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1. Week 4
Social Action
Discussion: Creative Nonfiction and Social Action
(Original Content Only) (Discussion Board Post) (500 words) (APA format)
Context
Choose a piece of creative nonfiction (that you haven’t yet written about) from one of the below texts to read and discuss this week.
The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of Social Protest, Ed. Upton Sinclair
Fire and Ink: An Anthology of Social Justice Writing, Ed. Frances Payne Adler
Task
Please respond to the three questions below (500 words) in your discussion post.
In what ways does the creative nonfiction piece you read engage with issues of social justice? (Quote specific examples).
What do you notice about the piece’s use of craft (plot, setting, character, pov)?
How do those craft elements speak to the social justice content in the work?
List the title and author of the creative nonfiction you read and discussed this week.
2. Social Action
Discussion: Creative Nonfiction and Social Action
(Original Content Only) (Discussion Board Reply) (350 words) (APA format)
Mindy Christiansen posted Sep 18, 2024 10:21 PM
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There were quite a few nonfiction pieces within Sinclair’s, The Cry for Justice that really spoke to me, such as the excerpt from Ibsen’s A Doll’s House or Hugo’s piece, The Orator on the Barricade, however for this particular assignment, I chose John D. Rockefeller Sr.’s, The Road to Success from the chapter titled, Humor, as I believe it captures the essence of social justice. Especially as he writes;
In the choice of your profession or your business employment, let your first thought be: Where can I fit in so that I may be most effective in the work of the world? Where can I lend a hand in a way most effective to advance the general interests? (Sinclair 455)
Rockefeller continues in displaying a keen understanding of how to effectively invoke societal change through his text stating;
Investigation will show that the great fortunes which have been made in this country, and the same is probably true of other lands, have come to men who have performed great and far-reaching economic services. The man will be most successful who confers the greatest service on the world. (Sinclair 455)
The voice of the author speaks to the issue of social justice in his skillful usage of such craft elements as repetitive text while imparting a certain point of view. Rockefeller sets up his text as a map to the success of creating a just society, one individual at a time. I felt as though he was providing a guiding hand in becoming an individual who doesn’t simply work but rather one who works for the greater good. While I am sure John D. Rockefeller Sr. was invited to give many speeches during his lifetime, I hope that among those given, he addressed college graduates with this inspirational prose. Aside from this piece of nonfiction as well as numerous others regarding social justice, once retired and for the remainder of his life, Rockefeller utilized his fortune to create foundations that supported medicine, education and scientific research. In other words, he didn’t just write of the responsibilities of social justice, he lived it.
As a side note, I found the wording of the title a very interesting choice, using not A cry as in a singular action, but rather The cry as a combined, definitive action, therefore making The Cry for Justice, a tellingly bold title, as if a battle cry for the masses. a consolidation of empowerment.
Work Cited
Sinclair, Upton, The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. Lyle Stuart, Inc. 1963.
3. Social Action
Discussion: Creative Nonfiction and Social Action
(Original Content Only) (Discussion Board Reply) (350 words) (APA format)
Sheryl Tirol posted Sep 21, 2024 8:42 AM
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In Mourning Exercise from Fire and Ink: An Anthology of Social Action Writing, Jarvis Jay Masters engages with issues of social justice. He is writing from his experience as a death row inmate, sharing his personal view of the U.S. prison system. He reflects on both personal and shared loss, showing how prison takes an emotional and mental toll, especially on marginalized people. The piece subtly criticizes the harsh conditions and the dehumanizing effects of the justice system, particularly for those on death row.
One part of this story that really struck me was how the world outside of their cells goes on without them, including death. Masters describes how prisoners dread when a prison chaplain comes for a visit while they are all outside during the morning exercise routine. This typically means bad news and that someone they love has passed away. As Masters writes, “I was the first to see the prison chaplain approach the fence. The yard suddenly fell silent. I held my breath, hoping he wasn’t headed my way. Most of us never saw the prison chaplain unless it was Christmas or we were about to receive some very bad news. The chaplain walked along the fence, staring through his wire-frame glasses. He seemed like a messenger of death. I wanted to turn away and pretend I’d never seen this man of the cloth before” (245).
Masters illustrates how, although they have all been incarcerated, they’re still human and have hearts that beat and have emotions. They’re not animals who cannot feel pain or grief when they lose someone they love on the outside. It provides a complex picture of what they endure as prisoners. He describes how the chaplain approaches one prisoner, Freddie, who is playing basketball. Freddie does not acknowledge the chaplain but only plays even harder. Eventually, he speaks with the chaplain only to learn his grandmother, his only living relative, had passed away. Masters then describes how this man who has lost the only loved one in his life is now gone and how he wasn’t there when she passed. He is processing his grief in a public setting.
“Several minutes later Freddie glanced up at the two guardsmen in the gun tower. I didn’t make much of it until he turned, and I could see that his eyes were filled with tears, just as tears had filled my own world when members of my family had died. He was fighting hard to stay strong, to keep the pain from showing to resist his desire to cry in front of us, whose tears he had never seen” (246).
