Module ENGL42330: Writing Prose Fiction

Department: English Studies

ENGL42330: Writing Prose Fiction

Prerequisites

• Students must hold a good BA degree in English or a related subject to be eligible for entry onto the MA programmes in the Department of English Studies

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module aims to:
• enable students to read and analyse narrative prose fiction with a writer's eyes, i.e. with a particular sensitivity towards narrative architecture, voice/style, etc.
• introduce students to the array of literary techniques available to the writer of prose fiction and familiarize them with the descriptive vocabulary for these techniques
• enable students to produce (i.e. draft and edit) original pieces of prose fiction at an advanced level. Students will have the opportunity of writing either short stories or chapters/sections of longer prose narratives (or a mixture of both)
• introduce students to the writing workshop format and enable them to systematically and constructively critique original works of prose fiction
• introduce students to a range of prose fiction selected for its implementation of particular narrative techniques

Content

• The majority of seminars in this course will be dedicated to fiction workshops, i.e. the systematic discussion and critique of original prose fiction produced by students in the course. The workshop format is designed to give budding authors an understanding of how their work is read and received; in a second step the author will then convert the criticism and observation into edits to the initial draft. For each piece of prose fiction discussed in a workshop, a short written critique will be submitted by all students other than the author. We will discuss a minimum of two pieces of prose fiction for each student.
• Before workshop sessions can commence, the course will introduce key concepts of narrative architecture and organization, including such topics as prose types, point-of-view, dialogue, voice and style, punctuation, etc. To this end we will read both texts about narrative technique and a selection of published works of fiction. This portion of the course will provide a critical vocabulary that will inform the workshops and help students develop a sense of the literary arsenal at their disposal.

Learning Outcomes

• students are expected to acquire a critical awareness of and descriptive vocabulary for literary technique and narrative structures found in prose fiction.
• students are expected to acquire an awareness of the aesthetic decisions made by writers and their attendant effects and limitations
• students are expected to acquire an awareness of the conventions of manuscript presentation to publishers / magazine editors

• Students studying this module will develop:
• advanced close reading and editing skills
• the ability to articulate written and spoken criticism of literary works that evaluates their success as works of art (as opposed to providing a thematic or contextual analysis) and expresses this evaluation in technical, analytical terms
• advanced ability to compose original works of fiction and delineate their aesthetic aims

• Students studying this module will develop:
• an advanced ability to analyse critically
• an advanced ability to articulate constructive criticism in a teamwork setting; general teamworking skills
• an independence of thought and judgement, and ability to assess acutely the critical ideas of others;
• sophisticated skills in critical reasoning
• professional organisation and time-management skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students are encouraged to develop advanced conceptual abilities and analytical skills as well as the ability to communicate these within seminars and workshops.
• The seminars on literary technique and narrative architecture in conjunction with the workshops will facilitate the development of critical skills in the close reading and analysis of prose fiction texts. They will also actively develop the students' skills in writing original prose fiction. Both the critical skills and the ability to produce original fiction will be assessed through a Portfolio.
• The student Portfolios will include the following types of text: original prose fiction compositions workshopped in class in revised form; original prose fiction composition(s) written specifically for the portfolio; written critiques of other students' prose fiction compositions; written analyses of the revisions made to initial drafts of original prose fiction compositions.
• Student fiction will be assessed in the light of the following criteria: control of grammar, style and structure; originality (of theme/plot/voice); narrative flow; sophistication of conception and execution; expressiveness and imagination
• A 2000 word summative essay providing a technical analysis of a published work of prose fiction will further assess the student's ability to recognize, name and critique narrative architecture, style and aesthetic effect of prose fiction.
• Typically, directed learning may include assigning student(s) an issue, theme or topic that can be independently or collectively explored within a framework and/or with additional materials provided by the tutor. This may function as preparatory work for presenting their ideas or findings (sometimes electronically) to their peers and tutor in the context of a seminar.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Two separate original fiction compositions will be workshopped in class and followed up by individual feedback. These initial drafts will be revised for the student Portfolio.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University