CJB201 Feature Writing

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit provides advanced journalistic skills in feature writing, such as generating story ideas and new angles, researching and interviewing and writing interesting copy. Feature writing is a mainstay of journalism that practitioners cultivate during a career in this constantly evolving media space. The unit provides experience in the preparation of feature stories of professional quality and gives access to the benefits of reflection and a constructive critique of your research and writing. It aids you in producing credible non-fiction articles in a dynamic and appealing style, engaging skills that are transferable to areas outside journalism. It also provides awareness of the market for feature material for writers including freelance journalists. You are mentored to find publication opportunities in off-campus media.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Differentiate between news features and specialist features, and adapt your writing style accordingly.
2. Deploy creative non-fiction writing techniques, incorporating elements such as anecdotes, quotation and description as appropriate.
3. Meet deadlines, apply style guidelines and operate within an ethical framework.
4. Employ journalism skills and research techniques for journalistic inquiry that include interviewing primary sources, the appropriate searching of other media sources, and use of the internet.
5. Locate outlets to maximise publication opportunities.
6. Reflect on and constructively critique your own research and writing.

Content

Learning Approaches

Feature Writing involves lectures that introduce you to the major styles of feature writing, the techniques involved in researching and crafting feature stories, and key issues affecting feature writers’ workplace environments. Tutorials build on material covered in lectures, allowing you an opportunity to build a portfolio of feature stories and enabling tutors to provide feedback. Feature Writing will involve writing exercises in tutorials and for homework, usually with an emphasis on completing assignments to deadlines.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Through the semester you will have the opportunity to receive oral and/or written feedback on drafts of feature articles. This will be provided in any or all of the following ways:

• feedback from teaching staff, in class and by appointment.
• feedback from your peers during tutorials.
• individual written feedback on submitted work.
• generic feedback posted to the unit's Canvas website.

Assessment

Overview

You will be assessed in two ways during this unit: through a written portfolio and a creative work combining words and visuals in a multi-media feature package. This assessment will give you practice in writing to a deadline as well as practice in different types of long-form journalism and feature stories.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Canvas site for this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Portfolio

For this assessment you will be required to submit a package of diverse written material.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Creative Work Portfolio

For your creative work, you will be required to write a long-form multi-media feature work on a topic of your own selection after consultation with staff. Rewriting is part of this assessment. Please see Canvas for further information.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Graham, C and Ricketson, M. (2017) Writing Feature Stories: How to Research and Write Articles – from Listicles to Longform, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest.

Risk Assessment Statement

All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

KC40 Bachelor of Communication

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the complex relationships among history, economics, politics, technology and culture in communication industries, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
   Relates to: ULO5, Creative Work Portfolio
2. Demonstrate specialised knowledge of the foundational principles in your study area and the complex relationships of evolving communication platforms.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO6, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio
3. Critically analyse complex forms of information to synthesise and produce clear and coherent content for diverse audiences.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, ULO6, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio
4. Evaluate the technical requirements that inform planning, problem solving, decision making, and production processes in global and local communication industries.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio
5. Communicate and apply specialised knowledge of the policies and practices that shape contemporary societies and cultures in the local and global communications sector.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio
6. Apply the theoretical, conceptual, professional and creative skills of the communication industries knowledges in transdisciplinary and multimodal media contexts.
   Relates to: ULO2, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio
7. Apply socially responsible and ethical judgements to industry, community and professional practices in the communication industries.
   Relates to: ULO3, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio
8. Identify and develop effective professional networks that exemplify independence, leadership and collaboration in the communication industries.
   Relates to: ULO3, ULO5, ULO6, Portfolio, Creative Work Portfolio