THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

HKU SPACE Community College

Associate Degree Programmes 2018-19

Course Document

Course Title: Discovering and Expressing the Narrated Self

Course Code: C C C U 4 0 0 7

Aims and Objective

Narrative is an expression of embodied experience, and a mode of communication and form for understanding the
world and ultimately ourselves. This course is designed for students to increase awareness of the narrated self for
enhancing the efficiency of social communication and benefiting personal growth. Good self-understanding is the
root of proper, effective and benevolent social communications. Through exploring the human mind and one’s
interpretations andexpression of a number of life situations, a better understanding of personal values and concepts,
and workings of themind of the narrator becomes possible.
Apart from traditional modes of teaching like lectures and tutorials, there will be interactive workshops and
assignments for students to learn to observe, analyze, reflect, and share life experiences with fellow students and the
facilitating lecturer. Interactive elements of the course encourage and enable students to explore and express
themselves in various forms including writing, artistic presentations, and stage performances.

Intended Learning Outcomes of the Course

On completion of the course, students should be able to

ILO1.reexamine the concept of SELF and life experiences as subjective narratives ;

ILO2.apply concepts of self-understanding, the human mind, and reflect on the relationship between actions
and reactions to lifesituations;
ILO3.examine the development of SELF through verbal and non-verbal signs;
ILO4.express creatively and concisely critical moments in life in various expressive forms, such as writing, images,
dramas and dancing.
Syllabus
Examining different narratives about the human mind through different cultural texts
includingessays, movies, life experiences in which students will rewrite their own
narratives through in-class experiential activities such as drawing, movement, games,
dance, poetry, music or drama.

1. Self-Discovery and Expression: possibilities and value: setting the tone for
subsequent classes, ice-breaking, encouraging self-discovery and expression with
minimum restrictions.

2. Gender, ethnicity and history – construction of self in perspectives: understanding

the construction of self in various cultural and socio-cultural perspectives.

3. Sensations, perceptions, memory, various type of reasoning, choices:

understanding the subject of mind.

4. Situations and (Re)Actions: understanding the nature of self-narrated situations.

5. Past revisited: turning points and key people: collecting materials for self-writing;
reexamination of family/social relationships.

6. Meanings in life, alternative views on self; self in the future: establishing value
and setting priorities for life.
 7. Creating a mixed-media portrayal of self: writing and other expressive forms for
small-group-directed projects.

Assessment
Type of Assessment (Weighting) Description

Participation and in-class activities (20%)

Essay (20%)
Continuous Assessment (100%)
Self-reflected reports (30%)

Small-group-directed project (30%)

Pre-requisite(s)
Nil

Required and Recommended Reading

Required
1. Ajahn Brahm. (2004). Opening the door of your heart. Kandy: BPS.
2. Doidge, Norman. (2007). The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of
Brain Science. London: Penguin Books.
3. Ferrucci, Piero. (2007). The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life.
New York: Tarcher Penguin.
4. Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.
5. Ramsay, Graham G. (2009). A creative guide to exploring your life: self-reflection using photography, art,
and writing. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
6. Remen, Rachel Naomi. (1996). Kitchen Table Wisdom. New York: Riverhead Books.
7. Siegel, Daniel J. (2011). Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation. New York: Bantam Books.
8. Tolle, Eckhart (1999). The Power of Now: A Guide to spiritual enlightenment. New York: Hodder and
Stoughton.
9. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (2007). The Joy of Living. New York: Three Rivers Press.

Suggested

1. Duhigg, Charles. (2014) The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. New York:
Random House.
2. Kahnman, Daniel (2013). Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Stratus and Giroux.
3. Kossak, A. (2013). Rhythm and resonance in clinical practice. Symposium and workshops on the use of
expressive arts therapies in mental health services (Hong Kong: Centre for Community Cultural
Development)
4. Smith E. (2014). 'Science says lasting relationships come down to - you guessed it - kindness and
generosity.' The Atlantic, [Online]
Available: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/happily-ever-after/372573/ 12 June.

4.5.2018