AustLit

This topic is designed as an introduction to the craft of writing short stories, and serves as a sound basis for further work in Creative Writing. Students are introduced to a range of texts, from Australia and overseas, and will be encouraged to use those texts as models for their own creative explorations.

Educational Aims

More specifically, this topic aims to:

* Encourage students to read and write short fiction and gain expertise in writing and editing

* Introduce a variety of texts from a range of historical and national contexts and respond to diverse forms and styles of short narratives

* Demonstrate how the short story is particularly appropriate for encouraging comparative analysis between national cultures and periods of literary development

* Consider writers' own responses to the creative process and thus further develop students' skills as critical readers and editors

* Promote discussion of issues to do with students' own reading and writing of short fiction in a collaborative atmosphere, while considering major critical issues

* Encourage writing for possible publication

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will have:

* Developed their writing and reading skills

* Responded critically and imaginatively to a diverse range of short stories from Australia and beyond

* Developed their critical reading skills

* Related current critical debates about writing to their own work

* Written creatively and developed their editing skills

* Developed their ability to work collaboratively and creatively with other students