MAKING, UNMAKING, REMAKING NARRATIVE: THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WRITING CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVES - 2022/3

Module Overview

This module is intended to complement the range of Creative Writing modules offered at level 6, focussing on narrative production and reception across a variety of contexts. This module stresses the reflexive relationship between theory and practice and promotes the notion that creative writing often constitutes a critical response to other texts.

This modules will explore narrative theory and critical analysis in relation to a range of creative forms and genres, with students encouraged to use this enhanced critical awareness to refine and enhance their own creative practice.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

POPOWICH Jamie (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

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 or have completed at least one previous Creative Writing module at the University of Surrey. At the discretion of the module co-ordinator students who have not previously completed a Creative Writing module at the University of Surrey but who submit to the module co-ordinator a portfolio of 1000-1500 words of creative writing (poetry, prose, screenplay or dramatic script) may also be admitted to this module.

Module content

The following areas are indicative of topics to be covered:

• What is Narrative?


• Handling Narrative Time


• The Sense of Place


• Ways of Telling


• Narrative Voice


• Character


• Professional Practice


• Detail and Description


• Genre


• Film Narratives

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 writing skills in academic prose, and/or creative writing (prose fiction and/or poetry or other creative forms)


• their understanding of the context of their work in historical and cultural terms, as well as in terms of other creative writing in the field their development of research and writing skills


• productive and informed critical reflection on both the literary writing itself and the critical and secondary material that surrounds it, and/or both the creative process itself and the finished work that has resulted from it

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Portfolio of Creative Writing (Approx. 2400 words in total) & Reflective Critical Commentary (600 words)

Formative assessment and feedback

Verbal Feedback in classes as well as verbal or written feedback on one brief piece of writing (up to 500 words)

Formative 'feed forward' is provided through seminar discussions, tutor feedback in seminars, and a range of other formative feedback mechanisms such as seminar contribution and writing exercises.

Module aims

• provide a critical and narratological framework which will allow students to evaluate their own work and that of others
• provide opportunities for structured creative work and offer regular peer and tutor feedback

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Hone and develop students' writing skills in academic writing, and/or creative writing (prose fiction and/or poetry) by developing familiarity with a range of narrative practices and perspectives


• Assist students in locating literary texts and their critical writing, and/or their creative work in historical and cultural contexts by developing understanding of the relationship between critical and creative practices


• Equip students with the research and writing skills they will need to produce critically informed academic writing, and/or creative writing (prose fiction and/or poetry) and creative criticism by developing the ability to utilise and provide regular peer feedback in the development of their own work, and developing further their 'practice' as writers

The learning and teaching methods include:

The Learning and teaching methods include a combination of lecture materials, seminars, captured content, guided learning and independent learning.

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: ELI3062

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

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 2022/3 academic year.