Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Course Delivery
Assessment
Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Assignment 1 A portfolio of 2,500 words containing a review (1000 words) and a piece of journalistic writing (1500 words). A choice of three items/events will be given for each component. | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Assignment 2 A formal proposal of 2,500 words for either an event aimed at local businesses or the local authority, or a funding proposal to secure funding for an arts/heritage project. A choice of three scenarios will be given. | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Assignment 1 A portfolio of 2,500 words containing a review (1000 words) and a piece of journalistic writing (1500 words). A choice of three items/events will be given for each component. | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Assignment 2 A formal proposal of 2,500 words for either an event aimed at local businesses or the local authority, or a funding proposal to secure funding for an arts/heritage project. A choice of three scenarios will be given. | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an ability to adapt their writing styles to different modes of professional writing.
2. Demonstrate an increased knowledge, and critical understanding, of the conventions and requirements of submitting work for publication.
3. Demonstrate, via assignments and in-group discussion, evidence of continuing reflection on their employability and skill in various modes of writing.
4. Produce work that demonstrates wide reading and a sound understanding of the professional writing environment.
5. Demonstrate, by the revision of work previously presented in workshops, an ability to improve their writing in response to feedback from peers and tutors.
Brief description
This module allows students to explore different forms of professional writing. It encourages students to think broadly about career opportunities upon completion of an undergraduate English or Creative Writing degree, exploring ways of using writing skills to develop a portfolio of commercial writing, reviewing, journalism and editing. The module is designed to introduce students to a variety of professional environments and the specific techniques required for each through a series of seminars, workshops and practical exercises.
Content
Week 1. Introduction
Students will be encouraged to consider and examine the skills they are developing in their degree schemes and to plan the steps they might take to improve their position in a crowded professional marketplace. This session will also introduce the principle of using different styles for various modes of professional writing, from blogs to reports to query letters, and students will experiment changing their tone for a variety of readers.
Week 2 & 3. Journalism and Blogging
These sessions will consider a range of journalistic writing styles, from those appropriate to local and national news, to science and entertainment coverage, to podcasts, ‘listicles’, and other light forms of popular online writing. Students will experiment with various forms of articles to find a medium that suits their skills and interests.
Week 4 & 5. Writing Articles and Reviews
Reviewing can be an easy and rewarding way to build up a professional portfolio. Through using social media to share reviews, it can lead to various professional writing opportunities. This session will look at how to write engaging reviews for a popular audience, from finding the right voice to using humour. It will explore different avenues for publishing reviews, from setting up an independent blog to working with an established reviewing team. Students will be asked to review an event or genre of their choice.
Week 6 & 7. Writing for Business
These sessions will instruct students on how to use their writing skills in a business environment. It will look at the conventions and techniques of writing successful proposals for events and funding, reports, letters and emails. The skills learnt in this session will directly relate to the second assignment of the module.
Week 8 & 9. Understanding the Creative Industries
In these sessions, students will learn how to understand and identify trends in the fiction and non-fiction market, in comics, zines, and writing for the gaming industry. By analysing patterns and having a keen awareness of the reading public’s current interests, students will become better able to identify their place in the market. Students will be asked to research recent trends in a genre of their choice.
Week 10. Contracts, Promotion and Marketing
The final session will discuss the process of publishing, from managing the contract to promotion and marketing. Considering self-publishing, e-publishing and traditional routes, this session will encourage creative thinking on how to attract potential readers. By looking at public readings, blog tours, press releases and curating a social media presence, students will generate ideas on how best to promote their work.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Oral communication in seminar discussions and workshop feedback. Written communication in workshop tasks and assignments. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Responding to the feedback of peers and the tutor to improve writing skills. Demonstrating the ability to undertake independent research and for focused reading of relevant texts. |
| Information Technology | Word-processing required for workshop tasks and assignments, as well as digital resources for research. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Word-processing required for workshop tasks and assignments, as well as digital resources for research. |
| Problem solving | Analyzing and employing the skills to write in a professional context. Planning and developing workshop tasks and assignments. |
| Research skills | Demonstrating an ability to write in a professional capacity, to prepare work for submission, and to research the surrounding publishing industry. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Practical proficiency in creative writing; revision and editing. Close reading of set texts and supplementary sources. Ability to research publishing markets and examples of professional writing. |
| Team work | Group discussion in seminars and peer feedback in response to workshop tasks. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5