Telling True Stories: Narrative Non-Fiction

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• generate, develop and research ideas for non-fiction writing
• successfully plan, structure, rewrite and edit non-fiction texts
• think critically about works of non-fiction and be reflective and critical about about your own creative non-fiction work

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• write critical commentaries of your own work
• have practiced research skills

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the key elements of narrative non-fiction (including character, place, dialogue, imagery and structure in a non-fiction story)
• the methods by which non-fiction writers work
• the work of contemporary non-fiction writers, and will have engaged with their works so as to expand your knowledge of a developing genre and your understanding of the genre's characteristics and boundaries.

You will look at how techniques of narrative non-fiction – research, narrative, structure, place and character – work together to create a successful piece of non-fiction. You will look closely at how these elements work in contemporary non-fiction both by reading short and book-length pieces of non-fiction and consider how these authors, often from diverse fields, tell their true stories. Having gained skills in the key elements of narrative non-fiction, you will be expected to write a longer piece for your final assignment. Reflecting and writing critically about your own methods and finished work is a key element of this module and you will be required to write a critical commentary to accompany the second narrative non-fiction assignment.

Teaching and learning methods

This will be a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures will focus on analysis of narrative non-fiction books as well as shorter pieces; discussion of key techniques in researching and writing narrative non-fiction; and visits from professionals – both writers and experts in field such as art, medicine and science – who will discuss how they go about researching and writing about their work for a general audience . The seminars will continue discussion of non-fiction techniques, and mainly focus on student writing through writing exercises and work-shopping of your pieces. You will be expected to bring drafts of your work to seminars prior to each deadline, and to offer feedback to your fellow students on their work. You will be able to see your seminar tutor in regular consultation hours and to ask for feedback on work in progress as well as on marked assignments.

This module includes a Learning Support Hour. This is a flexible contact hour, 5 in total, designed to support and respond to the particular cohort taking the module from year to year. This hour will include (but not be limited to) activities such as language, theory and research skills classes; group work supervisions; assignment preparation and essay writing guidance; assignment consultations; feedback and feed-forward sessions.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Margot Singer & Nicole Walker (eds). Bending Genre.

Kramer, Mark & Wendy Call (eds). Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External