LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. describe the principles of auto/biographical writing;
2. collect data from a range of sources and adapt for use;
3. synthesise disparate factual information into coherent auto/biographical commentary or narrative;
4. conduct research and planning for auto/biographical writing, utilising such resources as the Alexander Library;
5. write autobiography for target readerships;
6. apply a range of appropriate theories and methodologies to auto/biographical writing;
7. discuss the ethical and legal responsibilities of auto/biographical research and writing; and
8. complete all stages of auto/biographical writing in a professional way with an emphasis on high standards of editing.
UNIT CONTENT
1. Principles, theories and methodologies of auto/biographical writing.
2. Auto/biographical writing forms, life stories, personal history narratives, and autobiographical commentary.
3. The analysis of forms of auto/biographical writing and market research into readers of auto/biographies in order to determine target readership.
4. auto/biographical research and preparations for writing, including genealogies.
5. Data collection and adaptation: the skills of synthesising, and recreating into coherent commentary or narrative.
6. The auto/biographical writing process.
7. The ethics and legalities involved in professional research for autobiographical writing.
8. The editing of auto/biographical writing for general and specialised publication.
9. Ghost writing.
10. Biographical versus autobiographical writing.
Auto/biographical project plus accompanying essay - 70%
Bostridge, M. (Ed.). (2004). Lives for sale: Biographers' tales. London: Continuum.
Daniel, L. (1997). How to write your own life story. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.
Edel, L. (1957). Literary biography. London: Hart Davis.
Fitzhugh, T. & H. (2005). How to write your family history. Yeovil: Marston House.
Herrero, Olaizola, A. Cartwright, J. & Torres, E. (2002). Writing lives, writing lies: The pursuit of apocryphal biographies. Winnepeg: Mosaic.
Karl, F. (2005). Art into life: The craft of literary biography. Wilkes Barre: Etruscan Press.
King, S. (2001). On writing: A memoir of the craft. Fountain Hills: Pocket Books.
Lee, H. (2005). Body parts: Essays on life-writing. London: Chatto & Windus.
Osborne, B. (2005). Writing: Biography and autobiography. London: A. & C. Black.
Suzuki, D. Grady & W. (2004). Tree: A life story. Vancouver: Greystone Books.
Tobin, B. (2001). Write and publish your life story: Guaranteed! Port Orchard: Windstorm Creative.