What follows are my notes from class, generally on the topic of how to not be boring. Here's a link to the second packet of essays.

How do you make non-fiction writing more interesting, less boring?

Have a specific audience. If the group you’re writing for is undefined, part of your essay will remain undefined. And that makes for less interesting subjects, opens you up to excessive, indefinite pronouns like it, they, he, thing, some, many.

Have a definite stance. Insert yourself in the essay. Your audience wants to know where you stand throughout the essay. There shouldn’t be just one point that you address that…it needs to be incorporated throughout.

Think carefully about citing your sources, when to describe the source and when not to. Some sources are more interesting than others. Some sources bring their own tone and expertise. Consider what you include, how you include, why you include it.

Readers like stories, especially stories within stories. Put an experience or a face to the facts. That will make the facts sing, give context that your audience can identify with.

Know what your audience knows, and go from there. You do NOT want to focus on what they already know of believe. Readers like what’s novel.

What is interesting: specific stories, gross stories, comparisons that connect to and build upon your readers’ experience.