Participants in this course will not only examine biography as a literary form but also learn how to research and write a short book-length biography. We will begin by reading excerpts from biographies, plays, and other sources that invite critical thinking about such issues as the authority and status of different kinds of evidence, the demands of "telling a story" about a life, and the kinds of choices a biographer might confront in order to shape that story. These issues will continue to come into focus during the practical part of the course, as students work to impose order on biographical materials uncovered through research. During the course of the term, students will work independently on a biographical subject of their choice, meeting regularly with the instructor to discuss problems and progress. About halfway through the semester, the class will convene for several sessions as a workshop, where each student will present his or her work-in-progress for the group to critique. By the end of the semester, each student will have completed a set of materials similar to a proposal for submission to a publisher: a sample chapter, an outline for the whole book with a brief synopsis of each chapter, and a selection of illustrations with captions. Students are encouraged to select their biographical subject before the first class meeting, and to be imaginative in choosing a subject: for example, it could be a well-known political, literary, or scientific figure, including one relevant to another course, or it could be a family member about whom they would wish to know more. Format: discussion/workshop. Prerequisites: a 100-level English course, except 150, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limit: 12 (expected: 12). Preference to sophomores.

Hour: N. PASACHOFF