Advanced Non Fiction Writing

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 HOURS

Students in the 200-point Master of Journalism program must complete JOUR90001 Researching and Writing Stories before taking this unit. In some circumstances a student may be granted an exemption from this requirement at the discretion of the course coordinator.

Basic news writing skills are a minimum.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject builds on basic news writing skills to explore feature writing, journalistic essay writing and long term literary journalism. Students are introduced to key examples of leading non fiction writing from Australia and overseas, and are encouraged to reflect on the techniques employed, before bringing the results of this study to their own work in a series of practical exercises.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• Have a knowledge of the tradition of journalistic non fiction writing, and be familiar with key examples
• Understand the structures and techniques of journalistic feature writing, including the different methods of research required
• Have completed a portfolio of work demonstrating the skills of literary journalism.

• 1,000 word essay (and associated class presentation) analysing one of a selection of pieces of literary journalism, due throughout the semester (25%)
• Short (1,000 word) feature article on a set topic, due in the first half of semester (25%)
• Long (2,000 word) feature article, due in second half of semester (50%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should have attained:

• High level ability to analyse writing techniques and affects

• High level ability to express thoughts, ideas and observations in accessible written English.