Literature & Writing   

In 1848 William and Ellen Craft, a young enslaved couple, did the impossible: they escaped from Georgia disguised as a white master with his black slave. Pursued and in danger of being retaken and tortured, they went public, speaking and touring northern states before fleeing to England. This class will be a deep dive into their history and encourage developing your ideas out loud. At heart, this is an American love story between a man and a woman, a couple and a country.

Chico State's tradition of academic excellence goes back more than 130 years. With over 850 faculty members and 13,000 students, the University's teaching and learning community is thriving. Discover the imagination, cutting-edge research, and expertise that flourishes in our own backyard!

In Mary Shelley's gripping 1816 novel, Victor Frankenstein experimentally assembles pieces of human cadavers which he then animates, creating a "monster" with superhuman physical and mental powers. In this learning through conversation seminar, we will examine the personal, social, cultural, and ethical consequences of creating such a being.

Linguaphile by Julie Sedivy, linguist, cognitive scientist, prose writer, and poet, follows the path language takes through life from infancy, childhood, maturity, aging, and loss. A memoir of a life steeped in love and exploration of language, and an accessible overview of the science of language, Linguaphile elucidates the mysteries of language and will deepen your appreciation of language and how it permeates our lives. Whether you are interested in the sciences or the humanities, reading the book will be a revelatory experience. Michael will lead the discussion, providing suggested discussion questions and occasionally supplementary scientific background.

Reading poetry helps you to know things more fully; it commands your attention; and it can sustain good conversation. In this class, participants select poetry from favorite sources to read aloud with fellow enthusiasts.

Each week the class will read poems by an individual poet, a collection of poems on a specific subject, or a collection of poems in a specific style. A wide range of poets and poetry will be presented, from classic to contemporary. We will discuss poetry from the perspective that the poet creates the work but the reader activates it.

This class will discuss favorite science fiction authors, their books, and the human, political, and scientific issues they raise. The books and authors will be chosen by Sydney from suggestions by participants. This is a fun, free-flowing gathering of science fiction enthusiasts. Please join us and bring your ideas, insights, and suspension of disbelief.

Join us for a collaborative read of one of Shakespeare's more intriguing (and disturbing) plays. You'll be encouraged, but not required, to join in the discussion. This class is for beginners and Shakespeare veterans alike. You will want your own copy of the play, but any good standard edition will do. Email Jack (jdayer@ucdavis.edu) for guidance.

This writer's workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.

Your book's first fifteen pages are critical. They're your one chance to captivate readers. Without a strong opening, your manuscript risks rejection before it's fully read. This class reveals the essential elements that make opening pages irresistible across genres. We'll analyze successful examples and apply these techniques to your work. Whether you're a novice with a fresh idea or an experienced writer, you'll learn to craft opening pages that demand attention and create a strong foundation for the rest of your story.