Writing About Nature

Undergraduate

This course considers writing as a means of responding to and engaging with nature and as a medium for sharing and reflecting on others’ experiences of nature through the act of reading. The course defines writing broadly, from personal journals, including sketching, to published memoirs, poetry, essays, and novels. It also defines nature broadly–from remote wildernesses to patches of green and urban birds and animals in cities such as New Haven. It combines a wide-ranging study of works of nature writing by diverse authors in multiple genres with activities meant to encourage class-members to slow down and practice close attention and observation. Writing assignments include regular journal entries, creative and critical responses to our readings, revisions of journal entries and essays, and a final project. Some class meetings are outdoors, and one longer field-trip may be scheduled. Enrollment limited to first-year students. HU TTh 11:35am-12:50pm