Students

MMCC3110 – Telling True Stories

2022 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Jessica Kirkness
jessica.kirkness@mq.edu.au
10HA Office 157
TBC
Convenor
Kate Rossmanith
kate.rossmanith@mq.edu.au
10HA Office 157
On leave in Semester 1, 2022
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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 nonfiction 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.

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: analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing.
  • ULO2: communicate and demonstrate literary nonfiction writing through in-depth relevant research using a variety of methodologies.
  • ULO3: apply unique methods of presenting research in writing for a general readership.
  • ULO4: construct and write stories yourself that fall into the broad category of literary nonfiction writing.

General Assessment Information

Assessment standards in this unit align with the University's grade descriptors, available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and- procedures/policies/assessment

Examples of relevant and related assessment tasks will be made available on iLearn and will be discussed in tutorials.

Methods of Feedback:

  • Informal: comments from tutors during tutorials; through the announcement function in iLearn; interactions with peers during tutorial activities; personal reflections on learning during the course.
  • Individual: in email communication with individual students where comments are made by the tutor and/or unit convenor in response to questions related to course activities and assessments; in personal face-to-face consultations during Weeks 5, 11 & 12 of the unit, or as requested (consultations either by phone, Zoom or face-to-face)
  • Formal: general comment and in-text comments attached to assignments marked in Turn-It-In; rubrics; reflections from peers; in-class comments from tutors in regards to assessments; marks are made available through the Gradebook function in iLearn.

Late Assessment Penalty

Please note that the University and the Faculty of Arts have launched a new assessment policy effective as of 1 July 2021. This new policy particularly affects LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENTS.

The Faculty policy in relation to late assessment submissions is as follows:

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments - e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc. 

To be very clear:

  • Unless you have applied for special consideration and had your application approved, for each day your assignment is late, 10 marks will be deducted. For example, if you submit your assignment 7 days late, 70 marks will be deducted, which means you will fail that assignment.
  • If your assignment is more than 7 days late (including weekends), you will get 0 marks for your assignment.

These are serious penalties that will substantially alter your final grade and even determine whether you pass or fail this unit. Please make every effort to submit your assignment by the due date.

If you find you cannot submit your assignment on time, please apply for Special Consideration through AskMQ. Make sure you read Macquarie University's policy regarding Special Consideration requests before you apply: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Major project 50% No 31/05/2022 at 11:59pm
Research report and portfolio 30% No 22/04/2022 at 11:59pm
Writing exercises 20% No ongoing

Major project

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 31/05/2022 at 11:59pm
Weighting: 50%

Students are required to produce a literary non-fiction article.

Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing.
  • communicate and demonstrate 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.

Research report and portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 22/04/2022 at 11:59pm
Weighting: 30%

The research report will detail how the research will be used in the creative work. The portfolio will showcase the breadth and depth of research conducted for the creative work.

Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • communicate and demonstrate 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.

Writing exercises

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Produce short written pieces to develop writing and conceptual skills.

Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of literary nonfiction writing.
  • communicate and demonstrate 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.

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

There will be no live lectures but lecture recordings are available on ilearn. Tutorials commence in Week 2.

Below is a list of essential readings, which are available through Leganto on iLearn.

  • 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 2006Kate Rossmanith, ‘Many me’,

    The Monthly, February, 2007, pp.25-27

  • Kate Rossmanith ‘Jenolan’s Ancient Archives’, The Australian, 2006

  • Vanessa Berry, ‘Excavating St Peters’ in Mirror Sydney: an Atlas of Reflections, pp.

    135-147, Giramondo: Sydney, 2017

  • 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

  • Lee Gutkind, ‘Interviewing’, in The Art of Creative Nonfiction, John Wiley & Sons 1997,

    pp. 107-116

  • Eve Vincent, ‘Meat-Eaters’, Sydney Review of Books, 8 June 2018

  • 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

  • Naomi Klein, ‘Risky Business,’ from The Nation, January 5, 2004 http://www.thenation.co m/print/article/risky-business, accessed 11 February, 2013

  • David Finkel, The Good Soldiers, Melbourne: Scribe 2009, pp.3-24

  • Maria Tumarkin, ‘This Narrated Life’, Griffith Review, April 2014

  • Peter Doyle ‘Stranger in the House’, Sydney Review of Books, 14 November 2016:

    https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/stranger-in-the-house/

  • Kate Rossmanith, Small Wrongs: How we really say sorry in love, life and law,

    Melbourne & London: Hardie Grant Books, pp. 1-9

  • Lee Gutkind, ‘Inner Point of View’, in You Can’t Make This Stuff Up, Da Capo Press

    2012, pp. 138-182

 

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2022.04 of the Handbook