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Unit outline_

MECO6915: Writing Feature Stories

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit teaches the basic principles and skills of narrative journalism, or features, suited to print and online publications. Genres include profile, essay, travel, memoir, investigative journalism, cultural commentary and behind-the-news stories as well as multimedia features. Skills in pitching story ideas to editors, conducting interviews, understanding readerships, conducting research, quoting speech and writing dialogue, understanding structure and developing style will be covered in workshop-based classes, providing opportunities to critique work, practice writing skills, make revisions and become familiar with editing processes prior to submission of assignments.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
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 Second feature story and reflection
Compose a 2000-word feature and a 1000-word reflection
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 15 Jun 2021 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Story pitches
Pitch three story ideas to a given publication
20% Week 05
Due date: 31 Mar 2021 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment First feature story and reflection
Compose a 1200-word feature and an 800-word reflection
35% Week 09
Due date: 05 May 2021 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3

Assessment summary

Detailed information is available on the unit’s Canvas site.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Compose pitches, features and reflections of an exceptional standard

Distinction

75 - 84

Compose pitches, features and reflections of a very high standard

Credit

65 - 74

Compose pitches, feaures and reflections of a good standard

Pass

50 - 64

Compose pitches, feautures and reflections of an acceptable standard

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

You must attempt all assessments to pass this unit. 

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What is feature writing and why is it valuable? Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Finding newsworthy ideas Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Pitching stories Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Research and attribution part 1: documents and observation Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 05 Research and attribution part 2: interviewing Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 06 Structure Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 07 Being a feature writer/ Beginnings Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 08 Writing workshop for feature 1 Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 09 Scenes Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 10 Ethical considerations Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 11 Straightforwardness Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 12 Multimedia features Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 13 Writing workshop for feature 2 Seminar (2 hr) LO3 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed online via our Canvas page.

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.

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

  • LO1. Generate newsworthy feature story ideas and justify them in relation to appropriate journalism markets
  • LO2. Demonstrate understanding of the ways features are shaped by subgenres
  • LO3. Analyse the work of Australian and international published feature writers and recent scholarship relevant to feature writing, and discuss the relationship between these texts and your own work
  • LO4. Design and implement a research plan and attribute research accurately within your features
  • LO5. Compose features that use language and structure creatively while adhering to ethical standards and the factual basis of the material
  • LO6. Implement editing strategies that enable you to appraise and refine your work and your peers’ work

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

This unit was paused in 2020. Readings, weekly topics, class activities and assessments have all been updated for 2021.

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.