ENG32340 The Modern Short Story: Critical and Creative Approaches

Academic Year 2021/2022

Through the medium of the short story this module will explore the relationship between
literary fiction and literary non-fiction. Across a ten-week period we will engage in a detailed
study of selected modern short stories and examine the ways in which this genre works both
as a literary form and as a creative construct. We will study theories of the art and artifice of
the modern short story and of the personal essay. Particular emphasis will be placed on how
short story writers utilise the form to explore the relationship of the self to the world and how
this can be exploited in non-fiction writing. Building on this close scrutiny, and supported by
preparatory and in-class exercises, students will work toward producing a final work to
include both critical and creative writing.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this course, students should: 1. Have a demonstrable knowledge of key
theories of the modern short story as a literary form. 2. Have learned how to assess the
personal essay as a literary form. 3. Have a detailed knowledge of selected texts from
twentieth and twenty-first century short story practitioners and essayists. 4. Have gained an
understanding of the art and artifice of the short story and how this might be translated into
approaches to non-fiction writing. 5. Have practised non-fiction writing.

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

24
Specified Learning Activities

76
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
discussion and writing 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Portfolio: Critical and Creative work 3500-5000 Unspecified n/a Graded No

70
Continuous Assessment: discussion and writing assessments over the course of the term Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Paula McGrath Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Paul Perry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer