Programme of Study Catalogue

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Formulate a plan for the production of a substantial body of original writing, making appropriate choices about genre, form, subject, voice and audience.
Engage in a process of drafting and re-drafting written work for this project, reflecting on own practice and responding to critical discussion of the work with others.
Describe the process leading to completion of the project, and discuss questions about the nature of creativity and the expressive resources of language in relation to this process.
Produce a body of original writing which is coherent and effective in fulfilling its aims.

Content:

During Semester 1, students will work with each other and the module tutor on formulating a particular writing project, with a clear focus and aims, drawing on and bringing together work done earlier in the programme. The project could be (for example) a story or group of stories; a collection of poems; or a short drama. Students will initially share and discuss their ideas and this process will culminate in a formal proposal and oral presentation by each student.

During Semester 2 students will work on their projects, supported by workshops with other students and individual meetings with a member of staff assigned to supervise the project. Students will keep a notebook throughout the module and will use this, as they complete the project, to write a reflective commentary on the process of formulating, drafting and completing the work.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The first three sessions will focus on different aspects of planning and writing an extended piece: these sessions will take the form of lectures with questions and answers. After this, learning and teaching will initially be through a series of workshops at which students will share ideas for projects and discuss work in progress, both informally and formally through a formative oral presentation by each student. Towards the end of the module, students will work individually on the drafting and redrafting of their projects, supported by more workshops and by consultations as required with the member of staff assigned to supervise their project.

Workshops
Hours: 20
Intended Group Size: 25

Individual meetings with supervisor
Hours: 6

Guided independent study
Hours: 374

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1 - Oral Presentation: The oral presentation constitutes a proposal for the creative writing assessment.
Assessment 2 - Creative Writing: The creative writing piece needs to be at 7,000 words in order to allow scope for the breadth of exploration expected at L6.
Assessment 3 - Critical Commentary: The critical commentary is a standard sector-requirement.

Assessment:

001 Oral Presentation; 5 Minutes; End of Semester One 20%
002 Creative Writing; 8,000 words; End of Semester Two 60%
003 Commentary; 1,000 words; End of Semester Two 20%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Prof. Paul Hardwick
Level - 6
Credit Value - 40
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL