module specification

This module explores creative nonfiction, focusing on researching and writing different kinds of narrative such as history, life writing (biography and memoir), travel writing, science writing, sports writing, nature writing, reportage and literary journalism. Students will study some leading examples of the genre. They will learn to identify suitable stories and apply techniques from both creative writing and long-form journalism to bring them to life. They will develop an understanding of the market for creative nonfiction and the ethical issues that arise, along with an awareness of the history and cultural context of the form, and emerging new genres.

The main aims of the module are:

• to develop a critical awareness of the creative processes and research techniques involved in a range of narrative nonfiction forms
• to enable students to develop a familiarity with leading and recent examples of the genre
• to enable students to identify stories appropriate to the creative nonfiction form
• to enable students to transform research into creative nonfiction
• to enable students to understand the ethical and legal implications of writing about other people and to take account of these in their output
• to provide students with the means to enhance their writing skills through advanced writing workshop activities
• to extend students' understanding of the different markets and outlets for creative nonfiction and develop the employability of their writing accordingly

There are four main strands to this module:

• critical reading, analysis and discussion to identify subject-matter and potential readerships of creative nonfiction
• workshop activity devising, planning and writing creative nonfiction
• research, including such empirical work as interviews and field visits, to support the origination of creative nonfiction
• critical reading, analysis and discussion of published samples of creative nonfiction and students' own work

While students will be able to write to their strengths, allowing for self-selection of the specific type of creative nonfiction and subject, they will be required to develop, plan, research and write two to three pieces of creative nonfiction with different orientations, eg travel writing and science writing.

The module is delivered in a three-hour workshop setting. Most sessions will involve students analysing, devising ideas for, planning, researching and writing creative nonfiction. Other elements will include: critical appraisal of published examples of creative nonfiction; sharing and mutual critical support of each other's work in pairs, small groups and with the class as a whole; discussion of potential outlets and markets for creative nonfiction, especially in London; individual research activity in the Learning Centre, including the appropriate use of ITC. Students will be expected to spend the requisite amount of out-of-class individual effort on all the above activities as well as conduct empirical research or field visits.

On completing this module students will:

• be able to identify the main characteristics of narrative nonfiction
• have developed their critical awareness of the creative processes and research techniques involved in the production of their own and others' creative nonfiction
• have acquired enhanced and extended writing skills, with the ability to devise attractive and original pieces of creative nonfiction, with a good knowledge of how to structure them and write to length
• have acquired advanced knowledge of the different print and multimedia platforms and markets for creative nonfiction, and the different kinds of creative nonfiction that they require
• have developed the ability to reflect analytically upon creative nonfiction as a genre

Formal assessment will be based on a portfolio consisting of a) two or three pieces of creative nonfiction with different orientations; b) a reflective and analytical commentary (750-1000 words), with appropriate evidence and reference to critical reading, on the planning and research involved in the development and writing of one of the submitted pieces of creative nonfiction - creative nonfiction and commentary together totalling 4000 words. The commentary needs to be analytic, drawing on examples of the genre published in print or online/e-book, as well as academic texts about creative nonfiction.

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Dyer, G. 2015. 'Based on a true story': the fine line between fact and fiction, The Observer, 6.12.15 [Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/06/based-on-a-true-story--geoff-dyer-fine-line-between-fact-and-fiction-nonfiction]
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