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WiSe 20/21: Ü1-Communication Skills: Writing Beyond the Boundaries: Creative Nonfiction and Alternative Forms of Academic Writing

Ruth Wishart

Information for students

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Aims and Objectives This year-long course takes an experimental approach to written communication, with a focus on the concept that all writing – whether literary criticism, poetry, fiction or ... read more

Aims and Objectives

This year-long course takes an experimental approach to written communication, with a focus on the concept that all writing – whether literary criticism, poetry, fiction or biography – is essentially subjective.

Part 1 of the course is taught in the winter semester and differs from the more conventional Academic Writing course in order to explore how our own subjectivities, histories and experiences inform our writing practices, and to consider ways in which storytelling can be used in nonfiction, including academic argumentation.

We will analyse a variety of writing genres, including Literary Journalism, Memory Writing, Nature Writing and Travel Writing. We will also look at Fictocriticism, a postmodern approach to academic writing that combines fiction, poetry, theory and criticism.

The fundamental goal of this course is to blur the boundaries between genres, making non-fiction read like fiction, so that even an academic paper can become a thriller.

Throughout the semester, students will be required to contribute original writing for analysis and discussion in class workshops.

Part 2 of the course focuses on creative writing and is taught in the summer semester.

Learning Outcomes

During the module, students will learn:

to develop their own imagination, self-criticism and craft through a combination of structured writing exercises and independent writing
to consider the issues raised in the writing process
to uncover various methods of dealing with potential problems
to develop their critical faculties so that they can analyse their own writing as well as that of others

Module Requirements

Over the course of the semester, students will be required to compile a portfolio of short pieces of original writing. The basic requirements for the course are: the completion of the portfolio and regular attendance in the course, including active participation in writing assignments and workshop discussions.

Please note that the entire module runs over two semesters: the second part (Creative Writing) is offered in the summer semester.

The entire module (winter and summer semesters) is worth 15 credit points.

Language Requirements

The course will be held in English. Students must have an active command of sophisticated, near native-speaker language skills (C1 / C2).

Kompetente Sprachverwendung(hohes Sprachniveau bis fast muttersprachliche Sprachkompetenz) (C1 / C2).

Coronavirus restrictions

All my courses in the winter semester 1920/21 will be held in person in the classroom. Unfortunately, this means that I will have to restrict entry into some courses, due to the physical distancing required by the university.

All course material will be available online, and it will also be possible to set up an online platform for students who are not able to attend the course in person.

The capacity for this course is 23.

14 Class schedule

Regular appointments

Wed, 14:15 - 15:45 14 Class schedule

Wed, 2020-11-04 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2020-11-11 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2020-11-18 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2020-11-25 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2020-12-02 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2020-12-09 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2020-12-16 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-01-06 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-01-13 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-01-20 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-01-27 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-02-03 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-02-10 14:15 - 15:45

Wed, 2021-02-17 14:15 - 15:45

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Freie Universität Berlin

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