Master of Arts Integrated Studies (MAIS) 616

Introduction

Welcome to Master of Arts-Integrated Studies 616: Writing the Self: The Experience and Potential of Writing for the Purpose of Personal Development. Writing is an important form of human expression and a valuable tool in academia for reporting findings, expressing points of view, or furthering an area of study. Some university students view writing merely as a technical skill-or, at worst, a necessary evil in the process of obtaining certification. However, writing offers diverse potentials, such as giving the writer the opportunity to explore, define, and refine his or her internal experiences.

Compelling evidence exists that the writing process may enhance and expand personal development in a variety of contexts and that writing has therapeutic benefits. This course focuses on exploring these potentials, by engaging students in the writing process and by inviting them to review, study, discuss, and evaluate existing contexts where writing is being used for therapy, creativity, and self-expression, and for research on the writing process.

As a student in Writing the Self, you will be required to commit to a daily writing practice, and you will be invited to express yourself in the form of poetry and fiction. You will also be prompted to write about various themes and explore facets of your lived experience. During the course you will be asked to share selected written work with your course professor and other students. You will work online, participate in student discussion, give and receive feedback, and complete assignments during and at the end of the course.

The three final assignments reflect key topics and approaches covered in this course-the first of these final assignments invites you to write a portrait of self as a means to express and reflect in a personal way. The second assignment encourages you to think about and create a writing application for self or others as a practical exercise. The third assignment requires you to write an essay about a question that will arise out of student discussion, readings, or your professor's commentary both in this manual as well as online. In other words, the personal, the practical, as well as the theoretical aspects of writing as a means of personal development will be covered.

Regard your participation in this course as an investment in yourself as well as an opportunity to write with more creativity, insight, and enjoyment. You may even find that writing can play a role in your life or in the life of those you work with, beyond where you have used it until now.

Important notice: The process of writing about self can bring up challenging emotional issues. Students are reminded that this course is not therapy and that they must participate within their own capabilities and limits. If a student feels that further support is needed, he or she may discuss with the course professor contacts for competent counsellors and/or psychologists. Neither the professor nor Athabasca University is responsible for any personal problems that should arise during the participation in this course.

Course Objectives

The objectives for Writing the Self are fourfold. The course provides you the opportunity to

1. write with the intention of exploring facets of self and to commit to a daily writing practice.
2. explore approaches to self-expressive and self-reflective writing and write with more fluidity, creativity, and honesty (that is, lack of inhibition) and coherently express parts of your lived experience.
3. study views, research, and contexts where writing is being used and demonstrate an open-minded yet critical view of these views/findings/reports.
4. share during the discovery process and participate in discussions with your course professor and fellow students.

Student Evaluation

To receive credit for this course, you must participate and submit weekly contributions to student discussion, complete the weekly and final assignments to the satisfaction of your course professor, and achieve a final mark of at least 60 per cent. You must demonstrate that you have read the materials assigned and are willing to work on your own writing, integrate what you have read, post online relevant questions, and provide insightful, supportive feedback to other participants.

The Master of Arts-Integrated Studies grading system is available online at the MAIS home page. Please note that it is your responsibility to maintain your program status. Any student who receives a grade of "F" in one course, or a grade of "C" in more than one course, may be required to withdraw from the program.

The required participation and weighting of each activity are indicated below.

Online Activities

Online participation is required weekly, except during Week 9 when you will be carrying out independent study.

Online participation requires that you post your weekly assignments plus one of the following activities:

1. participate in group discussion.
2. give feedback to another student (according to guidelines provided).
3. pose an insightful question or highlight an issue relevant to the weekly theme.

Weekly Assignments Each assignment should be no longer than the specified number of words. You will receive feedback on at least one of the required weekly assignments by Tuesday of the following week.

Participation in Group Discussion Demonstrate your creative and serious participation in an online discussion. Please keep chatting and casual exchanges to a minimum.

Feedback Provide constructive, insightful feedback to another student. How to give feedback will be posted online during Week 1.

Question Pose an insightful question or highlight issues relevant to the week's theme, and be willing to engage in an exchange with the professor or one or more students.

Final Writing Assignments Before you begin your final assignments, review the section near the back of your Course Guide titled "Intellectual Indebtedness and Plagiarism."

Due date: Submit the three final writing assignments no later than Friday of Week 15.