On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Communicate effectively and confidently in writing
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of language in the creation of meaning
Analyse and comment on the formal and aesthetic dimensions of literary texts
Express a range of ideas in registers appropriate to purpose and audience
Students will begin by getting to grips with how we can express thoughts and opinions in prose writing. Based on the reading of different types of writing, students will develop into expert manipulators of style, voice, structure, editing and presentation. The emphasis will be placed upon the transferable nature of writing practices between different types of writing. The focus will then shift to Creative Writing, specifically the writing of poetry. Students will apply skills acquired earlier in the module to the writing of poetry, as well looking at what distinguishes poetry from other genres of writing.
Learning and teaching methods will combine seminars and creative writing workshops, with directed reading and creative writing tasks to be completed outside the classroom. Typical sessions will be divided between critical discussion of selected texts and discussion of students’ writing. On occasions, there will be in class writing exercises.
Workshops
Hours: 40
Intended group size: 20
Guided independent study
Hours: 160
Further details relating to assessment
Each portfolio will comprise 2/3 creative work and 1/3 analytical reflection.
Other relevant matters
Formative assessment is built-in to the teaching sessions. At each session from the second teaching week onwards, in both semesters, students will take turns to read out their draft pieces of creative writing and receive verbal feedback in class from the tutor and fellow students.