Module to Creative Nonfiction

Prepared by: BSE 3- English Major

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Module 1- Creative Nonfiction: An Overview

Creative Writing

Module 1 Creative Nonfiction: An Overview Objectives At the end of this module, you are expected to attain the following learning outcomes: A. Compose introduction and conclusion of creative nonfiction using the strategies discussed; B. Write your own coherent and unified essay.

Introduction As the technological and educational trends are becoming more complex, the need of people to factual information grew. Ronald Weber said: A large and growing public that feels it really should take an interest and is looking for guidance as to what w hat is, currently “The Real Thing”… a liberally educated public that had been through the required surveys of Literature, yet, was caught up in contemporary fascination with the new and the new and the topical. Thus, the rise of nonfiction little by little crushes the popularity of fiction, and as readers switch from reading short stories and novels to reading news articles, creative writing is introduced.


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Advanced Organizer Journalism (Nonfiction) 

Accurate in the presentation of information Remains subjective 

Creative Nonfiction

Fiction

Has an imaginative approach but remains accurate in the presentation of information 

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Imaginative

Activity Group Activity Accomplish the advance organizer below by jotting down 8 terms associated to the word Creative Nonfiction. Then write phrases or clauses below the advance organizer justifying why the words you wrote are associated with Creative Nonfiction.

Creative Nonfiction

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Analysis Summarize your group’s responses. We think that Creative Nonfiction is ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Abstraction/Generalization The text you just read is an example of creative biography. The actions “eyes flashing and fists clenched” were imagined by the author for the sake of imaginative reconstruction of the event. CREATIVE NONFICTION Creative nonfiction was used to be called personal journalism or literary journalism or new journalism or parajournalism. Eventually, today, it is called creative nonfiction. According to Theodore A. Rees Cheney, “ Creative nonfiction requires the skill of a story teller and the research ability of the reporter” (1991). This type of writing begins with the facts, elaborates on the facts, interprets them, and more importantly, presents them in an interesting and engaging way. In other words, it is a “more imaginative approach to reporting”. The key word is “personal”. The writer of creative nonfiction presents the world- or the slice of it that he wishes to focus on- through the prism of her own personality.


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Creative nonfiction is a nonfiction prose which utilizes the techniques and strategies of a fiction. It combines the authority of literature and authority of fact (Gutkind 1997). In her book A Manual for Filipino Writers, Chistina Pantoja Hidalgo writes: The writer of creative nonfiction may not alter facts in the interest of improving his story. He must not deliberately misquote his sources, misconstrue his statements, or mislead his readers. He is expected to write compelling stories about real life, and in doing so, he must employ all the devices and strategies available to the fictionist. Sometimes, this involves the imagining of scenes or even conversations that never actually happen.

Application Separate the attributes of the text below based on the advance organizers presented. Would Antonio Luna Have Been a Strongman? Eyes flashing and fists clenched, Luna entered the house and ran upstairs, after sleeping a sentry who had been too unnerved to salute. Upstairs, Luna was met by his mortal foe, Felipe Buencamino, who told him that Aguinaldo had gone to San Isidro. (Nick Joaquin, 1997, 178) Share your answers with your group and answer the following follow-up questions: 1. What does the text say about Antonio Luna? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 2. Could the clenching of fists and flashing of eyes be documented by Nick Joaquin? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. What did the writer try to build in the minds of the reader? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Did the text remain factual? In what way? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Writing Exercise From the Overview of Creative Nonfiction, I learned that … _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

Module 2- Types of Creative Nonfiction

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Module 2 Types of Creative Nonfiction Introduction Creative nonfiction covers a very broad field in the writing discipline; however, at the end of it is the term literary journalism or new journalism- writing in a personal way about the facts in a news event, and on the other end is the literary memoir, what Annie Dillard referred to when she said “works of nonfiction can be coherent and crafted work of Literature” (1995). The earlier statement which is “a writer of creative nonfiction may not alter the facts in the interest of improving his story (Hidalgo)”, may not necessarily be applied in literary memoir or a travel essay where it may be useful to say or invent a travelling companion who would serve as a foil to the narrator by presenting entirely different expressions of the place described.

