ATS2163 - The writing self: Creative nonfiction - 2019

The unit offers students the opportunity to learn about the practice of one of the key forms of contemporary storytelling - creative nonfiction. Students will have the opportunity to develop the main skills necessary for nonfiction writing: choosing a topic, research and drafting. Students will study 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.

On completion of the unit 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.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Literary studies