INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING - 2020/1

Module Overview

This introductory module will provide a theoretical and practice-based introduction to narrative and poetics. We will discuss technical elements of poetry and prose, and address the similarities and differences among various forms. In addition, we will consider historical and literary movements in relation to different formal techniques. During the seminar session, students will engage in writing exercises and connected to the topic of the weekly lecture and workshop original work with their peers. Throughout the module, we will examine creative processes and the role of revision in the writing process. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their own process in a self-reflexive critical commentary that will accompany their final portfolio of creative work.

 

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

MOONEY Stephen (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 45

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Students must be enrolled in the English and Creative Writing programme, or be taking Creative Writing as their minor pathway.    

Module content

Indicative content includes:

 

Week 1:   Lecture:  Understanding Creativity    (No Required Reading)

 

Week 2:   Lecture: Language, Meaning, and Clarity   (Elbow, 1998a)

 

Week 3:   Lecture: Narrative Elements 1      (Lodge, 1992)

 

Week 4:    Lecture: Narrative Elements 2     (Lodge, 1992)

 

Week 5:    Lecture: Poetics 1       (Hughes, 2008)

 

Week 6:    Lecture: Poetics 2       (Mottram, 2005)

 

Week 7:    Lecture: Introducing Poetic Forms: The Sonnet (Furniss and Bath, 1996)

 

Week 8:    Lecture: Introducing Poetic Forms: Stanza Forms (Strand and Bolland, 2000)

 

Week 9:    Lecture: Introducing Prose Forms: The Short Story (Chekhov, 1982)

 

Week 10:  Lecture : Introducing Prose Forms: The Novel (Flaubert, 1998)

 

Week 11:  Lecture: Process and Reflection: Module Overview

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

 

• the development in their knowledge and understanding of literary and creative texts and textual practices


• their understanding of various poetic and narrative techniques and their understanding and of a range of styles and themes in fiction and poetry


• their understanding of verbal creativity and the formal and aesthetic dimensions of literary and creative texts


• a range of subject specific and transferable skills gained in critical and creative thinking, in the production of critical and creative texts, and of practical support in the development of employability and/or creative practice skills

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·          

 

Creative Writing Portfolio (1000 words or equivalent) and Self-reflexive Critical Commentary (500 words)

 

Formative assessment and feedback

 

Verbal feedback in class, written and/or verbal feedback on one piece of writing (maximum 700 words).

 

Formative ‘feed forward’ is provided through seminar discussions, tutor feedback in seminars, and a range of other feedback mechanisms agreed between tutor and students in week 1 of the module, such as seminar contribution and writing exercises.

Module aims

• Equip students with knowledge about narrative and poetic techniques
• Encourage students to develop more effective personal writing and self-editing techniques
• Engage with historical and formal considerations in prose and poetry
• Build confidence in presenting creative work in a group setting
• Allow students to locate their own writing in critical, literary and historical contexts
• Help students become conscious of their creative process.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

 

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

 

• Hone and develop students’ writing skills in prose fiction and/or poetry by more fully developing their sense of their own practice as writers


• Assist students in locating their work in contexts of contemporary genres and writing styles


• Equip students with the research and writing skills they will need to develop both their creative writing and their critical and analytical understanding of narrative and poetic techniques


• Facilitate in students productive reflection on both the creative process itself and the finished work that has resulted from it by helping them gain significant confidence and ability in critically analysis and thinking, and an ability to use specific compositional skills that will have practical application to their practices as writers

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

 

·        1 hour lecture per week x 11 weeks

·        2 hour seminar per week x 11 weeks

 

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ELI1026

Other information

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.