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CRWT30190

Academic Year 2026/2027

Special Topics Workshop II (CRWT30190)

Subject:
Creative Writing
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
English, Drama & Film
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Mr Declan Hughes
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Special Topics is a module which provides student writers a workshop to practice the art of writing, and to explore a range of craft issues within the context of a special topic. In Spring 2027, this module will focus on Crime and Mystery Fiction as a literary genre. We will read fiction across the breadth and development of the genre and discuss the variety of stylistic and technical approaches writers employ.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

• demonstrate knowledge of course texts in context;

• comment critically upon the texts assigned;

• make work that responds to the texts discussed and to the central ideas of the course;

• demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the significance of the distinctive elements of the genre and their measured application.

• reflect on your own practices and writing life in writing and aloud;
• offer meaningful feedback to peers.

Indicative Module Content:

We will engage with classic authors such as Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett and Patricia Highsmith and contemporary voices including Laura Lippman, Megan Abbot, Liz Nugent and Liz Moore. Film and TV will feature as we explore how crime writing became a mainstay of large and small screen production and how cinematic techniques influenced the genre. Assignments will focus on distinctive elements of mystery fiction, including, but not limited to, the central character, theme, plot structure, engendering suspense, research (including the use of true crime in fiction), the dramatic world and its limits, setting and atmosphere, point of view, the use of scenes and effective dialogue.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

24
Specified Learning Activities

86
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Discusssion of texts and technical and stylistic approaches therein. Reflective and generative assignments to be workshopped in class with peer and moderator feedback.






Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Continuous Assessment: Participation (in-class workshop participation, assignment delivery and discussion/feedback): 30% Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Portfolio: Portfolio: A portfolio of creative and critical work: 70%

 Week 14 Graded No
70
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Assignments to be workshopped in class with feedback from moderator and peers; individual summative feedback for final portfolio.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
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