Course Title: Writing Non-Ficton

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Writing Non-Ficton

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2391

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014

Course Coordinator: Dr Bonny Cassidy

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3792

Course Coordinator Email: bonny.cassidy@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisifactorily completed the prerequisite courses COMM2389 Telling Stories: The Art of Narrative and/or COMM2390 World Myths and Narratives. Note it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisites before enrolling in a course.


Course Description

In this course, Writing Non-Fiction, you will examine non-fiction writing in its many forms including biography, essay, journalism, travel writing, interview, critique and criticism as well as ‘non-traditional’ forms which extend the boundaries of the genre such as oral history, web-based or new media texts.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program capabilities:
•    Critically read and analyse a wide range of literary and screen texts
•    Respond to and communicate ideas as a creative writer, reflecting on your own and others’ writing
•    Research using the web, library archives, interviews, selective experiential research and other sources to inform and position your creative writing
•    Manage the creative writing process from planning to the presentation of work at entry level professional standard
•    Solve problems effectively and creatively
•    Create a written work that reflects intention and ideas
•    Edit and improve your own writing
•    Develop leadership ability through constructive collaboration and teamwork, as well as in the originality, innovation and quality of your writing.


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
•    Demonstrate and communicate your thinking about non-fiction writing in its many forms through the content of your critical and creative writing
•    Examine industry portals for the publication of non-fiction work
•    Interrogate and respond to published non-fiction texts and to works developed by peers
•    Undertake research to develop and execute a non-fiction work, including the use of library and on-line resources
•    Plan, organise and create a non-fiction work from inception to entry level publication standard.


Overview of Learning Activities

Through class readings, discussion, research, critical analysis and creative production, you will develop your awareness about non-fiction writing and its historical and social developments and create your own original non-fiction work.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. A reading list will be provided at the start of the semester and as an ongoing part of the learning experience. You will be accessing a range of texts through different means, either via e-reserve, through books from the library, by reading newspapers and journals, or by accessing the web.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program capabilities. Assessment will test your abilities to reflect on non-fiction writing by engaging critical, analytical and writing skills. Your creative writing skills will be assessed including your ability to research, develop, write, workshop and edit your own non-fiction work. Feedback will be given on all assessments.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program director or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures.