Students
MECO310 – Telling True Stories 1
2017 – S1 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Kate Rossmanith
Y3A191F
TBA
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) including (MECO210 or MECO211 or CUL240 or MAS210 or MAS211)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
In this unit we look at techniques and structures writers use to engage ever-more fickle audiences. Key readings are drawn from a number of platforms – books, feature articles, blogs, graphic novels, indie publishing – to exemplify some of the more dynamic and engaging recent trends in creative non-fiction writing. We focus in particular on new and novel ways of approaching the past – historical events, family sagas, crimes, eccentric and little known phenomena – and on new modes of writing about science, sport, technology and social change. Students are guided to find and develop their own original stories, and produce pieces of quality writing, suitable for print or broadcast.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Portfolio & Report | 25% | No | 21/04/2017 |
| Essay | 40% | No | 07/06/2017 |
| Test | 25% | No | 24/05/2017 |
| Writing exercises | 10% | No | Ongoing |
Research Portfolio & Report
Due: 21/04/2017
Weighting: 25%
Research Portfolio
Task: Submit a research portfolio plus 600-word research report. Details of this assessment will be made available in Week 1. Worth 25%
Marking criteria:
• Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth, relevant research using a variety of methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to synthesise this research by focusing on one or two key themes to have emerged from it
• Demonstrated ability to reflect on the relevance of such research to your proposed literary nonfiction article
Submission: Students must submit this assignment via Turn It In by 5pm on Friday 21 April 2017.
Late Submission: A late penalty of 10% per day will be applied.
Extensions: Extensions will only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.
Turn It In: This unit uses Turn It In
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
• Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
• Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
Essay
Due: 07/06/2017
Weighting: 40%
Essay
Your task it to write a 2000-word literary nonfiction article suitable for publication in a newspaper or magazine. This is not a university essay and does not require footnotes and bibliography. Further details of the essay assignment will be distributed in Week 1. Worth 40%
Marking Criteria:
• Demonstrated ability to write vividly without using cliches, ‘showing’ not ‘telling’, and an awareness of nuances of meaning
• Evidence of intellectual investigation
• Demonstrated ability to synthesise in-depth research into a compelling, well-structured story
• Evidence that the writer has taken creative risks, both in choice of research/writing topic, and in the writing itself
• Demonstrated ability to write grammatically correct sentences, following accepted English syntax and punctuation.
• Evidence of a ‘voice’ in the piece – a consistent, warm, trust-worthy sense of authority
Submission: Students must submit this assignment via Turn It In by 5pm on Wednesday 7 June 2017.
Late Submission: A late penalty of 10% per day will be applied.
Extensions: Extensions will only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.
Turn It In: This unit uses Turn It In.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
• Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
• Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Test
Due: 24/05/2017
Weighting: 25%
Test
At the end of the semester you will be required to complete an online test which will be worth 25% of your overall mark. The test will take place during the Week 11 lecture timeslot (Wednesday 24th May 2017 at 9am). Students will answer questions based on: the lecture content for the unit, and the unit readings. The test is designed to assist you in demonstrating your knowledge of the unit content as a whole. You will be given 45 minutes in which to write your responses. You are strongly advised to complete all set readings and attend all lectures.
Failure to sit the in-lecture test will result in a mark of zero (0) for that test. If you miss a test due to a medical issue then you will be given the opportunity to sit the test at a later date. In such cases you must supply a medical certificate.
Marking Criteria:
• Demonstrated understanding of the question
• Demonstrated knowledge of lecture and reading materials
• Application of materials to set question
Submission: The test will take place online via iLearn.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
Writing exercises
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
Writing Exercises
The weekly writing workshops are the practical core of this course, so it is essential that the writing exercises be done and brought along in suitable form each week. Each week’s exercise must be typed (double-spaced), and you must bring 8 copies to your tutorial for workshopping. A schedule of weekly exercises will be handed out in Week 1. Write approximately 200 words for each exercise. Worth 10% overall.
Marking Criteria:
• Demonstrated ability to write grammatically correct sentences, following accepted English syntax and punctuation.
