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Study information

Finding a Voice

Module titleFinding a Voice
Module codeTRU2914
Academic year2020/1
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Rob Smith (Lecturer)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

5

Number students taking module (anticipated)

32

Module description

This creative writing module aims to give you an opportunity to develop your creative writing through a series of workshops. The module will develop writing practices through the examination of both fiction, poetry, and plays, in addition to practical exercises in creative writing. You will develop an appreciation of the process of writing, revising, and editing you work in response to an audience of peers and experts. Through practical exercises and seminar discussions, you will explore a variety of textual forms, styles and content and build a project according to your own tastes and interests showing how you have implemented the techniques taught on the module.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will aim to allow you to develop a substantial portfolio of creative writing, showing the development of a project based on reading, research and writing practice. You will develop processes and techniques of writing, including drafting, revising, editing, self-reflection and techniques of project development. Student participation and commentary in seminars is integral. There will be an emphasis on introducing key concepts in the fortnightly lectures; developing these concepts and techniques in lively seminar writing workshops; group work, and informal individual presentations in seminars. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate a range of creative writing styles and approaches
  • 2. Describe formally and generically a range of English and translated literary pieces

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Produce pieces of creative writing, in agreement with specified forms and genres taught on the module
  • 4. Present written and oral arguments concerning your own creative writing and the work of other authors, both peers and published authors

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Through seminar work demonstrate communication skills, and work both individually and in groups
  • 6. Demonstrate appropriate research and bibliographic skills, construct a coherent, substantiated argument, skills of creative expression and write clear and correct prose

Syllabus plan

The module is delivered mostly through the five 3-hour seminars. During seminars you will discuss a piece of literature from a formal perspective, before moving on to workshopping your own work in peer dialogue. You will deliver at the end of the module a reflective piece on your writing process and a piece of creative writing.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
181320

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching15Seminars – small group seminars allowing you to encounter and discuss creative writing as well as workshopping your own work (5 x 3 hours)
Scheduled learning and teaching3Creative writing showcase guest writer event, including presentation of student work in progress (1 x 3 hour)
Guided independent study132Reading, researching, writing, seminar preparation, ELE- and web-based activity, attending office hours with tutor, etc

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Draft creative piecec. 1000 words prose OR 3 separate pieces of poetry 1-4, 6Tutor and seminar feedback
Seminar presentation5 minutesAllOral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
90010

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Reflective piece30500 words1-4, 6Written and oral
Finished sample of creative writing60Fiction – minimum 1500 words or Poetry – at least 3 separate pieces1-4, 6Written and oral
Seminar participation10Continuous, including a presentation on creative piece in progress and peer feedback1-5Written and oral

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Reflective pieceReflective piece1-4, 6Referral/deferral period
Finished sample of creative writingFinished sample of creative writing 1-4, 6Referral/deferral period
Seminar participationRepeat Study/Mitigation1-5N/a

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If the seminar participation is deferred, it cannot be repeated so the written pieces will be weighted at 35% and 65%, respectively. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to redo the assessment(s) as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Key words search

Creative writing, English

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

28/03/2017

Last revision date

20/08/2018