Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Biographical and Autobiographical Writing

• Unit Code

  WRT3120

• Year

  2015

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  Online

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Description

In this unit students learn research skills by focusing on an auto/biographical topic of their own choice; for example a literature student may wish to research and write the life of a favourite author. Students learn various methods of preparation prior to writing, and then how to write their auto/biography. In order to place their life subject in focus, students research contextual background, target markets, readership, and publication. They learn about the importance of ethics and legalities in their personal history research. Lectures also examine the significance of memory and remembering as well as interviewing techniques and the value of oral history.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded WRT2210, WRT3310

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Apply a range of appropriate theories and methodologies to auto/biographical writing.
2. Collect data from a range of sources and adapt for use.
3. Complete all stages of auto/biographical writing in a professional way with an emphasis on high standards of editing.
4. Conduct research and planning for auto/biographical writing, utilising such resources as the Alexander Library.
5. Describe the principles of autobiographical writing.
6. Discuss the ethical and legal responsibilities of auto/biographical research and writing.
7. Synthesise disparate factual information into coherent auto/biographical commentary or narrative.
8. Write auto/biography for target readerships.

Unit Content

1. Auto/biographical research and preparations for writing, including genealogies.
2. Auto/biographical writing forms, life stories, personal history narratives, and autobiographical commentary.
3. Biographical versus autobiographical writing.
4. Data collection and adaptation: the skills of synthesising, and recreating into coherent commentary or narrative.
5. Ghost writing.
6. Principles, theories and methodologies of auto/biographical writing.
7. The analysis of forms of auto/biographical writing and market research into readers of auto/biographies in order to determine target readership.
8. The auto/biographical writing process.
9. The editing of auto/biographical writing for general and specialised publication.
10. The ethics and legalities involved in professional research for autobiographical writing.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, seminars, workshops and independent study.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Text References

• Anon. (2005). Copyright law in Australia: A short guide. Canberra: Australian Government.
• Bostridge, M. (Ed.). (2004). Lives for sale: Biographers' tales. London, UK: Continuum.
• Eakin, P.J. Ed. (2004). The Ethics of Life Writing. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
• Fitzhugh, T., & Fitzhugh, H. (2005). How to write your family history. Yeovil: Marston House.
• Herrero, O. A., Cartwright, J., & Torres, E. (2002). Writing lives, writing lies: The pursuit of apocryphal biographies. Winnepeg: Mosaic.
• Jay, M. (2010). Writing Lives: Literary Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Karl, F. (2005). Art into life: The craft of literary biography. Wilkes Barre: Etruscan Press.
• Kelly, D. (2005). Autobiography and Independence: Selfhood and Creativity in North African Postcolonial Writing in French. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.
• Lee, H. (2005). Body parts: Essays on life-writing. London, UK: Chatto & Windus.
• Osborne, B. (2005). Writing: Biography and autobiography. London, UK: A. & C. Black.
• Roberts, B. (2002). Biographical Research: Understanding Social Research. Buckingham. Open University Press.
• Suzuki, D., & Grady, W. (2004). Tree: A life story. Vancouver: Greystone Books.
• Trower, S. (Ed.) (2011). Place, Writing and Voice in Oral History Basinstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

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