Watterson offers advice on the art of the interview. Part of your job is to capture in writing the spirit and language of the individuals interviewed. Observe the environment and the details you see and hear. This is an opportunity to learn more about life, more about living. While much of the research for the course takes place off campus, the classroom sessions are key.
Students read their work and share comments and critiques.
Details for immediacy Watterson encourages students to use details to create a sense of immediacy. An important goal of the class is to allow your reader to see the people and places you write about, not just to tell them. In addition to joining in class commentary, Watterson works closely with each student in individual biweekly conferences. The more they write, the easier it becomes. You can help people think more clearly and use language with greater precision and effectiveness, but the real learning is in the writing and in the revising, which they do themselves.