Course Title: Genre

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Genre

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2400

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014

Course Coordinator: Dr Stephen Gaunson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9553

Course Coordinator Email: stephen.gaunson@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite course COMM2389 Telling Stories before you commence this course. Note it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the pre-requisite before enrolling in a course.


Course Description

Genre is a Creative Writing elective for students in the Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) program. In this course you will be introduced to the notion and idea of genre in the writing and publishing field and to its historical significance in terms of conventions and style. You will have the opportunity to explore writing creatively as it relates to a specific genre. The genre writing elective gives you an opportunity to develop your skills in planning, researching and writing within a set genre. The class focuses on your own writing, but critical and exemplary texts are used additionally to explore the codes, conventions, structures and possibilities of genre.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program capabilities:
•    analytical skills to critically read and analyse a wide range of literary and screen texts
•    ability to solve problems effectively and creatively
•    creative writing skills
•    focussed critical and creative skills to evaluate your own and others’ genre narratives.


Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:
•    compose a piece of genre writing which conforms to what is generally expected of contemporary writers within the set genre
•    conduct research of direct relevance to the creating of credible writing within the genre in order to inform and position your creative writing
•    create a written work that reflects intention and ideas
•    craft original narrative ideas through drafting, critical reflection, revision, and workshopping to see these through to a satisfactory stage of completion.


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will be delivered through a variety of means, and may include lectures, seminars, class exercises, workshops and presentations. It will be designed to suit the exploration of the relevant genre. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. You should make use of wider university resources such as libraries, print and audio-visual collections and if appropriate, the University’s Learning Skills Unit.


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. In this course you will be tested on your creative writing skills, abilities to conduct relevant research, critical and analytical skills, and your ability to solve problems that arise when making works within generic conventions. Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

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.