Overview
Narrative Journalism is designed to further develop the knowledge and writing skills gained in prerequisite journalism units, with dedicated focus on narrative and long-form journalism ranging from true crime, biographies, nature and travel writing. In this unit, you will critically analyse selected pieces of long-form narrative journalism including the identification of suitable topics, selection of talent, use of prose and techniques for extending the story. You will learn how extensive research can allow narrative journalists to form deep personal connections with their subject matter, inherently becoming part of the narrative. You will then apply these techniques to your own assessment projects as you pitch, plan and develop your own professional works of long-form narrative journalism over the course of the term, with a view to getting your work to a publishable standard.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites - 36 Credit Points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Head of Course review
The assessment items and unit content may not reflect real world relevance.
Review assessment items for currency and real-world relevance.
- Pitch and justify a proposal for a narrative journalism project
- Identify and distinguish between traditional and long-form narrative journalism
- Analyse notable works of narrative journalism including the identification of suitable topics, talent, use of prose and joining the narrative
- Develop a publishable work of long-form narrative journalism with a view to getting published
- Reflect on critical differences between traditional journalistic writing and narrative journalism.
NA
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 15% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.perera@cqu.edu.au
a.johnson2@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Narrative Journalism
Lesson One will introduce you to the concept of narrative journalism, including standard definitions and contemporary examples by the some of the best in the business.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Getting the Basics Right
In Lesson Two you will explore some of the not-so-subtle differences between standard journalism and narrative writing, including choosing a suitable topic, scene development, dialogue and characters.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Primary Research
In Lesson Three you will explore how primary research provides the foundations on which to build your story including backgrounding, previous media coverage, and narrowing your search terms.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sourcing Credible Talent and Interviews
Lesson Four will expand on sourcing credible talent for your interviews as well as noted techniques for eliciting interesting and in-depth answers.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Immersion: Becoming Part of the Story
Narrative writers, unlike more traditional news journalists, often play a role within their story. In this lesson you will learn how to immerse yourself in your narrative, as well as the difference between writing in first, second and third person.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Setting the Scene
A picture is worth a thousand words… so they say! Thus, Lesson Six will expand on your ability to paint your readers a picture with your writing, not only bringing the setting to life but ensuring it actively contributes to the overall plot of your narrative.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Reconstructing Past Events
As writers you have an obligation to recount experiences and events accurately, and truthfully. But the truth is often subjective, and walking the fine line between ethical and artistic clarity can be tricky. In this lesson you will explore techniques to factually reconstruct past events while still entertaining your reader.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Literary Voice and Style
Lesson Eight is arguably the most important of the entire unit. From here your primary work of narrative journalism should be starting to take shape, and your own unique writing style becoming apparent in the form of plot, characters, and dialogue.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Structuring Your Article
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to describe narrative techniques that support your writing and apply them to your own assessment piece, ensuring that your narrative is high impact and provokes an emotive response from the reader.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Editing
By the end of Lesson 10 you will be able to describe techniques that will assist editing your work to ensure it is accurate, well-written, and effective as a piece of narrative journalism.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pitching... and pitching again!
This lesson will delve into helping you identify a potential market for publishing your work including audience identification and structuring a pitch.
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
See e-reading lists on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
There are two parts to this assessment.
PART A: Define Narrative Journalism (300 - 500 words)
Define narrative journalism and explain how it differs from traditional journalism and news writing.
In your response, consider the work of prominent narrative journalists and how they have use narrative techniques in their writing including the use of prose, setting a scene and introducing characters. Include references to justify.
Examples are available on Moodle.
PART B: Pitch (300-500 words)
Pitch your story ideas for Assessment Three (Narrative Feature Article) inline with industry standards which are covered in the unit content.
Your pitch should specifically consider the following:
- The topic / subject of your article
- Credible Sources (Primary and Secondary)
- News values or interest in this topic / relevance to public discourse
- Evidence of planning (what you are going to do and when)
To pass you will need to address all of the elements of the assessment including credible references where necessary to justify and cite your sources.
