Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

Phil Druker/English 404/504

TRAVEL WRITING: Assignment 4

Short feature length article (1400 – 1800 words): 350 pts.

Goal:
Your objective is to write a short feature length (1400-1800 word) destination piece, which if possible deals with an issue.  Take us (people who have never been to the place) somewhere and help us decide if we want to go there after reading your piece and help us learn about an issue the people in the place face. This article needs to be based on the query letter/email (50 points) you send (and I approve).

For this assignment, you can revisit a place you’ve already written about, but if you do that you need to completely re-write/revise the earlier piece and add details about an issue.

Note: with this assignment you will also submit a cover letter (50 pts).

The Assignment:

1.      Focus on a place.

2.      To make your piece work, consider these points:

a.       Make your description purposeful/informative.

                                                              i.      --focus on an angle/ find and give the essay a “center”

                                                            ii.      --react to the place

b.       Use details.  Use the senses (as appropriate).

c.       Provide researched facts (cite sources)

d.       Put people in the place as appropriate.

                                                              i.      --Use narration.

                                                            ii.      --Use characterization.

e.       Consider organization:

                                                              i.      --space

                                                            ii.      --time (chronology)

                                                          iii.      --topic

                                                          iv.      --personal or psychological perspective

f.       Consider stylistics:

                                                              i.      Tone

                                                            ii.      Metaphor

                                                          iii.      Humor as appropriate.

                                                          iv.      Avoiding Be and Passive

Hints:

1.      Your article needs to have a clear purpose. Be sure to make a point.

2.      Give this a title that moves the reader to the piece’s center.  

3.      Use narration and characterization to move the piece but don’t just write a story. 

4.      Avoid sanitizing, sentimentalizing, or exaggerating.

5.      Use a unifying metaphor.

6.      Avoid clichés.

7.      Remember to SHOW rather than Tell.

8.  Consider the first line and the last line-- make them work.

Due dates:

Query email  4/14  Rough draft 4/28     Workshop 4/30

Final Draft 5/7

Criteria: Assignment 4

Content:

1.      Main point clear: focus on a “center”

2.      Details

a.       Show (rather than tell)

b.      Useful

c.       Correct

d.      Deals with “the other” as appropriate

e.       Researched facts

f.   Pacing

3.      Narration (not focused solely on narration)

a.       Clear

b.      Effectively moves details/pacing

4.      Characterization.

a.       Clear

b.      Effectively moves details/pacing

5. Tone.

a. Effective details/descriptions

b. irony

6.      Conclusion works

7.      Clear, useful title

8.      Closing line brings closure.

Organization

1.      Main point emphasized

2.      Paragraphs work 

Sentence style:

1.      Correct           

2.      Clear

3.      Concise

Audience

1.      Will the audience find this useful?

2.      Great opening line the engages the reader.

3.      Closing line brings closure.

Documentation

            Show where your facts come from.