CRWT40010 Craft and Composition

Academic Year 2022/2023

The Long and the Short of Writing Fiction.
Engaging with fiction on an MA course means abandoning all innocence as a reader and starting to read like a writer. This is a practical module looking at the various technical aspects of writing prose fiction, concentrating on the short story and the novel. It is like opening a vast writers' toolbox and exploring the usefulness of every device inside. You will interrogate your own concept of what is worth writing about, what for you is the essence of a good idea. Technical devices to be investigated will include: narrative voice and point of view; writing in the first person and in a persona; writing in the third person; character; setting; dialogue; plot and structure; suspense. A variety of novels and short stories will be used as learning examples during the module. You will create a several pieces of fiction for workshop in class.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this module you will have:
1. Greater understanding of narrative voice and point of view in fiction.
2. An understanding of the importance of plot and structure.
3. Greater skill in character building and the use of dialogue.
4. An acute awareness of how setting and detail enhance storytelling.
5. An understanding of the crucial importance of narrative energy.
And
You will have written some brand new fiction.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

24
Specified Learning Activities

100
Autonomous Student Learning

76
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Prose extracts will be discussed in class with regard to particular aspects of fiction - first person point of view; setting; dialogue; character etc. Students will write assignments using the extracts and the class discussion as prompts; the assignments will then be workshopped in class. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Craft and Composition (ENG40050)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Portfolio: Portfolio of 5k words to include work/s of fiction and 500 words of analytical/reflective material. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

100

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring 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

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Assignments will be set and feedback given in class; students will rewrite assignments based on feedback. Final portfolios to be based on work submitted, discussed and rewritten during the semester, or on new work inspired by coursework.