Module QXP-1001:
Introduction to Creative Writing: Prose

Module Facts

Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Mrs Nicola Edwards

Overall aims and purpose

This module, compulsory for creative writing students, introduces you to a wide range of creative prose-writing, both fictional and non-fictional, and you will examine creative techniques used in short stories, travel writing, memoir, autobiography and literary reviews. It will include practical sessions in which students will begin to produce their own work in these genres, and group discussion of students’ work in progress. As well as examining, from the practitioner's point of view, texts by leading authors and critics, you will be encouraged to work independently on your own material, helped by writing-exercises and longer-term assignments designed to stimulate ideas and sharpen technique. You will be encouraged to present your work for class discussion and, by receiving and giving feedback in a supportive atmosphere, you will develop your skills as a close reader and an articulate critic.

The first semester will focus on fiction (the short story), while the second semester will focus on creative non-fiction (travel writing, memoir, autobiography, portrait/biography, and literary reviews).

Course content

This module, compulsory for creative writing students, introduces you to a wide range of creative prose-writing, both fictional and non-fictional, and you will examine creative techniques used in short stories, travel writing, memoir, autobiography and literary reviews. It will include practical sessions in which students will begin to produce their own work in these genres, and group discussion of students’ work in progress. As well as examining, from the practitioner's point of view, texts by leading authors and critics, you will be encouraged to work independently on your own material, helped by writing-exercises and longer-term assignments designed to stimulate ideas and sharpen technique. You will be encouraged to present your work for class discussion and, by receiving and giving feedback in a supportive atmosphere, you will develop your skills as a close reader and an articulate critic.

The first semester will focus on fiction (the short story), while the second semester will focus on creative non-fiction (travel writing, memoir, autobiography, portrait/biography, and literary reviews).

Assessment Criteria

threshold

Typically, work graded D- to D+ (or 40 to 49) will show many of the following qualities:

Limited engagement with ideas. Link between themes and form not always clear. Limited sense of formal conventions. Inconsistent with regard to linguistic technicalities. Limited awareness of redrafting and editing process. Work in need of some revision.

C- to C+

Typically, work graded C- to C+ (or 50 to 59) will show many of the following qualities:

Some attempt at serious exploration of ideas. Some link between themes and form. Good attempt to engage with form, but this may not be entirely sustained. Use of language technically proficient, but not always focused. Some awareness of the creative process and of decisions made in writing. Good work, but its strengths need to be more fully sustained to reach publishable standard.

excellent

Typically, work graded A- to A** (or 70 to 100) will show many of the following qualities:

Excellent levels of originality, vision and depth; striking and thorough engagement with ideas. Excellent understanding and control of form. Impressive linguistic control and/or innovation. Sophisticated understanding of the creative process and assured control of decisions made in writing. Dynamic work approaching publishable standard.

good

Typically, work graded B- to B+ (or 60 to 69) will show many of the following qualities:

Demonstration of a degree of vitality and originality. Very good understanding of generic conventions; sound use of structures and forms. Resourceful use of language. Sound understanding of the creative process and thoughtful control of decisions made in writing. Very good work, which at times comes close to publishable standard.

Learning outcomes

  1. Knowledge of a broad range of imaginative literature.

  2. An awareness of the importance of revision and editing in bringing your work to a near-professional standard.

  3. The ability to write concise, expressive, grammatical English.

  4. Knowledge of fiction (short story) and non-fiction writing techniques.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Portfolio 1 50.00
Portfolio 2 50.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Seminar

The module is delivered via a weekly one-hour seminar over the course of two semesters. The role of the seminars is to raise general issues of relevance to creative writing, supplemented by workshops offering diagnostic feedback on the student's own creative writing. Students will also be introduced to short stories by a range of writers and will be guided to examine the creative techniques deployed in the texts. Some use is made of student presentations and small-group work.

 22
Private study 178

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • An understanding of creative and critical processes, and of the wide range of skills inherent in creative writing. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.1).
  • Knowledge of a wide range of canonical English texts, providing a confident understanding of literary traditions as well as the confidence to experiment and challenge conventions when writing creatively. (English Benchmark Statement 3.1).
  • An awareness of writing and publishing contexts, opportunities and audiences in the wider world (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.1).
  • Artistic engagement and ability to articulate complex ideas in oral and written forms. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2).
  • Ability to connect creative and critical ideas between and among forms, techniques and types of creative and critical praxis. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
  • Awareness of how different social and cultural contexts affect the nature of language and meaning (English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
  • Reflective practitioner skills, including awareness of the practice of others in collaborative learning (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
  • The ability to synthesize information from various sources, choosing and applying appropriate concepts and methods (English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
  • Ability to formulate and solve problems, anticipate and accommodate change, and work within contexts of ambiguity, uncertainty and unfamiliarity (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
  • Ability to engage in processes of drafting and redrafting texts to achieve clarity of expression and an appropriate style. (English Benchmark Statement 3.3; NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2).
  • Ability to gather information, analyse, interpret and discuss different viewpoints (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.3).
  • Information technology (IT) skills broadly understood and the ability to access, work with and evaluate electronic resources (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.3).

Resources

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: