Unit information: Creative Non Fiction in 2019/20

Unit name	Creative Non Fiction
Unit code	ENGL30127
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Mr. Kahora
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of English
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

In this unit, students learn the practical skills of creative non-fiction. They will write their own original non-fiction and explore various forms of the same in a supportive group environment. Informed by previous reading of non-fiction and their understanding of critical issues, students will also use their close reading skills to help each other develop as non-fiction writers in the workshop. The workshop teaching method provides each student with continual feedback and formative assessment throughout the unit.

The unit will also give students the ability to give and take criticism in a group environment and to rework writing in light of criticism received. This learning experience will enable students to begin a practice of writing non-fiction and to develop valuable insights for its study.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. write a creative non-fiction piece based on their experiences and/or research;
2. demonstrate a practical understanding of the components of creative non -fiction and the terminology of non-fiction construction.
3. respond to a brief and produce an original piece of creative non-fiction;
4. articulate an understanding of the relationships between creative non-fiction, experience, research, culture and society.

Teaching Information

1 x 2-hr workshop per week

Assessment Information

Students will work on a portfolio that includes the following:

One 2500 word summative creative non-fiction piece to be submitted with first draft and workshop comments (60%). [ILOs 1-4].

One 500 word summative process paper outlining student craft decisions. (10%). [ILOS 1-2, 5].

One 2000 word summative essay discussing ethical questions arising in the creative non-fiction pieces (30%). [ILO 4].

Reading and References

Boynton, Robert. ed The New 'New' Journalism Vintage 2005

Haye, Harold Smiling Through 'The' Apocalypse: Esquire’s History of The Sixties McCall Pub 1970

Love, Robert, eds The Best of Rolling Stone: 25 Years of Journalism 'On' The Edge Straight Arrow Publishers Inc 1993

Singer, Margot and Walker Nicole. eds Bending Genre: Essays on Creative Non-Fiction Bloomsbury Academic 2013

Wolfe, Tom, The New Journalism Picador 1990