Module Identifier WR30320  
Module Title WRITING SHORT FICTIONS: NARRATIVES  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator To Be Arranged  
Semester Semester 1  
Pre-Requisite WR10120 It may be possible for level 3 students to take this module without having studied WR10120, EN10320 , EN10420  
Mutually Exclusive EN32420  
Assessment Semester Assessment   2 x pieces of prose fiction: a short story of around 2,000 words and a tale of around 2,000 words. In each case students will also submit a 500 word critical commentary on the writing and revising process and the chosen form of narrative.   100%  

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students should typically be able to:

- demonstrate knowledge of different kinds of prose narrative
- demonstrate an ability to write in a range of forms and genres of prose narrative
- demonstrate a developing critical and self-reflexive awareness of their own writing practice
- demonstrate an ability to express themselves clearly in writing and in speech

Brief description

This module introduces students to the basic structures of short prose narratives and the methods and techniques necessary for their construction.

Aims

- to help students to develop their range and capabilities as writers
- to help students to work with confidence in a variety of prose forms and genres
- to help students develop their ability to reflect critically on their own writing practice

Content

The module is taught in weekly 2 hours sessions over one semester

Different Kinds of Prose Narrative
1 Siege Narratives
2 Quest Narratives
3 The Tale: Examples from Edgar Allan Poe and Angela Carter
4 The Short Story: Examples from Tim O'Brien and Flannery O'Connor

Constructing Narratives
5 Point of View
6 Character
7 Description
8 Dialogue
9 Metaphor
10 Redrafting and Revision

SET TEXTS
Michele Roberts, Playing Sardines, (The Women's Press, 2001)
Angela Carter, Black Venus, (Vintage 1996)

Reading Lists

Books
** Consult For Futher Information
BAILEY, TOM. (1999) ON WRITING SHORT STORIES. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
(2001) A SHORT STORY WRITER'S COMPANION. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
CHARTERS, ANN. (1999) THE STORY AND ITS WRITER. BEDFORD/ST MARTIN'S
HIGGINS, GEORGE V. (1992) ON WRITING. BLOOMSBURY
MILLS, PAUL. (1996) WRITING IN ACTION. ROUTLEDGE
O'CONNER, FLANNERY. (1972) MYSTERY AND MANNERS: OCCASIONAL PROSE. FABER AND FABER
OLSEN, TILLIE. (1980) SILENCES. VIRAGO
SELLERS, SUSAN (ED). (1989) DELIGHTING THE HEART: A NOTEBOOK BY WOMEN WRITERS. THE WOMEN'S PRESS
SHAW, VALERIE. (1983) THE SHORT STORY: A CRITICAL INTRODUCTION. LONGMAN
STEIN, GERTRUDE. (1985) LECTURES IN AMERICA (SEE ESPECIALLY, POETRY AND GRAMMAR). VIRAGO