Arts Journalism and Creative Non-Fiction
| Module title | Arts Journalism and Creative Non-Fiction |
|---|---|
| Module code | CMM3001 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Module description
This is a practical course that develops your non-fiction writing skills with a view towards professional writing practice. We will explore a range of arts criticism and creative non-fiction writing, including journalism, blogs and autobiography. You will think about how you can use your interests, knowledge and experience to establish a professional writing career. You will be introduced to the work of very different writers, loosely grouped around different weekly themes, and have the opportunity to creatively respond to tasks each week. We will explore how to develop a writing portfolio, how to showcase writing online and practice writing pitches for newspapers, websites and magazines. There will be at least one session led by industry professionals, who might include editors, agents and commissioners.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module is designed for those with an interest in professional non-fiction writing. The module aims to develop the writing skills of those who are interested in careers in arts criticism, journalism and creative non-fiction. By the end of the course you will have developed a portfolio of writing, gained experience in designing and maintaining a blog, and been introduced to industry professionals who can offer insight into establishing a non-fiction writing career. You will submit a summative selection of writing in a portfolio and an essay reflecting on your writing practice for assessment.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Appreciate the landscape of arts criticism and creative non-fiction and begin to place your own work within that landscape
- 2. Learn how to write for different audiences, in different media and to different lengths
- 3. Showcase your work in the market place, and find employment through pitch-writing, portfolio and networking avenues
- 4. Critically evaluate non-fiction writing in different genres
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Explore practical concerns through theoretical material, and synthesise findings in practical and written tasks.
- 6. Apply library and IT skills in independent additional research.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Demonstrate advanced confidence in performance skills and public presentation, in a variety of situations and/or with a variety of audiences, both of dramatic practice and researched material.
- 8. Demonstrate the ability to engage critically and analytically with physical discipline including the development of thoughtful creative processes, understanding of physicalisation in performance and the capacity to articulate that understanding in appropriate ways.
Syllabus plan
This module will be taught through weekly seminars and workshops.
Each week we will read and discuss writings grouped loosely around themes (e.g. features writing, interviewing, broadcast media, online writing, self-writing, reviews, opinion, social media) and you will have the opportunity to submit your own writing for workshopping each week, where you will be given peer and staff feedback. You will also be expected to create and maintain a blog throughout the course of the module, which will receive weekly written feedback from module tutor.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 234 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 66.5 | Studio practice/seminar: a combination of staff-led lectures, tasks, feedback and discussions. |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 0.5 | Individual thirty-minute tutorial in which they are giving detailed verbal feedback and the opportunity to discuss employment opportunities. |
| Guided independent study | 24 | Small group presentations, preparation for weeks readings, tasks and discussions. |
| Guided independent study | 210 | Reading and individual preparation for writing tasks. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly tasks | 500-1000 words | 1-5,7-8 | Staff verbal |
| Weekly blog | Min. 3000 words across the module | 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 | Peer and staff written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio (comprising selection of writing examples) | 60 | 3500 -4000 words | 1,2,3,7,8 | Written |
| Essay | 40 | 2000 words | 1,4,6,8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio (comprising selection of writing examples) | Portfolio | 1,2,3,7,8 | Referred/deferred period |
| Essay | Essay | 1,4,6,8 | Referred/deferred period |
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. 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 submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Anderson et.al (2012) Post-Industrial Journalism: Adapting to the Present, Columbia Journalism School
- Butt, Gavin (ed) (2005) After Criticism: New Responses to Art and Performance. Blackwell Publishing
- Carroll, Noel (2009) On Criticism. Routledge
- King, Stephen (2000) On Writing. Hodder Paperbacks.
- Lamott, Anne (1994) Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books.
- Loudandquiet.com
- London Review of Books (lrb.co.uk)
- Radosavljevic, Duska (2016) Theatre Criticism: Changing Landscapes. Bloomsbury
- reciperifle.blogspot.co.uk
- theculturevulture.co.uk
- Trask, R.L. Penguin Guide to Punctuation. Penguin.
- Wardle, Irving (1992) Theatre Criticism. Routledge
- Zinsser, William (2006) On Writing Well. HarperCollins.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 07/01/2020 |
| Last revision date | 22/03/2021 |