MECO6915: Semester 1, 2023

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Units MECO6915 Semester 1 2023 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

MECO6915: Writing Feature Stories

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

In this unit, we read many features and texts about features. We consider why features are valuable and how to find newsworthy ideas. Students learn how to gather materials, attribute their sources and structure their research into a compelling story. Students learn why scenes are important and how to write them well. We discuss ethics, develop the skill of 'straightforwardness,' and examine the burgeoning mode of multimedia features. Students learn how to pitch ideas and pursue publication, and they workshop drafts with their peers. By the end of the semester, students have written several pitches, two polished features and two reflections about the ways those features took shape.

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	Margie Borschke, margie.borschke@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Maddison Connaughton, maddison.connaughton@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Margie Borschke, margie.borschke@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Story pitch written submission	20%	Week 04 Due date: 17 Mar 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	First feature story and reflection portfolio	35%	Week 08 Due date: 21 Apr 2023 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Second feature story and reflection portfolio	45%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Story pitch: Develop a newsworthy idea for a feature, write a proposal to an editor (known as a “pitch”) and propose a research plan
First feature and reflection: Submit a portfolio that includes an original polished feature story, a research report and a reflection on your process in the context of learning activities, class discussions and readings.
Second feature and reflection: Submit a portfolio that includes an original polished long form feature story, a research report and a reflection on your process in the context of learning activities, class discussions and readings.

Detailed information and support is available on the unit’s Canvas site. You will be offered editorial prompts to help generate ideas and activities in class will help you develop your work.

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 three 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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	How and why study feature writing	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Finding newsworthy stories	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Pitching stories	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	Research and attribution 1: documents and observation	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Research and attribution 2: interviewing for facts, quotes and anecdotes	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Structure and narration	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Lead writing + Quotes and Dialogue	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	Writing workshop for first feature	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	Pitching your second feature	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	ideas and themes	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Scenes and places	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Feature story workshop	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Memorable endings; developing your portfolio submission	Seminar (2 hr)

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.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, researching, writing 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

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Generate newsworthy feature story ideas and pitch them concisely and persuasively to an editor
LO2. Analyse published features from Australian and international writers and recent scholarship relevant to feature writing, and discuss the relationship between these texts and your own feature writing process
LO3. Design and implement a research plan and attribute research accurately within your features
LO4. Compose features that use language and structure creatively while adhering to ethical standards and the factual basis of the material
LO5. 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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Last year, Linda Jaivin joined the unit for a guest lecture 'Being a feature writer.' In response to student feedback, this has been increased to a 3-part series for 2022. I have retained weekly readings that students found most effective in 2021 and changed others.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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