Unit information: MACW Workshop 1 in 2020/21

Unit name	MACW Workshop 1
Unit code	ENGLM0070
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Mimi Thebo
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	N/A
Co-requisites	Students will take two workshop units, one each teaching block.
School/department	Department of English
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Students will work collaboratively to examine and edit their own work, and that of peers, with a high level of rigour and scrutiny, at the various levels of clause, line, sentence, stanza, paragraph but also at the structural level of overall scene, chapter, collection and book. Supported by an experienced tutor, in groups of no more than nine, they will develop close-reading skills and become able to articulate (and question) their own literary aesthetic. In response to workshop, students will examine the relationship of the reader in creating imaginative experiences, and begin to recognise and articulate their own aesthetic sensibilities as well as use a variety of editorial approaches and processes.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Recognise and articulate critically the technical requirements of form, tone, register, structure and genre in relation to creative writing.
2. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, demonstrating an awareness of voice, idiom, idiolect, simile, metaphor, analogy, rhythm and media-specific restraints.
3. Use a variety of editorial approaches and processes.
4. Engage with written and oral feedback.
5. Evaluate the role of readers and audiences in realising texts and the ways that performance can impact an audience’s imaginative experience.
6. Edit their own work, and that of peers, at the various levels of clause, line, sentence, stanza, paragraph but also at the structural level of overall scene, chapter, collection and book.
7. Formulate independent and critical judgements of creative works, and be able to respond to the critical judgements of others with practical and creative solutions and reasoned arguments/
8. Interact effectively with others, in team or group-work, and appreciate the benefit of giving and receiving feedback

Teaching Information

Teaching will take place in a collaborative 3 hour seminar environment, led by an experienced writing workshop tutor. Activities will be centred on discussion of previous close-reading of participants’ original creative writing, with occasional other reading assigned by the tutor.

Assessment Information

A portfolio of writing to include:

1 x 3500 word summative original creative writing assessment (or equivalent, in the case of poetry/script). [ILOs 1, 2, 3, 6] (70%)

1 x 1500 word summative critical commentary which describes how elements of study (normally to include notes on workshop engagement, workshop comments, reading, research and/or critical/theoretical concepts) were used in the craft decisions of the writer’s original creative writing. [ILOs 4, 5, 7, 8] (30%)

Reading and References

Individual tutors will provide reading material, often in response to issues arising from student work.