The Stuyvesant High School Online Course Guide

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This class will be a workshop for student writers who wish to move beyond traditional models of academic writing. Instead, we will take as our inspiration the vast expanse of published nonfiction that seeks to experiment with the essay form. Our starting point will be Montaigne's conception of essais as "attempts" or "trials" in which the writer seeks to explore both himself and his world. We'll move on to consider various models, discussing writing that is honest and deeply thoughtful.

Students will have the chance to try a variety of approaches to creative nonfiction, and they will be expected to make careful decisions about form, structure, and style. Students will write often, both formally and informally, and they will be expected to share their work with peers while offering constructive criticism. The goal is to create an open and supportive community of nonfiction writers. The course will be open to juniors, and it can also serve as a place for students to develop the skills that will allow them to write thoughtful and creative college essays.

This course is offered in both the fall and spring semesters, but may only be taken for one term.