobiographical and others not. The similarities and differences between the use of the “I” in the personal essay and in poetry will be examined and creatively emulated. Throughout the semester students will work on developing their own distinct writing voice, their “I.”
Course readings will be made available on Laulima and/or in a course reader. Additional required texts TBA.