Modules

Module title: Writing Practice First Person Narrative
SCQF level: 11:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: CLP11117
Module leader: Laura Lam
School School of Arts and Creative Industries
Subject area group: Journalism & Publishing
Prerequisites

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2018/9, Trimester 1, Face-to-Face, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Face-to-Face
Location of delivery: MERCHISTON
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Samantha Boyce
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
Learning and teaching methods including their alignment to LOs:
The characteristic learning and teaching method for writing practice modules on this programme is based in the relationship between pre-writing, critical self-reflection and editorial feedback. Classes generally begin with guided critical self-reflection on the previous week’s homework challenge, enabling you to apply your technical understanding to analysing the effects of the decisions you made in your rough draft. In most weeks, a number of homework submissions will be chosen for masterclass feedback. If it’s your turn, your story will be distributed to the group and you’ll be invited to read aloud, before discussing your critical self-reflection with the tutors. Masterclass feedback is an editorial problem-solving dialogue, designed to enable you to develop your work-in-progress to publication standard, and the success of this method is evident in the number of student homework assignments which have gone on to achieve publication and prizes.

Classes will then focus on a specific technique, introduced by a brief lecture, supported by examples, analytical reading and discussion (LOs 1 & 3). This is the technique you’ll use in the next weekly homework challenge, for critical self-reflection and masterclass feedback in the following week’s session (LOs 2, 4 and 5).

In the middle of the trimester, you’ll design an individual or collaborative field trip, in order to experiment with observational writing techniques (LOs 1 & 4). You’ll then create a presentation to share the results with the rest of the group. You’ll also take turns to present creative responses to your personal reading through the medium of an entertaining “digested read” (LO 3).

Formative Assessment:
The formative assessment takes place in the middle of the trimester, and is a shorter version of the final summative assessment. It’s an opportunity for you to test the knowledge and skill you have gained up to this point against the module learning outcomes and summative assessment criteria.

For this, you will submit an original first-person short story of 750 words and an accompanying critical reflection of 750 words. You will receive individual written feedback via Moodle by Week 10, enabling you to identify areas for further development before the final assessment.

Summative Assessment:
For the summative assessment you will submit an original short story written in the first person of approximately 3000 words, together with a critical reflection of approximately 1000 words.

Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 36
Independent Learning Guided independent study 164
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Portfolio 100 1-5 13 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 4000
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

In this module you’ll focus on the practical application of a range of professional techniques, and on building the vital skills of pre-writing decision making, critical self-reflection and editorial dialogue. The module is a development journey, beginning with the foundational principles of first person writing: condition of narration, device and register. You’ll then begin to practise more complex techniques, such as subtext and counter narrative, the unreliable narrator and positioning an active reader.

Through weekly writing challenges and masterclass discussions, you’ll learn how to make fast, purposeful decisions about a story before writing, how to craft short pieces to briefs and deadlines, and how to critically analyse and improve upon early drafts. As well as gaining a detailed understanding of the demands of first person prose, you will develop the core professional practices you’ll need for the Trimester 2 Writing Practice options, Major Project, and the rest of your writing career.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
LO1: Critically evaluate a range of possible approaches to first person narrative
LO2: Exercise professional judgement in identifying the most effective techniques for a particular story
LO3: Analyse the function, limitations and possibilities of the first person position in narrative
LO4: Use the professional skills of pre-writing, critical self-reflection and editorial dialogue to develop your work
LO5: Produce ambitious and well-crafted short stories in the first person
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:

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