Handbook

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Overview

This course will explore the form and practice of the personal essay. A flexible and radical form, the personal essay is one of the most influential and provocative modes of writing in the contemporary moment. Both playful and investigative, the personal essay is a means by which urgent feeling is translated into thought. As a cross-disciplinary genre the personal essay can take many guises, including literary journalism, cultural criticism and experimental and narrative non-fiction. Starting with the history of the essay, the course will move forward towards more recent examples that grapple with pressing concerns in bold ways. In this course you will have the chance to develop your opinions and shape your experiences into compelling arguments. You will acquire a critical awareness of the diversity of the genre as well as develop your creative ability as essayists. Critical analysis of the form will complement and support the practical development of your writing. Writing exercises will be provided, and you will have the chance to develop and discuss your creative work in class. Attention will also be given to enhancing your vocational knowledge, with the personal essay as a leading example of long-form freelance writing.

Conditions for Enrolment

Prerequisite: 48 UOC overall, including 6 UOC at level 1 and 6 UOC at level 2 in one of the following streams, Creative Writing or English

Course Attributes

General Education

Delivery

In-person - Standard (usually weekly or fortnightly)

Please note that the above delivery information is an indication on how this course may be delivered within the year. Delivery mode(s) for each term can be viewed on other sources such as myUNSW and class timetable site.

This Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

Course Outline

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Fees

Type	Amount
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)	$494
Domestic Students	$4620
International Students	$4620

Disclaimer

Where a fee is displayed as “Not Applicable”, including some Work Experience and UNSW Canberra courses, please contact the relevant Faculty for any enquiry.

Note that the University reserves the right to vary student fees in line with relevant legislation. The fee information is provided as a guide and more specific information about fees, including policy, can be found here.

Commonwealth Supported Students:

Please refer to the information about new Student Contribution band classifications. Note that grandfathering arrangements are applicable for some cohorts of students, and other special arrangements apply for a limited number of programs. The Field of Education displayed on the right-hand side of this page may be applicable in understanding which fee rate will apply to you.

Where a Commonwealth Supported fee is displayed it does not guarantee that such places are available.

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

School
School: The academic unit responsible for teaching in disciplines or subject areas (school is part of a faculty).

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Undergraduate

Offering Terms
Depending on the Academic Calendar type, an offering term generally refers to an academic teaching period of between 8-13 weeks in duration.

Term 3

Campus

Sydney

Academic Calendar

Field of Education

091523 Literature

The Art of the Essay: Writing Creative Non-Fiction

ARTS3025

6 Units of Credit