NC 700: Life Story Writing for Older Adults

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2025
Credits: 0
Total Contact Hours: 12
Lecture Hours : 12
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 24
Total Student Learning Hours: 36
Transferable to CSU: No
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Non-Credit Course

Catalog Course Description

This introductory creative writing workshop in life story writing and personal narrative emphasizes the essay as an art form. Readings and frequent writing assignments provide background and practice in writing memoir/personal narratives that are informed by one's experiences. Class sessions consist of reading and writing exercises designed to focus attention on imagery and sensory experiences while recognizing the best way to convey the desired message. This class is organized in a workshop model to allow students to present works in progress to the group and to receive useful feedback and advice for the revision process. Open entry/exit. 12 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Create a timeline of 10 meaningful events in one’s life.
  • Demonstrate application of the writing process, that includes brainstorming, organizing ideas, creating an outline, developing a draft, and revising work.
  • Recognize perspective, or lens, of memoir writers by identifying style choices, selected foci, and themes in sampled writings.
  • Utilize writing patterns and structures that students observe in readings.
  • Demonstrate ability to incorporate feedback and elaborate on imagery of specific events and scenes in writing.

Major Course Content

  1. Timeline creation
    1. Limiting selections to include on a timeline of meaningful events in one’s life, or finding 10 selections to include.
    2. Discerning consequences and impacts of specific events in one’s life.
  2. Introduction to the 5-step writing process.
    1. Brainstorming
      1. Creative non structured exploration of ideas
      2. Sources of ideas
      3. Expanding ideas
    2. Organizing
      1. Methods of organizing
        1. Groups
        2. Contrasts
        3. Cause/effect relationships
        4. Chronological relationship
        5. Problem/solution
    3. Creating an outline
      1. Topic outline
      2. Sentence outline
      3. Numeric outline
    4. Creating a draft
      1. Free writing
      2. Structured writing
    5. Revising draft
      1. Peer evaluation
      2. Exploring and elaborating on topics of interest
      3. Editing
        1. Grammar
        2. Structure
        3. Vocabulary
        4. Style and incorporating style
  3. Elements of memoir writing
    1. Thesis, goal, and objective of writing
    2. Theme and event selection
      1. Emotional and psychological journey
    3. Honesty and elaboration
    4. Uniqueness of perspective
      1. Elements perceived at the time, and now
    5. Individual writing style
      1. Writing as a creative art used to convey a message, idea, or feeling
    6. Research
      1. Independent
      2. Supporting stories through interviews
  4. Comparative reading
    1. Read memoirs
    2. Recognize differences in writing styles, structures, and focus.
      1. Identify preferences in writing
    3. Incorporate observed methods

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture