Cirrus@Austlit

This topic offers the opportunity to write for children in intensive workshop sessions. Students who enrol will learn about the craft of writing as well as about the cultural environment in which writing for children is received. This topic aims to introduce students to contemporary Australian children's literature; examine crucial issues affecting children's writers (for example censorship; visual literacy; how children learn to read, etc); develop students' understanding of the relationship between verbal and visual narratives; develop students' creativity and polish their writing skills; and sharpen their critical abilities.

Educational Aims

This topic aims to:

* Provide students with the opportunity to write for children and participate in workshops

* Develop students' creativity as well as their editing and critical skills

* Introduce students to contemporary Australian children's literature

* Develop students' understanding of the relationship between verbal and visual narratives

* Examine the crucial issues affecting children's writers (for example, censorship)

* Provide students guest speakers in the form of industry professionals and practitioners

Expected Learning Outcomes

For successful completion of this topic students will:

* Demonstrate that they can participate in a workshop environment

* Demonstrate that they can listen, read and write critically

* Demonstrate that they can edit their own and their peers' work in a constructive manner

* Identify their strengths and weaknesses as writers

* Identify some of the opportunities available in writing and publishing

* Show evidence of creativity by producing original work