57681 Narrative and Creative Practices
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 57041 Narrative Writing AND 57601 Narrative and Creative Practices
Description
A command of narrative is a fundamental skill for writers and editors and is recognised as essential in many other practices. In this practice-based subject, students develop their understanding and practice of the art of storytelling across a range of traditions, genres, and platforms. Students study theories and techniques of creativity, analyse narrative works and their contexts, practise key conventions of plot, character and dramatic structure and workshop concepts into sustained creative work. Students develop an understanding of the possibilities of storytelling as technologies and ways of reaching audiences change.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Compose a sustained and coherent creative work, applying the specialist storytelling techniques and skills of narrative practice |
|---|---|
| b. | Evaluate a range of forms and narrative approaches and apply them appropriately to their chosen subject matter, audience, and context |
| c. | Demonstrate their advanced skills in analysing the writing of others and apprehend the possibilities of diverse narrative approaches to writing. |
| d. | Apply critical reflection and awareness of the importance of Indigenous cultural and intellectual copyright protection to their own narrative practice |
| e. | Develop their own critical voice and apply that critical voice to their own creative practice and work, and the work of others |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Deploy flexible creative practices, tools and dispositions to confidently navigate dynamic professional contexts (1.1)
- Approach creative practice through deep engagement with a range of forms, traditions, processes, and generic possibilities (2.1)
- Apply critical understanding of the intercultural possibilities of creative and professional practice in local, national and global contexts (3.1)
- Reflect critically on Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights and apply to professional capabilities to work with and for Indigenous peoples and communities across writing, publishing and editing (4.1)
- Contribute in a confident and informed manner to conversations about cultural and creative practice and industry and identify opportunities for cultural/creative leadership (5.1)
- Convey complex ideas clearly and effectively in professional contexts and to specialist and general audiences across a range of media formats (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
E-readings and other material such as short videos and lectures and prompts for critical reflection will be provided in Canvas modules online. Students will read, watch, and engage with this material in preparation for face-to-face classes. In face-to-face classes and independently, students will experiment with different forms of narrative, practising their skills by writing short narrative texts. In face-to-face classes, students will analyse and discuss lectures and set texts and participate in collaborative, peer-led workshops. Through the iterative workshopping method, students will develop their understanding of creativity, develop their narrative practice, articulate goals and challenges, and identify and evaluate storytelling approaches, problems and solutions. Through participation in in-class workshopping, students will receive feedback on their work before Week 4 and develop drafts of creative work for both assignments.
Content (topics)
This subject involves creative and theoretical exploration of contemporary storytelling practices. Students evolve their creative work at the same time as reading and critically analysing set texts. The subject develops students’ awareness of the core skills, techniques, and possibilities of narrative across genres and platforms, including Indigenous storytelling. Students study the psychology of creativity and practise key techniques for prompting and sustaining creative work. Students learn to recognise key narrative tropes, articulate and solve narrative problems, and apply this knowledge to their own and others’ creative work. Students discuss local and global trends in narrative practice and develop strategies for tailoring storytelling to changing contexts and outlets.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Short Narrative
| Objective(s): | a, b and c | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 25% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1000 words of narrative + 250-word reflection = 1250 total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Annotated Bibliography
| Objective(s): | c, d and e | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 15% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1200 words (400 per text) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Original Creative Work, Short Critical Reflection and Annotated Bibliography
| Objective(s): | a and b | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 60% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 2750 words. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Students must Students must pass all assessment tasks to pass this subject, as each task assesses unique subject learning objectives.
Students must participate in at least one workshop for work assessed in Assignment 2.
Required texts
There are no required texts for this subject. Recommended readings will be available via UTS Library and through the subject site.
References
Abrams, M.H. (1989). A Glossary of Literary Terms (7th ed.). Heinleh & Heinleh.
Adelaide, D. (2015). The Simple Act of Reading. Random House Australia.
Atwood, M. (2003). Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing. Anchor.
Bal, M. (2017). Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative (4th ed.). University of Toronto Press.
Barthes, R. (2018). A Roland Barthes Reader. Vintage Classics.
Berger, R. (2019). Dramatic Storytelling & Narrative Design: A Writer’s Guide to Video Games and Transmedia (2019). CRC Press.
Chatman, S. (1980). Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film. Cornell University Press.
Dillard, A. (2013). The Writing Life. Harper Perennial.
Disher, G. (2001) Writing Fiction. Allen & Unwin.
Dreyer, B. (2019). Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style. Random House.
Fowler, R. (ed). (1987). A Dictionary of Modern Critical Terms (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Genette, G. (1983). Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Cornell University Press.
Hutcheon, L. & Natoli, J. (eds). (1993). A Postmodern Reader (2nd ed.). SUNY Press.
Janke, T. (2021). True Tracks: Respecting Indigenous Knowledge and Culture. NewSouth Books
Lentriccia, F. & McLaughlin, T. (eds). (1995). Critical Terms for Literary Study. University of Chicago Press.
Williams, J. J. et al (ed), (2018). The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. W. W. Norton.
Ryan, M-L. (2004). Narrative Across Media: The Languages of Storytelling. University of Nebraska Press.
Salesses, M. (2021). Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping. Catapult.
Strunk, W. Jr and White, E. B. (1999). The Elements of Style (4th ed). Pearson.