• Demonstrated ability to write vividly without using cliches, ‘showing’ not ‘telling’, and an awareness of nuances of meaning
• Evidence of having understood the set task
Submission: To be submitted online via Turn It In, and to be handed to your tutor each week during your tutorial. Failure to submit by the end of each tutorial will result in a loss of marks.
Extensions: Extensions can only be granted by the tutor in line with university policy.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
• Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Delivery and Resources
Below is a list of essential readings, which are available through the library online.
- Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, New York: Penguin, pp. 15-17.
- Lee Gutkind, You Can’t Make This Stuff Up, Da Capo Press 2012, pp. 32-43
- Louise Kiernan, ‘Writing Complicated Stories’, in Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction writers’ guide, Kramer and Call (eds), New York: Penguin, pp. 145-147
- Lane Degregory ‘Narrative as a Daily Habit’, in Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction writers’ guide, Kramer and Call (eds), New York: Penguin, pp.240-243
- Chloe Hooper, ‘Consider the Lily’, The Monthly, June 2006
- Kate Rossmanith, ‘Many me’, The Monthly, February, 2007, pp.25-27
- Kate Rossmanith ‘Jenolan’s Ancient Archives’, The Australian, 2006
- Vanessa Berry, Mirror Sydney ‘Magic Kingdom’. http://mirrorsydney.wordpress.com/tag/magic-kingdom-lansvale/
- Claire Wright, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, Text Publishing, Melbourne 2013, pp. xi-15
- Lee Gutkind, ‘Immersion’, in The Art of Creative Nonfiction, John Wiley & Sons 1997, pp. 99-106
- Helen Garner, ‘Labour Ward, Penrith’, in True Stories: Selected non-fiction, Melbourne: Text Publishing, pp 230-242
- Kate Rossmanith, ‘The Release Plan’, The Monthly, October 2013, pp. 30-37
- Helen Garner, Joe Cinque’s Consolation, Picador, pp. 185-192
- Lee Gutkind, ‘Interviewing’, in The Art of Creative Nonfiction, John Wiley & Sons 1997, pp. 107-116
- Alice Pung, ‘The Secret Life of Them’, The Monthly, February 2013, pp.28-31
- Janet Malcolm, ‘Iphigenia in Forest Hills: Anatomy of a Murder Trial’, The New Yorker, 3 May 2010
- Kate Rossmanith ‘On the Edge’ The Monthly, August, 2008, pp. 28-30
- Fanny Burney, ‘A mastectomy, 30 September, 1811’ from The Faber and Faber Book of Reportage, John Carey, (ed) London, Faber, 1987, pp. 272-277
- Rachel Cusk, Outline, Vintage 2014, pp. 3-16
- Naomi Klein, ‘Risky Business,’ from The Nation, January 5, 2004 http://www.thenation.com/print/article/risky-business, accessed 11 February, 2013
- David Finkel, The Good Soldiers, Melbourne: Scribe 2009, pp.3-24
- Kelly Benham, ‘Hearing Our Subject’s Voices: Quotes and Dialogue’, in Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction writers’ guide, Kramer and Call (eds), New York: Penguin, pp. 104-107
- Biber, K., Doyle, P. & Rossmanith, K. ‘Perving At Crime Scenes: Authenticity, Ethics, Aesthetics: A Conversation’, Griffith Law Review, Vol 22, no. 3, 2014, pp. 804-814.)
- Helen Garner, Joe Cinque’s Consolation, Picador, pp. 3-15
- Luc Sante, ‘Further Evidence’, Contrapasso (Noir issue), December 2013, pp. 70-77
- Lee Gutkind, ‘Inner Point of View’, in You Can’t Make This Stuff Up, Da Capo Press 2012, pp. 138-182
Unit Schedule
The Unit Schedule will be available on iLearn in Week 1.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
Creative and Innovative
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Assessment tasks
- Essay
- Writing exercises
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Assessment tasks
- Essay
- Test
- Writing exercises
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Assessment tasks
- Research Portfolio & Report
- Essay
- Test
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
Assessment task
- Research Portfolio & Report
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
- Apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership
- Construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing
Assessment tasks
- Research Portfolio & Report
- Essay
- Writing exercises
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Develop literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies
Assessment task
- Research Portfolio & Report