Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Building a Strong Narrative

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COMM2456	City Campus	Undergraduate	345T Media and Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019
COMM2456	City Campus	Undergraduate	375T Vocational Design and Social Context	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021
COMM2456	City Campus	Undergraduate	515T Creative Industries	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Dzintra Boyd and Sarah Vincent

Course Coordinator Phone: +61399254269 (Dzintra)

Course Coordinator Email: pwecoordinators@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You are required to have completed Writing Fiction – Story and Structure (COMM2452).

Course Description

This course builds on the concepts outlined in Writing Fiction and Writing Non-fiction, by offering a deeper insight into crafting a successful narrative. You have the opportunity to develop your own work while exploring different elements of narrative such as pace, character development, story arc, point of view, tense, conflict, scene and metaphor. You develop an appreciation of the ways in which readers engage with a text and how narrative can be used to convey meaning across a range of social and cultural backdrops. You are also encouraged to investigate a variety of narrative styles to use in your own fiction and non-fiction writing.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes
In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

• acquire and apply the skills to write works of fiction and nonfiction, edit professionally, create digital content, design print and web-based products, develop and manage writing and editing projects
• identify, analyse and reflect on relevant trends in writing and publishing in both local and international contexts
• work with others in a range of roles and contexts, demonstrating cultural, environmental and social awareness.

Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

• research the elements of a narrative
• identify ways in which you can use these elements to build a strong narrative
• increase your knowledge of how audiences engage with a text
• apply fiction and/or non-fiction techniques to create complex narratives

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:  

• lectures, which provide the framework for developing your narrative building skills.
• class exercises and activities designed to clarify course content and practise relevant skills
• writing workshops to assist development of appropriate techniques with feedback from peers and teacher
• independent research and study, working through the course requirements as presented in classes, online and through learning materials

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for Professional Writing and Editing students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies https://rmit.libguides.com/writing-editing

The Library provides guides on academic referencing: https://www.rmit.edu.au/library/study/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.

 

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Narrative technique (20%)

You will research and write about the craft of writing as demonstrated in a set text.

Aligned course learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment Task 2: Shorter writing piece(30%)

You will write a shorter narrative piece or excerpt of a larger work in either a fiction or non-fiction mode.

Aligned course learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4

Assessment Task 3: Longer writing piece (50%)

You will write a longer narrative piece or excerpt of a larger work in either a fiction or non-fiction mode.

Aligned course learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4