Course Form
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
English/Creative Writing
Course Title
Techniques of Modern Nonfiction
Prefix and Course # CRWR (ENCR) 513
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Techniques of Nonfiction
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New Course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Judy Blunt
Phone/ email :
2275/bluntj@mso.umt.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Jill Bergman
Other affected programs
Date
Dean:
Are other departments/programs affected by this modification Please obtain signature(s) from the
because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Common Course Numbering Review (Department Chair Must Initial):
Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere in the MUS? Check all relevant disciplines if
course is interdisciplinary. (http://mus.edu/transfer/CCN/ccn_default.asp)
YES
If YES: Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with existing course(s)? Please indicate
equivalent course/campus. 
This course conforms with the CCN rubric and aligns with CRWR offerings in Fiction and Poetry. It is
currently required by Nonfiction MFA students.
If NO: Course may be unique, but is subject to common course review. Be sure to include learning outcomes
on syllabus or paste below. The course number may be changed at the system level.
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
G 513 Techniques of Modern Nonfiction Variable cr. (R-6) Offered once every 2 years. Prereq.,
consent of instr. Study of form, technique and style in contemporary nonfiction.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
All MFA students are required to complete a techniques course in their genre. Poetry and fiction have
established courses (ENCR 512, ENCR 515), but nonfiction techniques has been offered as a special topic
every two years to answer the demand by nonfiction MFA students. ENCR 513 will fill this hole in our
graduate curriculum.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
No.
Complete for UG courses (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment - see procedure 301.30
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
Complete for Co-convented courses
Companion course number, title, and description (include syllabus of companion course in section V)
See procedure 301.20 http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
New fees and changes to existing fees are only approved once each biennium by the
Board of Regents. The coordination of fee submission is administered by Administration
and Finance. Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions
according to Policy 940.12.1 http://mus.edu/borpol/bor900/940-12-1.pdf . Please
indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
Co-convened
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
Prerequisites
YES
NO
From:
To:
Repeatability
From:
To:
Yes. ENCR 212
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
Cross Listing
(primary
program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the
course? no
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
5. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://mus.edu/transfer/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether this change will eliminate the course’s common course
status.
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference procedure 301.30:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/
grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
7. Other programs affected by the change
8. Justification for proposed change
YES NO
Have you reviewed the graduate
increment guidelines? Please check (X)
space provided.
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
NOTE: Topics in Techniques courses vary. This is the course I taught Spring 2009 as a ST course. I’ll be
teaching a similar course as a ST 595 this spring.
ENCR 495: ST-- Techniques of Modern Nonfiction
Judy Blunt
Office: LA 112
Email: bluntj@mso.umt.edu
This course will focus on primary subgenres of nonfiction: introspective, immersion
journalism, documentary film, true crime writing, personal essay, memoir, graphic nonfiction
and formal research based writing. We will look closely at individual works in each of these
areas, identifying and studying form and function, style and technique. In addition, students
will write brief (2-3 page) essays analyzing elements of craft or writing techniques in the
works studied.
Thinking on the Page
February 1-3: Virginia Woolf: A Room of One’s Own
Immersion Journalism
February 8-10: Barbara Ehrenreich: Nickel and Dimed
Documentary Film
February 15: PRESIDENTS' DAY--No Class
February 17: Documentary Film Festival--writing response due 2/19
February 22-24: Susan Orlean: The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup
Crime Writing
March 1-3: Truman Capote: In Cold Blood
March 8-10: Michael Finkel: True Story
Personal Essay
March 15-17: Joan Didion: The White Album
Research Based Writing
March 22-24: John McPhee: The John McPhee Reader
March 29-April 2 SPRING BREAK
April 5: Research Day—No Class
April 8: AWP--No Class
April 12-14: David Quammen: Wild Thoughts from Wild Places
Memoir
April 19-21: Mary Karr: The Liar’s Club
April 26-28: Jeannette Walls: The Glass Castle
Graphic Nonfiction
May 3-5: Art Spiegelman: Maus I & II
You may use any available editions of these works.
Assignments:
For each book, two students will be asked to give an introduction to the writer whose work we
will be discussing, including biographical details, mentions of other work, and critical
reception. They will then lead the class discussion on the work.
Each student will be required to write a brief craft essay (300 words +/-) on each book we
cover. I’d like you to focus on some aspect of craft that strikes you as you read the book, for
example: the use of specific details; exposition versus scene; character development; dialogue;
humor, point of view; image and metaphor; sentence structure; the authorial voice and the
creation of authority; time and tense; the creation of tension or suspense. Or any other craft
issue that you find interesting. You will be expected to post your reading response on our
Blackboard site by 5 p.m. Sunday, the day before our class is scheduled to begin discussing it,
and read the essays posted by your classmates before our class meets. For the final project,
you will be required to submit an essay that models a specific craft technique of your own
choosing. Students will confer with me at midterm to pitch their project proposals and the
final drafts will be due before the final week of class.
Grading: Everyone starts with a 100% score. Here’s how to keep that grade: post craft essays
on Blackboard by 5 p.m. Sunday the day before our class meets for discussion of the work.
Students will also post brief critiques of peer presentations by Friday of each week. Students
failing to meet deadlines or post assigned writing will lose 5 points per instance. Class
attendance is required. Absence is not an excuse for failing to complete and post an
assignment. In final grading, I will consider craft essays/reading responses, class
presentations, participation in class discussion, thoughtful evaluation of peer presentations,
and the final project.
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Revised 5-4-11