OLET2110: Semester 2b, 2023

Units OLET2110 Semester 2b 2023 [Online]

Unit outline_

OLET2110: Telling True Stories

Semester 2b, 2023 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Students learn to write a narrative nonfiction story that communicates specialist knowledge they have gained in their university course to a general audience. Twelve modules guide students through the writing process, from pitching a story idea to preparing their piece for publication. Topics covered include narrative nonfiction subgenres, research, scene building, structure, ethics and style.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Media and Communications
Credit points	2
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Cheryl O'Byrne, cheryl.obyrne@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Story pitch Pitch your creative nonfiction story idea to an editor in email form	20%	- Due date: 01 Oct 2023 at 23:59	300 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Narrative nonfiction story Compose a nonfiction story based on your uni major	70%	Week 13 Due date: 03 Nov 2023 at 23:59	1200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quizzes Short multiple choice quizzes on weekly content	10%	Weekly	5 quizzes, 10 questions each
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

See Canvas for assessment details. Late penalties apply per University guidelines.

Assessment criteria

Result Name	Mark Range	Description
High Distinction	85-100	Rubrics with descriptions for two assignments are available on Canvas.
Distinction	75-84
Credit	65-74
Pass	50-64

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 07	What is narrative nonfiction? / Why is it valuable?	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Finding your story idea / Pitching your story	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Researching your story / Writing scenes	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Structuring your narrative / Showing while telling	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Ethical considerations / Revising and polishing	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Workshopping story drafts	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Workshopping story drafts	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. distinguish narrative nonfiction (and its subgenres) from other modes of academic or journalistic writing and discuss why the form is valuable
LO2. identify a viable story topic and angle and pitch the idea to a publication that serves a general readership
LO3. augment academic knowledge with journalism research methods
LO4. recognise and apply narrative techniques such as scene setting and a narrative structure
LO5. discuss ethical challenges and standards of narrative nonfiction and apply them to your story
LO6. complete the drafting and editing process to produce an original, polished narrative nonfiction story

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Last year I trialled this unit in Semester 2 and this year, based on student feedback, I am returning to Semester 2B. I have changed the quizzes from 2 long quizzes to 5 shorter ones, and I have brought forward the pitch module and assignment.

Additional information

Students must attempt all assignments to pass this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links