Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Portfolio Creative Writing Portfolio 1. A single 3000-word portfolio consisting of two 1500-word creative pieces | 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Portfolio Creative Writing Portfolio 1. A single 3000-word portfolio consisting of two 1500-word creative pieces | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of a range of literary texts from across the Nineteenth Century.
Locate texts in appropriate cultural and historical contexts.
Articulate a detailed critical analysis of individual texts from the period that shows an understanding of their distinctive qualities.
Relate texts from the period either to each other or to a common theme.
Brief description
Exploring real people, places and histories, this module looks at ways of telling real-life stories and asks how 'true' they really are. It looks at how the writer researches and presents his/her own experiences in memoir, autobiography or travelogue, before moving on to examine creative ways of writing history, nature, science or biography. The module examines the relationship between fiction and creative non-fiction, encouraging students to use their existing skills to explore new directions.
Aims
This module fills a gap in undergraduate creative-writing provision by addressing the core skills required to write creative non-fiction and introducing Part II students to key texts and approaches. It will enhance students' fiction and writing skills by expanding the range of material studied and exploring new techniques.
Content
An overarching rationale to the module will ask students to consider and scrutinize key questions about creative non-fiction: what is creative non-fiction and how does it differ from fiction? How does research underpin the genre? How does the writer get the most from real stories? How responsible is the writer for telling the truth?
Seminars will consider:
- What is creative non-fiction? An introduction.
- The writing self: memoir and autobiography. Students will explore how to write about the self and personal experiences. How do you express your inner life, your thoughts and feelings – and make them interesting? What is the relationship between the writer, and the 'I' in the writing?
- The writer in a strange land: travel writing. Is travel writing only about making journeys? What does a reader want from travel writing? Students will explore traditional travelogues, as well as contemporary 'hybrid' works.
- The writer as researcher: history, nature and science. Students will look at the ways in which factual research can be brought to the page in a creative way.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | Oral communication in seminar and workshop discussion; written communication in portfolio submission text. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Through independent and directed research and reading. Exploring and refining new writing techniques. |
| Information Technology | Word-processing skills required to prepare and submit portfolios; use of digital resources for research. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Through critical self-reflection; transferable communication and research skills. |
| Problem solving | Analysing and employing creative non-fiction techniques; planning and developing research and written tasks. |
| Research skills | Undertaking research into key themes and presenting this in a scholarly and coherent manner. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Practical proficiency in creative writing; close reading; analysis of texts and research sources; revision and editing. |
| Team work | Collaboration in seminars and workshops. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5