Overview
This unit provides students with an introduction to the practice and craft of Creative Nonfiction writing. This emerging genre offers nonfiction writers the opportunity to incorporate literary devices such as description, dialogue and development of scenes. The student will be introduced to the concept of reportage, examine the work of creative nonfiction luminaries such as Joan Didion, Truman Capote and Helen Garner, the ethics of nonfiction writing and research, and develop their literary essay writing skills with practical writing activities in a range of subgenres including the personal essay, review writing and food and nature writing.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 2 - 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 Student feedback.
The unit relies on a particular book but it is not a prescribed textbook.
The CQURenew initiative asked unit coordinators to remove prescribed textbooks - a review of learning material diversity will be undertaken.
- Draft and effectively redraft a sustained piece of creative nonfiction writing
- Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 0% | ||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 55% | ||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 45% | ||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 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 - 0% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 55% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 45% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Teams
- E-reading List
- Zoom access
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.hickling@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Creative Nonfiction + Genres
Chapter
Details of weekly readings will be available in the e-reading list and within each topic tile.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Students should access the Microsoft Teams group for the unit and introduce themselves via the Introductions channel.
- Students should familiarise themselves with the assessments via the Assessments Tile.
- Students should add the assessment due dates to their personal calendar or schedule and make note of the "Assessment Extension Request" form in the Support Menu.
Module/Topic
The proposal for publication + Elements of CRAFT
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Content directly relates to the week 4 assessment.
Module/Topic
Memoir + Drafting
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Memoir + Shaping
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Proposal for creative nonfiction piece Due: Week 4 Friday (2 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Personal Essay + Finding Voice
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Personal Essay + Work-shopping a Draft
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Portrait + Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Portrait + Exploring New Media
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Essay of place + Ethics of Creative Nonfiction
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Narrative journalism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Stories of craft + Short shorts
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Editing/Proofreading + the Publishing Industry
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Any creative nonfiction writer will tell you: most editors expect a pitch or proposal BEFORE commissioning a book or other piece of writing. This is generally the industry standard. Therefore, writing a book first and then trying to get a publisher can be a waste of time. So, writers produce a proposal first and then go ahead once the editor has agreed. This not only saves time but gives the editor the opportunity of suggesting changes to the focus or tone of the piece. Senior writers who work for The Atlantic or The New Yorker may be able to pursue their own writing, but if general commentary is anything to go by, even they have to pitch for approval. So, the proposal is good practice and an essential part of the creative nonfiction genre.
Learning Outcome:
2. Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice
Assessable component
This assessment requires students to write a proposal for a work of creative nonfiction in a genre of their choosing (genres discussed in Week 1 tile) to the unit coordinator as ‘editor’.
The proposal is a precursor to Assessment 3, where students are required to write and submit a creative nonfiction piece.
Choose a genre of creative nonfiction: personal essay, portrait, essay of place, travel writing, narrative journalism, etc. (Please note: "agony memoirs" recounting traumatic personal experiences are not encouraged, though memoir as a genre is suitable).
As this CNF PROPOSAL leads into/prepares students for guiding a work of creative nonfiction, this assessment is therefore in two parts: the Proposal (pass/fail), and the final CNF piece (45%).
The Pitch is pass/fail only. This means that students are required to complete the pitch (on which they will receive feedback), but this does not contribute to the overall grade percentage.
The final piece of creative nonfiction is graded.
While students are NOT required to "stick to" their proposal, it is intended to provide students with a guide for developing their work of creative nonfiction.
NOTE: Creative Nonfiction pieces submitted WITHOUT a prior pitch being received in Week 4 (or relevant week if an extension is approved) will not be accepted.
Late assignments may receive a grade but no feedback.
This is an official assessment item and the rules of academic integrity apply. Students are expected to complete this assessment independently and adhere to the conditions associated with undertaking an assessment task.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Gen AI agents (including but not limited to ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot) is as follows:
- Gen AI may only be used within the constraints that are specified in individual assessment instructions within Moodle. Please refer to the unit website for those details.
- You must disclose all use of Gen AI in your submission.
- You are expected to reference how and where it has been used using the ALC reference guide as they have defined a mechanism for this.
Week 4 Friday (2 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Upload to Moodle
Vacation Week Friday (16 Aug 2024)
The marked assessment item will be returned ASAP.
This assessment will be examined to the degree that it demonstrates:
- Concept: Overall coherence, originality, "story", and logical organisation of the proposal.
- Genre: Understanding of key purposes, forms and techniques (CRAFT) of the selected genre of creative nonfiction.
- Research: Demonstration of relevant and appropriate research for the topic of the proposal.
