units

ATS3063

Faculty of Arts

18 September 2017 23 December 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
OfferedClayton First semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Ali Alizadeh and Dr Melinda Harvey

Synopsis

This unit offers students the opportunity to learn about the practice of one of the key forms of contemporary storytelling - creative nonfiction. In the atmosphere of workshops, guided by discussion and a selection of set readings, students will develop the main skills necessary for nonfiction writing: choosing a topic, research and drafting. Students will experiment with a range of creative nonfiction genres such as: memoir; biography; travel writing; the essay; narrative nonfiction; and nonfiction poetry. We will discuss the ethical, theoretical and aesthetic issues associated with a range of creative nonfiction genres and their sites of publication. The unit explores the relationship between fact and fiction, the role of personal experience in creativity, and the use of the techniques of fiction and poetry in the treatment of real life. The unit will also pay attention to revising, editing and presenting writing for publication.

Outcomes

On completion of this subject students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a familiarity with and understanding of a variety of creative nonfiction genres;
  2. Demonstrate a familiarity with and willingness to address the ethical, theoretical and aesthetic issues raised by creative nonfiction; and
  3. Demonstrate an ability to plan, organise and create a piece of creative nonfiction work from inception to entry level publication standard.

Assessment

Written work (3500 words): 70%
Presentation (1000 words): 20%
Participation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Ali Alizadeh

Workload requirements

On ave 12 hours per week including seminars, workshops and private study.
Fortnightly schedule:
Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: One 2-hour seminar per week
Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: One 1-hour writing workshop
End of semester: 4 hour conference (attendance compulsory).

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Literary studies

Prerequisites

A cornerstone unit in Literary studies