ENGLISH 252

Creative Writing: Introduction

Please note: this is archived course information from 2018 for ENGLISH 252.

Description

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.

Classes are two hours long, interactive and practice-based. You will not be lectured "at" for two hours. You will be engaged "with" when learning about form, content, technique, voice and style. Come prepared. Do the allocated reading and exercises BEFORE class. Maximise your own participation and fully engage with the material in your coursepack (posted on CANVAS) and with your fellow writers in class. Supplemental material may be given out in class and/or posted on Canvas.

Teaching comprises of discussing and learning from examples provided and produced in class. Writing exercises in addition to those set in workshops will often be given in class and used to illustrate ideas and techniques being studied for that genre. We will watch, listen and discuss other writers and their works as common practice. So, classes are based on three main activities:

Exploration
Examination
Expression

Reading
Thinking and talking
Writing and re-writing

Our two-hour weekly classes are complimented by smaller group one-hour weekly workshops (10 in total from Weeks 2-10) where exercises are distributed, worked on and discussed. Set exercises (graded) for each genre are handed out and handed back at workshops so attendence is mandatory. As this course practices process-oriented formative feedback, you will be given written feedback on each of your 10 draft exercises throughout semester, and awarded one final grade (sans comments) for each Portfolio. Workshops will encourage peer review and supportive group dynamics.

You will be asked to keep a Writer’s Workbook which ideally contains all creative writing related material (drafts, exercises, ideas, inspirational media). While the Workbook is not formally assessed, it is viewed as part of your creative practice and students find it gratifying to keep one in an accountable environment over 12 weeks. It may also be considered for eligibility in competitive entry Stage 3 writing courses. Each class begins with several students sharing parts of their Writer’s Workbook with the class on the Document Camera. Sharing your process provides a fun, interesting moment of collaborative learning and inspiration.

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
Keep a high-level Writer’s Workbook as part of your creative practice (not assessed but called upon in class)
Give and receive constructive criticism

View the course syllabus

Availability 2018

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh

Reading/Texts

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

Assessment

Coursework only

Points

ENGLISH 252: 15 points

Prerequisites

45 points passed

Restrictions

ENGLISH 255