Advance Organizer Creative Nonfiction

Literary Journalism

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Magazine feature article Newspaper column as cultural commentary Review Interview story Character sketch Personal essay Autobiographical sketch

Literary Memoir

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Activity Individual Activity Write about your most memorable stay in a place in at least 3 paragraphs. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Group Activity Share your output in the group and discuss its type.


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Analysis The facts, pieced together from the accounts of several people are as follows. Baltazar Endriga, who may or may not be the president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, depending on whose side you’re taking in this long drawn-out conflict, arrived at the CCP on Monday evening for the Mamila Premiere of Carmen,, in radical new version, by choreographer Mats Ek, kicked off the festivities, though perhaps in a more literal fashion than th organizers have envisioned. Mr. Endriga was also there in his capacity as the CCP President, his position having been recently upheld by the Court of Appeals, which used a Temporary Restraining Order against Endriga’s oppositors, Gloria Angara and her trustees. In the first place, Endriga, being a citizen of this country, presumably has the right to set foot on the lobby of the CCP; he was not carrying nuclear weapons and other explosive devices. As Endriga who was accompanied by officers of the French embassy, approached the entrance to the main lobby, six or ten security guards- the witnesses’ accounts vary- stood in his path. They announced that they were under instructions to prevent Endriga from entering the building. These instructions have been issued by their superiors, who received their orders from Ms. Angara and her Board of Trustees. The French representatives explained that Endriga was their guest, and they were going to watch the ballet. The security guards repeated that Endriga was barred from the premises. Words were exchanged (a lovely turn of phrase, as if you were to say to me, “Thaumaturgy” and I were to reply “Periodonist”), and when reason made no dent, physical force was applied. The security guard pushed Endriga and company out the door. The French representatives took hold to Endriga and attempted to push their way in. The security guard tried to push them out.. People started cussing. Soon everyone was yelling, and the jostling match erupted into full-blown melee. The commotion was such that a group of performers rehearsing on an upper floor heard the noise, ran downstairs, and beheld the chaos. -

Jessica Zafra, “The New Uncouthness,” June 2, 1999; Twisted 5(Anvil 2000, 166-67)

With the various characteristics present in the text, compare your essay with the text above. Use an advance organizer to show their relationship.


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Abstraction/ Generalization Due to the extensive range it covers, creative nonfiction, aside from being classified as a literary memoir and literary journalism mentioned earlier in this module, there are still some terms to be considered in identifying the types and classifications of writing under the mentioned two types, which may be under literary memoir or literary journalism depending upon their manners of construction and the information they ought to provide. 1. Profile- an in-depth article or essay that concentrates on one person or a place. 2. Literary journalism or new journalism- writing in a personal way about the facts in a news event. 3. Personal narratives or “life stories”- may be divided into autobiographical narratives (e.g., journals, memoirs, travel narratives, etc.); and biographical narratives (e.g., character sketches, interview stories, etc.)

Application Reconstruct the advance organizer presented on this unit incorporating the classifications of creative nonfiction according to the manner of text construction and the information various texts provide. Write a short explanation of the advance organizer you shall construct.

Writin Exercise From the Types of Creative Nonfiction, I learned that … ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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Module 3- The Pre-writing Process

Creative Writing

Module 3 The Pre-writing Process Introduction One difficult part of writing is beginning the text- selecting what topic to write about, who to read your text, and the process of gathering information regarding the process. All these are needed abilities in beginning your creative nonfiction text.

