Students
ENGL8015 – Writing Creative Non-Fiction - An Introduction
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor and Teacher
Dr Michelle Hamadache
Contact via Via email
Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk, Macquarie University
By appointment: email; phone; Zoom
Course Director
Associate Professor Jane Messer
Contact via Via email
Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk, Macquarie University
By appointment: email; phone; Zoom
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
ENGX8015
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| Unit description |
Unit description
In this practical introduction to writing creative nonfiction students research and write a number of narrative non-fiction pieces from genres including memoir, personal essay, and environmental writing. We consider what creative non-fiction is, looking at the varied cultural contexts in which these very popular and influential texts are currently being written and published, with a focus on the Australian scene. This introductory unit is suitable for students from interdisciplinary backgrounds including creative writing, ethnography, cultural studies, journalism, philosophy and history. You devise your topics in consultation with the lecturer, and are guided in the development of skills in primary research and narrative writing techniques. |
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:
- ULO1: Develop creative nonfiction writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
- ULO2: Plan, write, edit and rewrite text-based creative nonfiction works
- ULO3: Analyse and discuss the work of others in varied writing communities
- ULO4: Undertake advanced research utilising libraries, journal and archival databases, visual records, site visits and/or interviews
- ULO5: Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international writing and publishing.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participatory task | 20% | No | Weekly, Weeks 1-12. |
| Creative work (minor) | 10% | No | Short exercises Wks 3-6. Graded Minor Work Sunday pm, Week 7 |
| Project Plan | 20% | No | Monday pm, Week 8 |
| Creative work (major) | 50% | No | Wednesday pm, 5 November 2020 |
Participatory task
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: Weekly, Weeks 1-12.
Weighting: 20%
Preparatory reading of set texts and other students’ creative works. Answering questions in weekly tutorials and contributing meaningfully to in-class discussion. Providing critical feedback on other students’ creative works.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop creative nonfiction writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite text-based creative nonfiction works
- Analyse and discuss the work of others in varied writing communities
Creative work (minor)
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Short exercises Wks 3-6. Graded Minor Work Sunday pm, Week 7
Weighting: 10%
1000 word creative work based on weekly writing exercises and responding to unit material
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop creative nonfiction writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite text-based creative nonfiction works
- Undertake advanced research utilising libraries, journal and archival databases, visual records, site visits and/or interviews
- Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international writing and publishing.
Project Plan
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Monday pm, Week 8
Weighting: 20%
Proposal or plan for major creative work, 1000 words max
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop creative nonfiction writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite text-based creative nonfiction works
- Undertake advanced research utilising libraries, journal and archival databases, visual records, site visits and/or interviews
- Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international writing and publishing.
Creative work (major)
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: Wednesday pm, 5 November 2020
Weighting: 50%
3000 word creative writing work incorporating concepts from unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop creative nonfiction writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite text-based creative nonfiction works
- Analyse and discuss the work of others in varied writing communities
- Undertake advanced research utilising libraries, journal and archival databases, visual records, site visits and/or interviews
- Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international writing and publishing.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
DELIVERY
INTERNAL STUDENTS
Internal students will be studying online in Session 2, 2020. Writing workshops and discussion of the lectures, readings and course topics will take place through online discussion posts.
ONLINE STUDENTS
Online students will work in full online mode. Writing workshops and discussion of the lectures, readings and course topics will take place through online discussion posts.
ZOOM CLASS
There will be a ZOOM class in Week 7 to discuss students' major creative work planning.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Reading from Week 1:
Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola, Tell It Slant, 3rd ed. McGraw Hill, 2019. Students should purchase this text from Australian suppliers: Booktopia has ebook and print copies of the text for sale; see also Gleebooks; Readings; Dymocks and other local suppliers.
Read Chapters 1 and 11 for Week 1; later weeks - see the iLearn weekly schedule for more details.
Reading for Week 3:
Ashley Kalagian Blunt, How To Be Australian: An Outsider’s View on Life and Love Down Under. Affirm Press, 2020. Booktopia has ebook and print copies of the text for sale; see also Gleebooks; Readings; Dymocks and other local suppliers.
Reading for Week 8:
Rebecca Giggs, Fathoms: The World in the Whale. Scribe, 2020. Booktopia has ebook and print copies of the text for sale; see also Gleebooks; Readings; Dymocks and other local suppliers.
Other required readings including creative nonfiction essays, blogs and book chapters, etc are available via the unit's Leganto site.
Unit Schedule
See the iLearn site Weekly schedule for details of the activities, readings and lecture topics.
Week 1 What is Creative Nonfiction?
Week 2 Telling It Slant: Memory
Week 3 Author Interview
Week 4 Family, History, Food
Week 5 Life in the Time of Coronavirus
Week 6 Research for Creative Writing
Week 7 Major Creative Work planning, and Editor Interview
Week 8 Author Interview
Week 9 Workshop 1 Major Creative Work
Week 10 Workshop 2 Major Creative Work
Week 11 Workshop 3 Major Creative Work
Week 12 Workshop 4 Major Creative Work
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.