(1) What is your essential question, and what are your answers? What is your best answer and why?
My essential question is: What two techniques from journalism and fiction writing can best be combined in creative nonfiction?
My answers are: The journalist technique of extensive research and the art of storytelling from fiction writing, The journalist technique of immersion and the fiction writer's technique of character development,
The journalist's technique of establishing context and the fiction writer's incorporation of compression.
My best answer is: The journalist technique of extensive research and the art of storytelling from fiction writing can best be combined in creative nonfiction.
The reason I decided to choose this particular answer was because of my experience at the Claremont Courier (dealing with the monthly Kid's Corner article issues) in which I spent an abundance of my time researching my subject of interest and crafting articles in such a way that were both educational and entertaining for the younger readers. Also, upon examination, a majority of my research notes seemed to gravitate around the technique of extensive research and incorporation of storytelling devices to produce an adequate piece of prose whether it be an article, memoir, personal essay, etc.
(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
I spent a majority of my time switching between delving into print publications that were creative nonfiction oriented as well as looking into books that focused completely on journalism and fiction writing to see what aspects from each genre applied to my senior topic. I often discussed my topic with my mentor (a reporter at the Claremont Courier) and Carla Benevidaz (a specialist in the trade magazine industry) and both seemed to brush upon the aspect of extensive research in each interview so I figured this was no coincidence. From there I read what I could and for my independent component 2, actually delved into these techniques myself.
I spent a majority of my time switching between delving into print publications that were creative nonfiction oriented as well as looking into books that focused completely on journalism and fiction writing to see what aspects from each genre applied to my senior topic. I often discussed my topic with my mentor (a reporter at the Claremont Courier) and Carla Benevidaz (a specialist in the trade magazine industry) and both seemed to brush upon the aspect of extensive research in each interview so I figured this was no coincidence. From there I read what I could and for my independent component 2, actually delved into these techniques myself.
(3) What problems did you face? How did you resolve them?
Upon searching for my final answer, I did hit a few bumps in the road.
For a while, I was slighted by my second answer, unable to make the decision on whether it was sufficient enough to answer my essential question. Character development is a crucial aspect in shaping the outcome of a creative nonfiction piece because this is what resonates most with the reader. I resolved this particular conundrum by talking to my mentor who then agreed that the art of storytelling does in fact encompass more than figurative language but the composition of a character as well.
Upon searching for my final answer, I did hit a few bumps in the road.
For a while, I was slighted by my second answer, unable to make the decision on whether it was sufficient enough to answer my essential question. Character development is a crucial aspect in shaping the outcome of a creative nonfiction piece because this is what resonates most with the reader. I resolved this particular conundrum by talking to my mentor who then agreed that the art of storytelling does in fact encompass more than figurative language but the composition of a character as well.
(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?
Gutkind, Lee. You Can't Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction--from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything in between. Boston, MA: Da Capo/Lifelong, 2012. Print.
This book delves into the art of creative nonfiction, it's composition and craft, the variant techniques involved in producing prose, guidelines to avoid libel, and details the elements from both journalism and fiction that blend together. It also provides examples as to how pieces of prose within the genre are shaped and includes excerpts from memoirs, short stories, and articles.
Perl, Sondra, and Mimi Schwartz. Writing True: The Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.
This book touches upon the variant aspects involved with creative nonfiction such as it's origin, the importance of particular elements that should be presented and properly executed in an adequate piece of prose, and features first hand experiences from the authors on this field of writing as well as interviews and notes from both readings and findings.
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