Advance Organizer

Selecting a topic

Determining the Audience

Gathering Information/Doing Research

Writing the Draft

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Activity Before you read the processes, explain in your own words how you deal with them. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Selecting Topic _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Determining Audience

_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

Gathering Data

_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________


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Abstraction/ Generalization Here are the needed preparatory activities before engaging yourself into the actual writing process: 1. Selecting a topic The beginning writer often complains that he has nothing to write about, yet, as Jacobi said: “From walking. From talking. From listening. From observing. From doing. From reading. From believing. From disagreeing. From dreaming. From asking. From having an open mind,” subjects or topics for writing are everywhere. You should begin with something close to home or close to you, something you are interested in or curious about, but it shouldn’t stop you from reaching the world. However modest it may be, a work that pretends to be literature should be both local and universal, both timely and enduring. Alfred Gonzales (1947) 2. Determining the audience All the facts in the world would be wasted on readers who are unable to appreciate them. Thus, it is necessary to handle and organize your essay depending upon who the target audience is. Your choice of language is also a necessary factor to consider- i.e., the choice of words, the length of sentences, the images, the allusions. Your approach would also vary upon the audience- i.e., personal narrative would not be so effective to children, yet, it may be effective to adult people. The amount and type of information that the essay or article should contain would also depend on the audience’s capacity to absorb it. 3. Gathering Data An important thing to remember is: no matter how great your way with words, or how engaging the personality you project, the bottom line is: how much do you know about your subject? In gathering information, you have to consider the following factors: What kind of information Where to get it Keep current information It is also immensely important to develop in yourself the art of listening.   


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Application Select five topics, think of the target audience, and gather information about your topic. Then fill up the table below.

TOPIC

TARGET AUDIENCE

INFORMATION GATHERED ABOUT THE TOPIC


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Writing Exercise From the Pre-writing process, I learned that … ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Module 4- Strategies of Creative Nonfiction

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Creative Writing

Module 4 Various Strategies of Creative Nonfiction Introduction The strategies of creative nonfiction are very much alike with the strategies of fiction. Gutkind said that the basic objective of creative nonfiction is to teach (he refers to it as “the mission of the genre”), but the point is to do it in such manner “that the most resistant reader will be interested in learning more” (1997). Eventually, it means that a good piece of creative nonfiction has a personal voice, a clearly defined point of view, which will reveal itself to the tone, and be presented through scene, summary, and description, as it is in fiction.

Advance Organizer Scene

Approach Point of View

Rhetorical Techniques

Strategies Strong Beginning Structure Character

Tone Voice

Concrete Evocative Details

Convincing Ending

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Activity How do you identify a creative nonfiction text? Explain your answer or give examples. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________

Abstraction/ Generalization Strategies of Writing Creative Nonfiction 1. Approach It has something to do with how the writer handles hi subject. It may also be the angle on how the story is viewed. Objective Approach- there is no narrator present in the text. Subjective Approach- the writer himself is the narrator and his personal emotions towards the subject would reflect on the text Whether which of the two- objective or subjective approach- is appropriate in a text will be dependent upon the writer’s circumstances. 2. Point of View It has something to do with perspective- whether who owns the story or who can best tell the story. The narrator may act as either a participant or an observer. Note that point-of-view greatly differs from the grammatical person. Consequently, even the first person is used, the point-of-view may still be that of an observer; and even the point-of-view is that of the principal character, the third person may be used.

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Occasionally, the writer uses second person into draw the reader into the story, creating the impression that he is a part of the story, thus he is witnessing the events described in the text. Creative nonfiction however, generally use the first and third persons or they use the indefinite pronoun “one”. 3. Tone Tone is the writers attitude towards his subject. A subject may be presented in a sarcastic tone, reverent tone, or apologetic tone, depending on the distinction of the writer. Tone may be evident in a text through the writer’s choice of words . NOTE: Approach, tone, and point-of-view are very important strategies in writing your essay. Handling these three correctly and wisely on your text will effectively convey your meaning. 4. Voice Voice is related to tone and style . It refers to the choice of word, length of sentences, use of certain images, metaphors, allusions, etc.- which reveal a particular personality, and a particular attitude. 5. Structure Your topic will itself suggest the structure of your text. Structure is the arrangement or organization of the text. a. Chronological structure- an arrangement of events in a linear fashion as they occurred in time. b. Flashback structure- beginning in a certain point of the story then moving back in the past. c. Parallel structure- a type of structure that has several stories, running side by side with occasional cross-cutting or convergence. d. Collage or Mosaic structure- it involves pasting together of small fragments, which all together build up the total picture of what happened. e. Question and Answer structure- it allows the reader to hear the subject’s voice without awkwardness of having to repeat “he said” or “she said” before or after every direct quotation.


