Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 4 x 1 Hour Lectures |
| Seminar | 4 x 1 Hour Seminars |
| Workshop | 2 x 2 Hour Workshops |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | First essay assignment 1 x 3000 word - Proposal / critical essay, with bibliography (bibliography not included in the wordcount) | 40% |
| Semester Assessment | The Writing Project 1 x 7000 word for prose, or between 280 and 420 lines of poetry or pro-rata for mixed portfolios. A Portfolio of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry or a mixture of genres | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmit failed or missing element Resubmit 1 x 3000 word - Proposal / critical essay, with bibliography (bibliography not included in the wordcount) | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmit failed or missing project 1 x 7000 word for prose, or between 280 and 420 lines of poetry or pro-rata for mixed portfolios. A Portfolio of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry or a mixture of genres | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Plan an extended piece of creative work.
2. Plan and carry out appropriate research for a creative writing project
3. Explain their plans in writing, placing them in a critical and theoretical context
4. Solve technical and conceptual problems arising from extended, researched creative writing projects
5. Revise and improve their projects in response to feedback from tutors and peers
6. Complete an extended researched project in fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry
Aims
To develop the skills of planning, research and long-term work necessary for extended projects, and to encourage independent working practices.
Brief description
The Writing Project is the culmination of students’ undergraduate courses in Creative Writing, and corresponds to the Dissertation in the BA English Literature. They will work on a creative project of their own design over a full year, and will need to take a more independent and ambitious approach than in other assignments. Lectures and seminars at the beginning of semester one will introduce them to the planning and research necessary for the project. At the end of week two, they will be asked to submit an outline plan. They will then be assigned a supervisor, with whom you will have one-to-one tutorials. The first assignment will consist of an essay/detailed plan on the project. In the second semester they will workshop their writing, have further one-to-one tutorials and submit their creative portfolio.
Content
Lecture: Ideas, Inspiration, Creativity. The theory and practice of creativity, including examples from the work of well-known writers and practical advice on the kind of projects students may decide to undertake.
Seminar: Inspiration games. Tutor and students share their own experiences of creativity. Students are given exercises to stimulate ideas.
Week 2
Lecture: Planning Your Project. The many ways in which a creative project can be planned, again using examples from the work of well-known writers. Problems that may arise, and how to deal with them.
Seminar: Discussion of Plans. Students should now have drafts of their plans, which will be discussed in class before submission at the end of this week.
Week 3
Lecture: Researching your Project. Research methodologies, using libraries, online facilities and practical research through interviews etc. Ethical implications of these.
Seminar: Discussion of Research. Students share their research plans and discuss possible approaches to their research.
Week 4
Lecture: Keeping Going. The different stages of a literary project, including examples from well-known writers. Writers' blocks and what to do about them.
Seminar: Drafting, Unblocking, Changing Course. Students are given examples and exercises designed to test their ability to solve creative and technical problems.
Weeks 5 - 10:
Tutorials (1 hour per student).
Semester 2
Week 2: Workshop 1. Students workshop extracts from their projects in progress.
Week 4: Workshop 2. Students workshop extracts from their projects in progress.
Weeks 5-10: Tutorials (1 hour per student).
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Class interaction and written assignments |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Through ongoing revision of work |
| Information Technology | Word processing skills and use of Blackboard and on line information |
| Personal Development and Career planning | |
| Problem solving | Through dealing with problems characteristic of extended, researched writing projects |
| Research skills | Researched nature of the project |
| Subject Specific Skills | Technical skills appropriate to chosen literary genre. Critical self-reflection |
| Team work | Class discussion in seminars and workshops |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6