Life Writing (CWRI30013)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Life writing draws on lived experiences and life narratives - ours’ and others’ – to examine the relationship between the past and the present, individuals and different types of social life, the public and the private, the local and the (trans)national. In this subject we will be thinking hard about identity and representation (including self-representation), power and ethics, the complexities of memory, as well as possibilities afforded by different forms of life writing, which encompass personal essays, memoirs, biographies, diaries, letters, oral histories, family histories, blogs etc. Life writing offers us a powerful entry point into exploring families, bodies, relationships, subjectivities and illuminating experiences that have been ignored or silenced in our culture. Research practices such as interviewing skills, immersion and observation, archival and genealogical research will be investigated in the production of a folio of original life writing.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should have:
- the ability to apply advanced theoretical, aesthetic and analytic skills to interpreting critical and creative texts;
- the ability to tackle new problems with the production of life writing with confidence and openness to contemporary artistic directions;
- a sound working knowledge of the history and contemporary directions of the genres;
- the ability to plan feasible creative projects for a given time-frame and word length;
- the ability to use structure and style with economy and power across the genres of life writing;
- the ability to participate effectively in group discussions and collaborative learning; and
- the ability to demonstrate an understanding of the wider public significance of their knowledge and skills.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subejct, students should gain the following generic skills:
- through critical and appreciative reading followed by presentations and group discussions, will acquire advanced skills in critical thinking and analysis, thinking creatively, openness to new ideas and the ability to communicate thoughts and knowledge; and
- through producing assignments as creative writing and critical essays will acquire advanced skills in written communication, time management and planning and practices and ethics in the field of creative writing.
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
CWRI20011: Diaries, Journals and Autobiography
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Assessment
Additional details
- An oral presentation in response to a weekly topic (10%), done during the semester.
- A 4,000 word folio due at the end of the semester consisting of: a 2000 word piece of autobiographical writing (45%) and a 2000 word piece of biographical writing (45%).
- Hurdle: This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in workshops. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Maria Tumarkin Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours: a 2.5-hour workshop per week. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 23 July 2018 to 21 October 2018 Last self-enrol date 3 August 2018 Census date 31 August 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 21 September 2018 Assessment period ends 16 November 2018 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 14 March 2025