Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Key Features
Aims of the course
- To explore the range of children's non-fiction (information) books in different subjects and formats for various age ranges.
- To experiment with writing a variety of children's non-fiction.
- To consider the market and audience for children's non-fiction, including opportunities for both traditional and alternative methods of publication.
Learning outcomes
- To understand the role and aims of non-fiction books for children.
- To recognise a range of suitable structures, formats and styles appropriate for children's non-fiction.
- To understand the process of planning, writing and revision, and the opportunities and restrictions of working with artwork to produce illustrated non-fiction.
- To try writing children's non-fiction using suitable content, styles and structures.
- To practice preparing an outline and sample of a non-fiction text suitable for approaching publishers and agents.
- To understand publishing process and opportunities in relation to children's non-fiction.
Welcome week (Week 0)
Purpose:
- personal introductions
- introducing the course
- useful reading
- personal objectives
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, the students should have:
- become familiar with navigating around the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and from VLE to links and back
- test your ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sort out any problems with the help of the Technology Enhanced Learning team
- learn how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
- contribute to a discussion forum to introduce yourself to other students and discuss why you are interested in the course and what you hope to get out of your studies
Teaching Week 1: Fun with facts
Purpose:
This week we will explore the variety of structures and subjects explored by children’s non-fiction books.
Learning outcomes
By studying this week participants should:
- understand different structures in children’s non-fiction, including narrative (story line) and expository (explanatory)
- know the importance of choosing a suitable subject, title and structure to suit the reader’s age
- be able to outline and plan a non-fiction book
Teaching Week 2: Research and writing
Purpose:
This week we will learn how to research and write effectively: recording relevant information accurately, and writing in an appropriate format and structure from it.
Learning outcomes
By studying this week participants should:
- be able to identify suitable sources of information
- know how to research a topic and record research findings, assessing and noting sources
- understand the needs and prior knowledge and experience of the target readers to guide research
- choose which information to include
- structure information clearly and logically, and present it in an engaging, exciting and accessible way for the target age group
- consider aspects of inclusivity and the concerns of an international audience
- research and write sample text on a chosen topic
Teaching Week 3: Style and voice
Purpose:
This week we will explore how different writing treatments can achieve different effects. Narrative voice, first person, use of dialogue, letters and diary entries.
Learning outcomes
By studying this week participants should:
- know what ‘style’ and ‘voice’ are in writing, their effects, and how they are created
- identify aspects of style that make text entertaining, engaging and exciting
- try writing in different styles to engage a young audience
- know how to convey information clearly and simply in an age-appropriate style
- understand how to create an ‘open’ text that acknowledges uncertainty and disagreement in a subject
Teaching Week 4: Words and pictures
Purpose:
This week will show how artwork of different types (illustration, photos, diagrams) are integral to most non-fiction books, and how to write for illustrated text.
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week participants should:
- know how text and images interact in most children’s non-fiction
- understand the different types of artwork and design elements and the writer’s role in collaborating with design professionals
- consider the potential of more challenging layouts, such as lift-the-flap and pop-up books, in presenting information
Teaching Week 5: To market
Purpose:
This week will introduce the world of children’s book publishing, highlight potential openings, and show how best to approach publication.
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week participants should:
- understand the markets for children’s non-fiction
- recognise that every book needs some rewriting and editing, and understand the role of other professionals in perfecting and producing a book
- understand how the publishing industry works, and the roles of agents and publishers
- know what is involved in writing an outline or proposal to approach agents and publishers
- know what to expect in a publishing contract
- understand the difference between traditional and alternative publishing models, and opportunities in each
Week 6: what next?
- assessment of student learning
- assessment of student satisfaction
- encouragement of further study
This course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.
Our short courses are designed especially for adult learners who want to advance their personal or professional development. They are taught by tutors who are expert in both their subjects and in teaching students of all ages and experiences.
Please note that all teaching is in English. You should have near-native command of the English language to get the maximum benefit from the course.
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours of self-study time, for example, reading materials, although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the VLE so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (using discussion boards etc).
Fees
The course fee includes access to the course on our VLE, personal feedback on your work from an expert tutor, a certificate of participation (if you complete work and take part in discussions), and access to the class resources for two years after your course finishes.
Concessions
For more information, please see our concessions information page.
Alison Fordham Bursary
University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education is proud to offer the Alison Fordham bursary, which is awarded to students who wish to study on one of our short online courses via our VLE, reducing the fee paid by 50%. The bursary is limited to a single award for each set of online courses.
Application criteria:
- applicants should set out their personal learning motivations since priority will be given to those who are returning to learning after an extended break, or have not previously engaged with fully online learning, or are seeking to use the online short course as a bridge towards undergraduate award-bearing study
- applicants who can demonstrate financial need
For more information, please see our bursaries information page.
A certificate of participation and a digital credential will be awarded to those who contribute constructively to weekly discussions, exercises and assignments for the duration of the course.
