Course syllabus

 

ENGLISH 252

Creative Writing: Introduction

SEMESTER 1, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor and Teacher:

Selina Tusitala Marsh

Lecture: Mondays 1-3pm, 106-100 (Biology building, Rm 100)

Last updated 23rd February 2018

Click here for the FULL COURSE DOCUMENT

Course Description and Assessment Overview

Course delivery format: 

A weekly 2 hour lectorial (a mix of lecture and workshop-like in-class activities), and a 1 hour workshop       

Kia Ora Koutou, Talofa Lava, and Warm Pacific Greetings!

This is an introductory level class for those interested in Creative Writing. We (published authors) offer a taster of four writing genres: Creative Non Fiction, Poetry, Multimedia, and Short Fiction.  The four genres have areas of overlap in terms of craft and content which is why it is useful to engage with all four – even if you’re just interested in one.

Course Schedule:

Learning outcomes:

On completion of this course you will:

• Be familiar with the broad technical terrain of four genres of writing (Poetry, Multimedia, Creative Non Fiction, Short Fiction);
• Be able to apply and experiment with techniques specific to each genre;
• Gain an appreciation of how each genre might inform the other;
• Give and receive constructive criticism and develop techniques to apply feedback
• Develop editorial skills and skills in peer review
• Develop curatorial skills to produce a cohesive body of work

This is a feeder course for those interested in continuing Creative Writing at Stage 3.

 

Assessment Overview

This is a 100% internally assessed course – there is NO EXAM.

There are TWO portfolios

Portfolio A (including exercises and drafts, worth 40%)
Portfolio B (including exercises and drafts, worth 40%)

The remaining 20% is made up of your workshop and peer review participation and contribution.

Due:               

Portfolio A: 11pm, Monday 9th April
Portfolio B: 11pm, Tuesday 5th June

 

Portfolios

Each portfolio must include TWO works, one from each genre in each half of the semester. Portfolio 1 will include Poetry and Multimedia. Portfolio 2 will include Creative Non-fiction and Short Fiction.

Each work MUST be based on a piece of work you started in workshops. You must include the draft work AND the peer review you received from your group mates alongside the finished piece.

Word count: 2500 words per portfolio

 

Peer Review

You will be working in groups of six. These groups have been decided for you.

Every week after your workshop, you are required to upload ONE of the exercises you did in class – this can be from either the lecture or your workshop.

It must be uploaded by Wednesday 11pm. You may type it out and improve it before posting it online, but it is also fine to take a photo of your exercise book (provided it is legible) and upload this without edit.

You must then read the submissions from your group mates. You must comment on each member’s work. Your review must include two comments:

1. an aspect that worked well, and
2. an idea or suggestion they might like to try in a future edit.

Feedback is due to your group mates by Friday 11pm that week. If you miss the deadline without consultation your tutor, this will count against your Workshop participation for that week. Note: these comments can be seen by lecturers and tutors and may be called upon or highlighted during lectures or workshops.

If you miss the deadline to upload work, you can still get feedback from your group (and therefore use it in your portfolio) – but this will be up to you to organise with your group, and up to your group whether they can respond

There will be more detail in your course document and in class on HOW to upload and post comments using CANVAS.

 

Prescribed Texts:

Black Marks on the White Page, eds Witi Ihimaera and Tina Makereti, Wellington: Huia Publishers, 2017.

 

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.