Doug Hesse

Doug Hesse

Doug Hesse is the director of the Writing Program at the University of Denver and Professor of English. In 2015, he was named as the President of the National Council of Teachers of English. His scholarly interests are creative nonfiction, writing pedagogy, the organization of writing programs, and national literacy efforts, and he has presented keynotes on these topics at national education conferences.

Hesse talks about his academic and professional experience, including his current role as director of the writing program at the University of Denver.

Hesse sees writing not only as a mandatory skill—it is also as an authentic way for students to analyze, create, and convey knowledge.

Hesse doesn’t expect his students to be perfect writers when they come to college.

Teachers should encourage students to think of writing as a response to a unique situation and audience, and as an act of inquiry.

Principals can help create a school culture for writing by providing curricular time, celebrating student writing through awards, and supporting school newspapers and literary clubs.

Hesse shares some “low stakes” ways that content area teachers can bring writing into their classrooms every week.

Hesse talks about some of the strengths of the standards—learning to write an argument, writing in the sciences—but also warns that they downplay the social and interpersonal aspects of writing.

Hesse shares his skepticism about computer scoring and how it might compromise students’ authentic writing.

Hesse talks about why he believes creative nonfiction is a powerful tool for conveying information—it gives the reader an “angle into the content.”

Hesse shares some strategies he uses to help his students “read like writers” and better understand why and how writers make conscious choices.

Hesse thinks that digital tools are encouraging many students to write more, in spaces outside of school.

Hesse sees Twitter as another genre of writing with its own unique advantages and constraints.

Biography

Dr. Hesse is founding Executive Director of the Writing Program at the University of Denver and Professor of English. In 2015, he was named as the President of the National Council of Teachers of English. He is author of over 65 essays and co-author of four books, including Creating Nonfiction, co-authored with the writer Becky Bradway (Bedford/St. Martin’s) and the Simon and Schuster Handbook for Writers.

Hesse has presented over 130 readings, talks, and conference papers, more than 30 of them as keynote speaker, and chaired the Executive Committee of the MLA Division on Teaching as a Profession. He was founding coordinator of the Norman Mailer/NCTE National High School and College Writing Awards in Creative Nonfiction. Hesse is a former Chair of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), a former President of the Council of Writing Program Administrators, and a former editor of WPA: Writing Program Administration.

Hesse previously taught at Illinois State University, where he directed the Honors Program, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, the graduate program in English studies, and the writing program. The University of Denver Writing Program has received the prestigious CCCC Certificate of Excellence. His Ph.D. is from The University of Iowa, where he wrote and wrote about nonfiction.

He sings with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Chorus and enjoys hiking and photography. He’s married to a writer and has three grown children, two of them successful journalists, one of them a successful cellist.

Books by this author

Creating Nonfiction

Creating Nonfiction

Doug Hesse, Becky Bradway
Age Level:
Adult
Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers (10th Edition)

Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers (10th Edition)

Doug Hesse, Lynn Quitman Troyka
Age Level:
Adult
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