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CWR1002 Writing about People

Semester 2, 2023 Toowoomba On-campus
Units : 1
School or Department : School of Humanities & Communication
Grading basis : Graded
Course fee schedule : /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules

Staffing

Course Coordinator:

Overview

This first-year creative writing course introduces students to a range of ways of writing about people, both real and imagined, across a range of genres and forms. You will be supported in developing writing that reflects an awareness of current debates and practices within life writing and character-based writing, as well as an awareness of publishing expectations and requirements.

This course equips you with a range of highly valued skills required in the workforce, and in professional writing practice, including interpreting and responding to market submission guidelines, meeting deadlines, and writing to purpose.

This course contributes to your development of the Creative and Performing Arts Threshold Learning Outcomes, and USQ Graduate Capabilities.

The writing we produce is most often about people, whether that writing takes the form of creative works (like short stories and novels), or works of non-fiction, such as biographies and profiles. This course provides you with an introduction to a range of techniques for producing engaging and effective works of creative and professional writing that focus on representations of people. The course provides you with an opportunity to nurture your creativity and hone your skills as a writer. You will be guided through the process of producing a range of texts, including biography, and memoir. The focus in the course is on producing works that demonstrate an awareness of the relationship between the writer and the marketplace.

Course learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. write clear, engaging short works that demonstrate an emerging understanding of the way creative writers use language to create a sense of ‘character’;
  2. apply fundamental writing skills across a range of genres or forms;
  3. identify and apply best practice in terms of ethical research and enquiry;
  4. produce writing that reflects an emerging awareness of market and audience;
  5. identify and adapt writing techniques used by professional writers;
  6. apply fundamental skills in providing editorial feedback.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Memoir 40.00
2. Biography 40.00
3. Editing skills development 20.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

All texts and materials required for this course are provided via the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk.

Student workload expectations

To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.

Assessment details

Approach Type Description Group
Assessment
Weighting (%) Course learning outcomes
Assignments Written Quiz No 10 3
Assignments Written Portfolio A1 of 2 No 20 2,3,6
Assignments Creative Creative work B1 of 2 No 25 1,2,3,5
Assignments Creative Portfolio A2 of 2 No 20 2,3,6
Assignments Creative Creative work B2 of 2 No 25 1,2,4,5
Date printed 9 February 2024