ENGLISH 252 Creative Writing: Four Genres - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Develops practical skills in four writing genres: Poetry, Multimedia, Creative Non-Fiction and Short Fiction. A range of published models will be studied alongside write and workshop exercises; and students will develop close-reading skills. Two portfolios of creative work cover all four genres, based on work begun in seminars.

Course Overview

This is an intensive and challenging course for students interested in developing reading and writing skills in four genres – Poetry, Multimedia, Creative Non-Fiction and Short Fiction. Our focus is on language and form, and on learning (and demonstrating) imaginative and technical skills in all four genres.

The course has a unique structure that reflects its subject and an integrated approach to learning: we have weekly seminars (rather than lectures), which are either two or three hours in length, and include craft instruction, close reading of set texts and writing exercises. On seven weeks we have mandatory workshops (rather than tutorials), in which creative work begin in the seminars is discussed and reviewed. This work forms the basis of the two assessed portfolios, which cover all four genres.

The seminar/workshop structure is designed to teach aspects of technique; inform our weekly exercises; and develop close-reading skills as a writer rather than as a critic or scholar. Both reading and writing are assessed throughout the course – through reading quizzes, course book notations, writing exercises and the portfolios. The role of the course within the English major is to enhance both writing and reading skills, to encourage experimentation with form and language, and to introduce students to a range of contemporary work by writers from Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond.

Our course is informed by principles of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, sharing experiences and obligations. Peer review is a part of every workshop and students keep a Writer’s Workbook of notes (from texts and seminars), exercises, notes, research and ideas.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 45 points passed including 30 points in English Restriction: ENGLISH 255, 324

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Develop and demonstrate imaginative and technical skills as writers. (Capability 3)
Understand and apply a range of forms, styles and issues relating to contemporary creative forms. (Capability 3)
Develop and demonstrate skills in close textual analysis of the craft elements of published work. (Capability 3 and 4)
Develop and demonstrate skills in the review and revision of peer manuscripts. (Capability 6)
Learn and apply enhanced technical skills to the development and revision of creative work. (Capability 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Portfolio One: Poetry and Multimedia	25%	Individual Coursework
Portfolio Two: Creative Nonfiction and Fiction	25%	Individual Coursework
Reading Quizzes	25%	Individual Coursework
Reading/writing tasks in Seminars and Workshops	25%	Individual Coursework
4 types	100%

All elements must be undertaken in order to pass the course; both portfolios must be submitted.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week on related work.

For this course, you can expect three hours of class (seminar and workshop), three to four hours of reading and taking notes from the set texts, and three hours of work revising exercises and developing work for assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required (and will be taken) at scheduled activities including seminars and workshops to receive credit for components of the course.

Given the nature of engaged seminars with students, lectures will not be available as recordings. Other learning activities including workshops will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

A printed coursebook will be available for sale from UBIQ, to be brought to every seminar (including Week One). Marking-up texts in the coursebook is part of the programme, and will be checked in every class, forming part of the Seminars/Workshop grade component. We will also recommend additional reading (books, essays, etc) via Talis. Some recommended books will be available through short-term loan at the library.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The SET sample was too small in 2023 to provide meaningful feedback.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Sometimes we need strategies to help with the demands of a course like this, including issues around timed writing, quizzes, note-taking and workload. We can work with you to develop a personalised learning strategy. Students should contact us as soon as possible with

any concerns, additional support needs or medical issues. Use of laptops/phones is not permitted in class without support information. Please contact the course convenors directly if you seek an exemption.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 3:	Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4:	Critical Thinking
Capability 6:	Communication

ENGLISH 252 : Creative Writing: Four Genres

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)