Event Details
From reflections on childhood to op-eds about climate change, writing in the first person allows us to explore our most intimate memories and share our most impassioned beliefs. Personal narratives reward readers with rich details about lives different from their own, and, when effectively used, such stories can serve as persuasive testimony, moving us to consider new perspectives. The most powerful personal essays change readers' minds and even spur them to action. In this program, we'll read memoir and personal essay excerpts from contemporary American authors and then discuss how choices about language and form can forge powerful connections between author and audience. In addition, we'll read and listen to short, personal essays from writers all over the world before crafting our own.