Students who demonstrate limited attention to the requirements of the task will Fail this assessment. They will be required to resubmit this assignment until they receive a Pass grade to be allowed to proceed to Assessment Two.
NOTE: WORD COUNT for written assignments
The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Week 3 Friday (22 Mar 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Online
Week 4 Friday (29 Mar 2024)
Assessments will be returned within one week of submission
To pass you will need to address all of the elements of the assessment including credible references where necessary to justify and cite your sources.
Students who demonstrate limited attention to the requirements of the task will Fail this assessment and will be required to resubmit before moving on to the next assessment.
- Pitch and justify a proposal for a narrative journalism project
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
There are two parts to this assessment.
PART A: Interviews
Interview two credible talent who will be used within your narrative journalism article in Assessment Three and provide the transcripts / recordings of those interviews.
Aim for the interviews to be at least 5 - 7 minutes in length. You will be graded on the following elements:
- Primary Research
- Subject Matter
- Talent Credibility
- Quality of Questions
- Ability to Build Rapport
Remember your talent must be credible by industry standards, so interviewing fellow students, friends, mum/dad is not acceptable.
PART B: Written submission (1,000 - 1,500 words)
From one of your interviews (Part A) produce a 1,000 - 1,500 word written submission where you, as the journalist, have immersed yourself in your research and become part of the story (Examples are available on Moodle).
It should be written in first person narrative prose and will ultimately become part of your narrative feature article (Assessment Three). NOTE: It doesn't necessarily have to be the introduction, but this written submission should form a substantial part of your narrative article (Assessment Three).
Your work will be graded on the following elements:
- Spelling / Grammar / Punctuation
- Use of prose
- Setting the scene
- The quality of talent
Week 7 Friday (26 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Online
Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024)
Assessments will be returned with two weeks of submission
A marking rubric is available on Moodle.
Your work will be graded on the following elements:
- Spelling / Grammar / Punctuation
- Use of prose
- Setting the scene
- The quality of talent
- Identify and distinguish between traditional and long-form narrative journalism
- Analyse notable works of narrative journalism including the identification of suitable topics, talent, use of prose and joining the narrative
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
3 Written Assessment
There are two parts to this assessment.
PART A: Polished Narrative Journalism Article (4,000 - 5,000 words)
From your initial pitch in Assessment One and interviews / research in assessment two, write a 4000-5000-word narrative journalism article.
Your article should be written in line with industry standards and incorporate the narrative journalism techniques covered through the unit.
It will be graded on the following elements:
- Quality of writing including punctuation / grammar / tense
- Use of prose
- Immersion
- Depth of research
- Quality of talent
PART B: Reflection (2,000 words)
Produce a 2,000-word reflection on your writing process.
You will justify how you utilised narrative journalism principles in the modern news gathering process and how long-form writing differs from contemporary news writing, including immersive research and becoming part of the narrative.
Explain where potential improvements to your article could have been made with reference to relevant theories, arguments and literature covered in the unit content this term. You may include references to the work of credible narrative journalists / media outlets to justify your arguments.
Discuss the quality and effectiveness of your talent and interviewing techniques and where – if at all - you feel enhancements could be made. You may choose to demonstrate how you would approach the same story with a different angle, and include an alternative lead paragraph/s.
This assessment is designed to develop your ability to self-reflect and constantly improve your craft, which is essential for even the most experienced media professionals. This assessment must include academic referencing.
Your reflection will be graded on the following elements:
- Referencing
- Link to unit content
- Adherence to requirements of the task
- Standard of writing
- Quality of self-assessment
NOTE: WORD COUNT for written assignments
The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Review/Exam Week Monday (3 June 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Online
Assessments will be returned within two weeks of submission
A marking rubric is available on Moodle.
Your feature article will be graded on the following elements:
- Quality of writing including punctuation / grammar / tense
- Use of prose
- Immersion
- Depth of research
- Quality of talent
Your reflection will be graded on the following elements:
- Link to unit content
- Quality of self-assessment
- Adherence to requirements of the task
- Standard of writing
- Referencing
- Develop a publishable work of long-form narrative journalism with a view to getting published
- Reflect on critical differences between traditional journalistic writing and narrative journalism.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
