Story: Transforming the Blank Page

This unit engages with the writing process; it looks at how to turn ideas and inspiration into coherent narrative structures. Students will be introduced to the essentials of storytelling through a focus on three writing areas fiction, nonfiction and script writing. This unit gives students the opportunity to experiment and practice with different forms of writing, develop their skills as critical readers as well as writers and build their knowledge of contemporary literature and film. Students also read the published fiction of emerging writers and are encouraged to contribute to student literary magazines. Class activities focus on historical and contemporary aspects of narrative and narrative structure, and on the contexts in which writers work. The unit may feature short film screenings and guest presentations by creative writers.