Non-Fiction Writing Course

Lesson 1 • Major Non-Fiction Genres

Surveys memoir, journalism, essays, narrative non-fiction, and instructional writing. Helps students identify which genre best suits their goals and audiences.

Lesson 2 • Defining Non-Fiction as a Craft

Examines what separates non-fiction from fiction through accuracy, intent, and evidence. Anchors the chapter by establishing the writer's ethical contract with readers.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Your Purpose and Audience

Teaches writers to articulate a clear purpose and profile their target readers before drafting. Connects purpose-setting to every structural and stylistic decision that follows.

Lesson 1 • Secondary Research and Source Evaluation

Teaches database searching, library resources, and rigorous source credibility assessment. Equips students to distinguish reliable evidence from misinformation.

Lesson 2 • Organizing and Managing Research

Presents note-taking systems, citation tracking, and research file organization for long projects. Ensures students can retrieve and deploy evidence efficiently during drafting.

Lesson 3 • Planning a Research Strategy

Introduces research scoping, question formulation, and source mapping before fieldwork begins. Prevents wasted effort and ensures research aligns with the project's purpose.

Lesson 4 • Ethical Responsibilities in Research

Addresses informed consent, source protection, accuracy obligations, and avoiding fabrication. Reinforces the ethical contract introduced in Chapter 1 with concrete research practices.

Lesson 1 • Outlining Strategies for Non-Fiction

Compares linear, modular, and question-driven outline formats for different non-fiction genres. Gives students a repeatable planning tool before any draft begins.

Lesson 2 • Conclusions That Resonate

Teaches synthesis, call-to-action, and resonant-image endings that satisfy reader expectations. Distinguishes strong closings from mere summaries.

Lesson 3 • Pacing and Information Density

Balances detail-rich passages with breathing room to sustain reader engagement throughout. Applies pacing principles to both short essays and long-form projects.

Lesson 4 • Openings That Hook Readers

Analyzes anecdote, scene-setting, provocative question, and data-driven openings. Teaches students to choose the entry point that best serves their purpose and audience.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Authorial Voice

Defines voice as the sum of diction, syntax, rhythm, and perspective choices. Students analyze published writers to identify voice components they can adopt and adapt.

Lesson 2 • Figurative Language in Non-Fiction

Explores metaphor, simile, and analogy as tools for making complex ideas accessible. Warns against overuse that undermines factual credibility.

Lesson 3 • Clarity and Precision in Language

Targets vague abstractions, jargon overuse, and passive-voice habits that obscure meaning. Connects precise language to reader trust and credibility.

Lesson 4 • Developing a Signature Style

Guides students through deliberate style experiments to discover and refine their own voice. Produces a personal style inventory students can reference throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Tension, Conflict, and Stakes

Identifies sources of tension in real events and teaches writers to foreground them structurally. Connects narrative tension to reader investment and forward momentum.

Lesson 2 • Dialogue and Quotation

Distinguishes reconstructed dialogue from direct quotation and teaches accurate attribution. Shows how well-placed quotes animate non-fiction without distorting the record.

Lesson 3 • Characterization of Real People

Covers physical description, behavior, speech, and motivation to portray real subjects fairly. Balances vivid portrayal with ethical obligations to living subjects.

Lesson 4 • Point of View and Narrative Distance

Explores first-person, second-person, and third-person perspectives in non-fiction contexts. Teaches students to choose and maintain a consistent narrative distance.

Lesson 1 • Building a Logical Argument

Covers claim, warrant, evidence, and rebuttal as the skeleton of any persuasive non-fiction piece. Teaches students to test argument validity before drafting.

Lesson 2 • Rhetorical Strategies for Non-Fiction

Applies ethos, pathos, and logos to non-fiction contexts beyond academic argument. Shows how rhetorical awareness strengthens both essays and long-form journalism.

Lesson 3 • Avoiding Logical Fallacies

Identifies common fallacies—straw man, false dichotomy, ad hominem—that undermine credibility. Trains students to audit their own arguments for logical errors.

Lesson 4 • Types of Evidence and Their Weight

Distinguishes statistical, anecdotal, expert, and comparative evidence by persuasive strength. Guides students to match evidence type to argument needs.

Lesson 1 • Line Editing for Style and Voice

Refines word choice, rhythm, and tone consistency at the line level without losing the author's voice. Applies the style principles from Chapter 4 to actual draft material.

Lesson 2 • Paragraph and Sentence-Level Editing

Targets topic sentences, transitions, redundancy, and sentence variety at the mid-level. Connects sentence-level clarity to the macro argument built in the previous section.

Lesson 3 • The Revision Mindset

Reframes revision as creative opportunity rather than corrective punishment. Establishes the psychological distance needed to evaluate one's own draft honestly.

Lesson 4 • Macro-Level Structural Revision

Evaluates argument coherence, section order, pacing, and overall narrative arc at the big-picture level. Teaches students to reorganize before polishing sentences.

Lesson 1 • Writing Queries and Proposals

Teaches query letter structure, book proposal components, and pitch email best practices. Directly prepares students to approach editors, agents, and publications professionally.

Lesson 2 • Building an Author Platform

Covers website, newsletter, and social media presence as tools for credibility and audience growth. Connects platform-building to long-term career sustainability.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Publishing Pathways

Compares traditional publishing, independent publishing, and digital-first platforms by audience reach and creative control. Helps students choose the right path for each project.

Lesson 4 • Working with Editors and Feedback

Prepares students for editorial relationships, revision requests, and professional critique. Builds the collaborative skills needed to thrive in any publishing environment.