Creative Non Fiction (CWRI20005)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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In this subject, students will be exposed to a rich and thrilling range of Creative Nonfiction – music, science, sport, technology, trauma, family, politics, more – on the road to developing and fine-tuning their own writing skills. Class discussions will tackle ethics and research/narrative techniques. Students will workshop their own writing and be asked to respond to other students’ written work. They will finish the course with an insight into top-class writers’ minds and techniques, and ideas on how to take their own writing to a higher plane.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of the subject, students should be able to:



  • Devise, develop, draft and present substantial pieces of Creative Nonfiction
  • Engage critically with a wide array of Creative Nonfiction literature
  • Provide detailed and constructive feedback on other students' creative work through the writing workshop approach to learning and practice
  • Do extensive and multimodal research, including interviews and observation, as part of developing their Creative Nonfiction work
  • Engage, as both readers and writers, with Creative Nonfiction narrative practices and ethical questions.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:

  • The ability to use a range of techniques to tap creative ideas
  • 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 a range of genres.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

106-235 Creative Non Fiction

Recommended background knowledge

106-105/CWRI10001 Creative Writing: Ideas and Practice

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
CWRI10001 Creative Writing: Ideas and Practice
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

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: 9 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

A primary Creative Nonfiction essay (60%, due end of the semester) and a shorter secondary piece (10%, due mid-semester)*

  • 3000 words (total)
Throughout the teaching period70%

A critical piece on at least two key themes/ideas/readings discussed within the subject*

  • 1000 words
20%

Regular attendance and effective participation in class discussions and workshopping sessions

Throughout the semester10%
Hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of (or at least) 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures, in person or via online delivery. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. (Complete not less than 50% of word countThroughout the semesterN/A

Additional details

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. 

*These assessment items are part of a larger Writing Folio, totalling 4000 words and worth 90% of the total marks for this subject.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorMaria Tumarkin
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursTotal 30 hours: a 2.5-hour workshop per week throughout semester
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023
    Last self-enrol date10 March 2023
    Census date31 March 2023
    Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023
    Assessment period ends23 June 2023

    Semester 1 contact information

    Email: m.tumarkin@unimelb.edu.au

     

Time commitment details

170 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 9 April 2025