57144 Popular Fiction

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Writing and Contemporary Cultures
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Requisite(s): 57041 Advanced Narrative Writing OR 57031 Non-fiction Writing OR 57142 Writing for the Screen OR 50359 Screenwriting OR 50309 Advanced Screenwriting
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Handbook description

This subject provides a theoretical understanding of, and practice in, the writing of three popular genres: Crime/Adventure, Romance, and Science Fiction/Fantasy. It offers students the opportunity to work in a specific genre while simultaneously exploring the wider codes, conventions, structures and possibilities of writing popular fiction. It examines the historical and contemporary importance of popular fiction as a literary form and ways in which generic forms may be used or subverted. Several key popular fiction texts are examined with critical reflection on linear narrative and the concept and construction of plot.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the end of this subject students will be able to:

Bring focused critical skills to bear on their work and other's popular fiction narratives.
Develop original narrative ideas in one of three selected fictional genres.
Demonstrate a capacity for critical analysis of popular fiction.
Produce an extended piece of popular fiction which conforms to what is generally expected of a popular fiction genre.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject:

Enhances specific and general skills in writing
Contributes to the students' professional capabilities
Enhances critical understanding and analysis of the structures and practical possibilities of popular fiction
Develops a knowledge of specific genres and creative thought about popular fiction.

Teaching and learning strategies

Sessions 1-7 will include a lecture about and discussion of the week's topic, followed by a writing workshop, in which students will critically discuss their own short pieces of popular fiction.

They will also be asked to read and critically analyse a range of popular fiction extracts and texts.

From week 7 students will be asked to work on a sustained piece of popular fiction in one of three genres, developing it through several drafts to a length of maximum 5,000 words. The work will be intensively workshopped in class and will be submitted as the final and major element of the subject's assignment for assessment.

Content

This subject aims to develop student's awareness of the codes and conventions of popular fiction genres with particular emphasis on Crime/Adventure, Romance and Science Fiction/Fantasy. It combines critical analysis of structure and form with practical writing exercises and the discussion and examination of a range of exemplary texts.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Minor assignments

Objectives	a, b, c
Value	40%
Due	Weeks 2-7
Word limit	2 x 700 word exercises
Task	To write several short generic pieces and workshop them in class
Assessment criteria	Capacity to utilise critical skills in the completion of two short narrative pieces in the relevant genre Demonstrated ability to complete narrative pieces in an appropriate genre Originality of ideas Inventiveness and accomplishment of writing style.

Assessment item 2: Major assignment

Objectives	a, b, c, d
Value	60%
Due	Week 14
Word limit	5000 word narrative
Task	To write an extended narrative in one of the three genres of popular fiction studied. These will be workshopped in class and the work re-drafted before submission.
Assessment criteria	Capacity to utilise critical skills in the completion of an extended narrative piece in the appropriate genre Originality of idea Inventiveness and accomplishment of writing style Dramatic and suspenseful structuring of work

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.

Required text(s)

Brown, D. 2004, The Da Vinci Code, Corgi, London.

Chandler, R. 1949, Farewell My Lovely, Penguin, London.

Earnshaw, S. (Ed.) 2007, The Handbook of Creative Writing, EUP, Edinburgh.

Gelder, K. 2005, Popular Fiction, Routledge, London

Herbert, F H, 2000. Dune, VictorGollancz,

Tolkien, J.R, 2005, Fellowship of the Ring, Harper Collins, Sydney.

Recommended text(s)

Jean Bedford, Writing Genre, 2002, The Writer's Reader; a guide to writing fiction & poetry, Brenda Walker (ed), Halstead Press Sydney.

Cawelti, J.G. 1976, Adventure, Mystery and Romance, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Curthoys, C & Docker, J. 1990, Popular Romance in the Postmodern Age, Continuum: the Australian Journal Of Media & Culture, vol 4, no. 1, pp. 60-69.

Day, M. 1996, How to Write Crime, Allen and Unwin, Sydney.

Dixon, J. 1998, The Romance Fiction of Mills & Boon 1909 - 90's, Routledge, UK.

Hall, O. 2001, How Fiction Works, Story Press, Ohio.