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f. Frame or The story-within-a-story- it is a good structure to use when you want to say two stories- say, a travel narrative, where the actual physical journey is paralleled by an inner journey. 6. A strong, Dramatic Beginning a. Title- it is not necessarily written before the piece is written, but it is good to have a working title to help you focus.    

Catchy and clever tiles have an advantage Titles which are too long are at disadvantage Titles should not be misleading It should give the reader an idea of what to expect

b. The first paragraph First paragraphs lead the reader to reading the whole text. Thus, it must catch attention, give the reader a hint of what the subject is, set the tone, and guide the reader to what comes next. The key to good creative nonfiction is dramatic writing and the key to good dramatic writing is action. Ways of beginning:       

Passage of vivid description Quotation Dialogue Question Striking statement Reference to current event In medias res- plunge right into the middle of the action

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6. Rhetorical Techniques a. Definition- bit is particularly important on essay writing or expository writing where the major concern is explaining the concept or idea or issue. b. Comparison-and-contrast- it is easier for the readers to understand an idea or concept when compared to something they are familiar with. When using this method, remember not to compare and contrast more than two items at the same time, otherwise, you may confuse your readers instead of enlightening them. 

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It is also important to compare only those that belong to the same class.

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c. Illustrations and examples- this technique makes abstract or general ideas more concrete, it clarifies. It may be in the form of anecdotes and quotations or in simple enumeration. Make sure that the relation between your example and the idea you wish to clarify is immediately apparent to the reader. 

d. Classification- it is a good device for organizing complex materials provided that there is a principle governing the classification and that principle must be meaningful enough. e. Analogy or extended metaphor7. Character The ability to reveal characters is the an important skill for writing. Types of Characters a. Character in Action- describes what the main character does b. Description of physical appearance- shows the audience how the character in the text looks like- through the way he dresses, the way he moves, his height, age, etc. c. Presenting through the eyes of the people d. Dialogue or monologue- presenting the character based on what he says or how he says it. e. Idiosyncratic behavior- gives a view on the character’s unique behavior. f. Reconstruction of the subject’s special setting or ambiance - the place where the character stays is described. 8. Concrete and evocative details The most successful pieces of creative nonfiction are rich in details. Bare facts are never enough. They need to be fleshed out; they need to be humanized. a. Details should be accurate and informative b. Details must be suggestive or evocative

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9. Scene The chief distinction between traditional reporting and creative nonfiction is the use of scenes and dramatic writing. It heightens the feeling of being “right here” in the thick of what happened. This is done by presenting the news not through summary and exposition but through scenes. 10. A convincing ending It must be the logical conclusion of the flow of your text or of the development of your ideas. The reader must be left with the impression that the subject was adequately discussed or presented. Ways of ending: a. Dramatic denoument b. Note of quiet lyricism c. Moral lesson d. Anecdote e. point made at the beginning of the essay

Application Choose one topic from the following and write an essay incorporating the strategies you learned from this module. Write a catchy title for your text. a. My unforgettable travel b. My best friend c. My favorite pet d. My greatest learning e. My college life e. Environmental issues f. Animals or insects

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Writing Exercise From the strategies of writing creative nonfiction, what important characteristics must a writer of creative nonfiction possess? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

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Synapse Strengthener Research examples of texts employing the various types of presenting the following techniques: 1. Rhetorical Devices 2. Character 3. Convincing Ending

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References

REFERENCE Hidalgo, Christina P. (2005) Creative Nonfiction A Manual For Filipino Writers. Quezon City: The University of the Philippines Press.

Module to Creative Nonfiction

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