Masters’ situation as a Black man on death row reflects the larger problem of racial injustice in the legal and prison systems. The high number of people of color, especially Black men, in prison and on death row shows the racial bias in these systems. His piece gives insight into the experiences of those affected by these unfair structures. Masters’ work calls for recognizing the humanity of people in prison. By sharing his emotional struggles and growth through grief, he challenges the way society often views prisoners, especially those on death row, as beyond saving. His story stresses the need for compassion, empathy, and systems that respect human dignity.
The title Mourning Exercise can symbolize the injustice prisoners face. “Mourning” suggests deep grief and loss, reflecting the emotional pain prisoners, especially those on death row, go through. “Exercise” implies this mourning is ongoing, showing how prisoners constantly deal with pain and injustice in the prison system. The title suggests that prisoners repeatedly face the losses caused by an unfair system. Masters’ approach on mourning becomes a social justice issue by showing the emotional burden placed on those who are imprisoned or oppressed. His personal grief serves as a microcosm for the collective grief of disenfranchised groups.
Instead of following a typical story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, the piece feels more like a reflection. Masters takes the reader through his personal grief, focusing on the emotional journey rather than specific events or actions. This approach highlights how mourning is ongoing, showing the heavy emotional burden that people in prison carry every day. The piece is written in the first person, letting readers directly see Masters’ personal experience. This makes it feel more intimate, helping readers connect with his emotions and understand the mental toll of life on death row. Using first-person makes the often dehumanized experience of prisoners feel more human and real.
The reflective plot highlights the emotional and mental challenges of life in prison instead of just focusing on specific events. This way of telling the story shows how systemic injustice keeps prisoners stuck in cycles of grief and loss. By focusing on these emotional experiences, Masters shines a light on the mental toll that incarceration takes on individuals, which often gets overlooked.
Even though the setting is a prison, it’s not described in detail. This shows how prison life takes away a person’s identity and individuality. The starkness of the environment matches the dehumanization prisoners experience, highlighting the emotional and mental confinement that goes beyond just the physical space. By not focusing on the physical setting, the piece draws attention to the inner struggles of incarcerated individuals, reminding us of their humanity. Masters portrays himself as a complex, evolving person, challenging the idea that prisoners can’t change. By sharing his personal growth and emotional struggles, he shows that incarcerated individuals are more than just their crimes. This directly addresses social justice issues by promoting compassion, empathy, and the recognition of their humanity.
There is a very poignant line at the end of this story, “It was as humans first and men second that we all, including Freddie, returned to our cells that day” (247).
At the end of Mourning Exercise, when Masters says they returned to their cells “as humans first and men second,” he emphasizes the importance of recognizing their shared humanity. This line suggests that, despite being in prison, their identity as human beings—capable of emotions and growth—matters more than the labels society places on them. It symbolizes their resilience and dignity, rejecting the idea that their worth is defined by their crimes and advocating for compassion and understanding in a harsh system.
Masters, Jarvis Jay. “Mourning Exercise.” Fire and Ink: An Anthology of Social Justice Writing, edited by Frances Payne Adler, The University of Arizona Press, 2009, pp. 245-247.
4. Week 3
(4 pages) (MLA format) (Original Content Only) (View link for article)
Written Assignment: Fiction and Writing as Social Action
Context
This week your research toward your Portfolio Projects will specifically explore how the craft of fiction engages with writing as social action.
Task
In this writing assignment, you’ll choose one of the prompts below to respond to, based on your MA concentration or MFA specialization.
Creative Writing
Write a flash fiction piece about a social justice issue of your choice.
Manifestos: Six Principles of Flash Fiction, Holly Lyn Walrath.
https://www.cottonxenomorph.com/journal/2018/6/21/manifestos-six-principles-of-flash-fiction
Literature
Research and read a database article or book chapter that speaks to your final literary analysis project (in relation to social justice & fiction). Summarize and reflect on the article or chapter you selected. Discuss what you learned and how it defines/approaches literature and/or your essay topic in relation to social justice. How does this reading speak to or impact the thesis of your final essay? Please use MLA citations and title each reflection as per the article or chapter you chose (4 double-spaced pages).
5. Week 4
(4 pages) (MLA format) (Original Content Only) (View link for article)
Written Assignment: Creative Nonfiction & Social Justice
Topic: Christian Militant Groups and Political Influence
Context
This week your research toward your Portfolio Projects will specifically explore how the craft of creative nonfiction engages with writing as social action.
Task
In this writing assignment you’ll choose one of the prompts below to respond to, based on your MA concentration or MFA specialization.
Creative Writing:
Write a braided essay about a social justice issue of your choice. Include a short reflection that takes up Kavita Das’s question: “Are you the right storyteller for this story?” and that references the additional essay from this section that you chose.
Braided Essay
The Braided Essay as Social Justice Action
6. Week 5
(4 pages) (MLA format) (Original Content Only) (View Attachment)
Written Assignment: Workshopping Reflection
Context
Reflect on your workshopping experience.
Task
Compare your writing process to the workshopping process. What are the similarities, if any, and what kinds of comments helped you see your work with fresh eyes? Use your reading this week to inform or contextualize your response.
What is a writing workshop?
It also developed the standard writing workshop model for universities, specifically under the directorship of poet Paul Engle. The writing workshop rules are pretty simple: the writer’s work is distributed to every workshop attendee in advance. Each writer then comes to the workshop with their thoughts on the work.
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