- Writing Skill: Clarity of written expression including spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence fluency, and voice.
- Presentation & Referencing: flawless submission formatting and Harvard referencing, including any and all use of GenAI/LLMs.
The criteria will be graded through a Marking Guide. The Marking Guide will be located beneath each assessment within Moodle (this replaces a traditional "matrix" or "rubric" document).
- Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Students are expected to keep a Weekly Activity Journal during term. The purpose of the Journal is to provide students with an intellectual space where they can consider and record their reflections on the development of their piece of creative nonfiction in relation to the readings, concepts, ideas and activities that are examined in the unit.
The aim of this is to develop their reflective practice as a creative writer.
Learning Outcome:
1. Draft and effectively redraft a sustained piece of creative nonfiction writing
2. Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice
Assessable component:
Students will be expected to respond to weekly activities/questions from weeks 3-9 as listed within Moodle. The responses will require the student to demonstrate evidence of reading and research (including from the set required readings in the e-reading list). The exact details of how, when and where to post these responses will be set within the Moodle Assessment task.
NOTE: Late assignments may receive a grade but no feedback.
This is an official assessment item and the rules of academic integrity apply. Students are expected to complete this assessment independently and adhere to the conditions associated with undertaking an assessment task.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Gen AI agents (including but not limited to ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot) is as follows:
Gen AI may only be used within the constraints that are specified in individual assessment instructions within Moodle. Please refer to the unit website for those details.
You must disclose all use of Gen AI in your submission.
You are expected to reference how and where it has been used using the ALC reference guide as they have defined a mechanism for this.
Week 10 Monday (16 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Upload in Moodle.
Week 12 Monday (30 Sept 2024)
The marked assessment item will be returned ASAP.
This assignment will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:
- Concepts: The extent to which the CNF Journal engages with the ideas and concepts explored in the unit through reflective, critical, and, where appropriate, creative responses.
- Elements of Craft: The journal demonstrates an understanding of CRAFT.
- Research: Demonstration of relevant and appropriate reading and research (including from the e-reading list).
- Writing Skill: Clarity of written expression including spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence fluency, and voice.
- Presentation & Referencing: Flawless submission formatting and Harvard referencing, including any and all use of GenAI/LLMs.
The criteria will be graded through a Marking Guide. The Marking Guide will be located beneath each assessment within Moodle (this replaces a traditional "matrix" or "rubric" document).
- Draft and effectively redraft a sustained piece of creative nonfiction writing
- Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Students are required to write a creative nonfiction piece. This should be based on the proposal submit for assessment 1, but in creative writing, changes are known to happen, therefore assessment 3 needn't reflect the A1 proposal. (Remember that the proposal still MUST be submitted and received a PASS for the A3 work to be accepted.)
Learning Outcome:
1. Draft and effectively redraft a sustained piece of creative nonfiction writing.
2. Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice.
Assessable components
There are two parts to this assessment:
Part A - A proofread and polished piece of creative nonfiction (no more than 2000 words).
Part B - A critical reflection that gives an account of the creative process from pitch to piece (no more than 400 words). This is where students have an opportunity to address the changes from the proposal and support this with a critical gaze and credible, relevant, well-researched support.
NOTE: Late assignments may receive a grade but no feedback.
This is an official assessment item and the rules of academic integrity apply. Students are expected to complete this assessment independently and adhere to the conditions associated with undertaking an assessment task.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Gen AI agents (including but not limited to ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot) is as follows:
Gen AI may only be used within the constraints that are specified in individual assessment instructions within Moodle. Please refer to the unit website for those details.
You must disclose all use of Gen AI in your submission.
You are expected to reference how and where it has been used using the ALC reference guide as they have defined a mechanism for this.
Week 12 Friday (4 Oct 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Upload in Moodle.
Exam Week Friday (18 Oct 2024)
The marked assessment item will be returned ASAP.
The assignment will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:
- Concept: An original, insightful, ‘truthful’ and in-depth CNF piece using the techniques of the selected CNF genre.
- Research: Demonstration of relevant and appropriate reading and research.
- Reflection: The critical reflection provides evidence that the student is able to reflect objectively on the characteristics of their piece and support this with credible evidence.
- Writing Skill: Clarity of written expression including spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence fluency, and voice.
- Presentation & Referencing: Flawless submission formatting and Harvard referencing, including any and all use of GenAI/LLMs.
The criteria will be graded through a Marking Guide. The Marking Guide will be located beneath each assessment within Moodle (this replaces a traditional "matrix" or "rubric" document).
- Draft and effectively redraft a sustained piece of creative nonfiction writing
- Research and write creative nonfiction writing using ethical practice
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- 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?
