CRWR 1001 - Creative Writing: The Essentials

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2016

This course is a practical introduction to creative writing through prose and poetry. It covers ways to begin and develop a sustained and reflective writing practice, including revision and editing. The course consists of a series of exercises designed to develop essential aspects of the creative writer's craft and a selection of connected readings in a range of approaches, styles and techniques. Through writing practice and reflection, the course explores contemporary developments in a range of genres, introducing students to issues, techniques and contexts of contemporary writing. The course aims to develop skills in creative writing practices, in critical reading and analysis and in research practices relevant to creative writers.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CRWR 1001
    Course Creative Writing: The Essentials
    Coordinating Unit English, Creative Writing, and Film
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible ENGL 2062
    Assumed Knowledge Successful completion of ENGL 1101
    Course Description This course is a practical introduction to creative writing through prose and poetry. It covers ways to begin and develop a sustained and reflective writing practice, including revision and editing. The course consists of a series of exercises designed to develop essential aspects of the creative writer's craft and a selection of connected readings in a range of approaches, styles and techniques. Through writing practice and reflection, the course explores contemporary developments in a range of genres, introducing students to issues, techniques and contexts of contemporary writing. The course aims to develop skills in creative writing practices, in critical reading and analysis and in research practices relevant to creative writers.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Ros Prosser

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
    1 Confidently read, understand and appreciate a range of contemporary literary texts
    2 Begin to demonstrate an awareness of how to frame a research or creative
    problem and devise ways of addressing it in the context of creative
    writing.
    3 Think rigorously about contemporary texts and the context of their production.
    4 Prepare and deliver polished and carefully edited samples of creative writing(through a series of exercises and drafts).
    5 Critically evaluate their own and others' written material.
    6 Engage productively and respectfully with their peers.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4,5,6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    4,5,6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,4,5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,3,5,6,7
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1,2,4,5,7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    A text-book or reader will be advised in 2016.
    Recommended Resources

    Anderson, Linda. Creative Writing: A Workbook with Readings. 2006. Abingdon: Routledge, 2009.

    Brophy, Kevin. Explorations in Creative Writing. Carlton:Melbourne UP, 2003.

    Casterton, Julia. Creative Writing: A Practical Guide. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

    Grenville, Kate. The Writing Book: A Workbook for Fiction Writers. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 1990.

    Hodgins,Jack. A Passion for Narrative: a guide for writing fiction. 1993. Toronto: Douglas Gibson, 2001.

    Smith, Hazel. The Writing Experiment: Strategies for Innovative Creative Writing. Crows Nest:
    Allen & Unwin. 2005.





    Online Learning




    Additional
    course-related material is available through MyUni.

    The following documents will be available via
    MyUni: Lecture Content, Reading and Activity Schedule, Additional Readings, Detailed
    Explanation of Assessment Tasks.

     






  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes



    This course is structured around the weekly
    readings (from the course reader and textbook) and students are expected to
    know them thoroughly. Additional readings will be posted on MyUni and will
    enhance the experience of the course. 
    All students will be expected to write in class and each weekly exercise
    should be polished before the following week’s seminar.

     Seminars provide the opportunity for detailed
    reflection on ideas, themes and practices introduced in lectures. The weekly
    readings will be discussed in detail: critically, analytically and in terms of
    writing practice. Student interaction will include small-group exercises,
    including close-reading, writing practice, editing and other tasks.
     






    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Students will commmit the equivalent of 156 hours per semester to study in this course.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Learning activities may include lectures, face to face seminars, writing workshops.
    Specific Course Requirements
    This course is not available for non-degree enrolment.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The small group discovery experience may be developed through collaborative work on editing of other student's work and on collaborative assessment tasks.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment may include structured independent and/or collaborative activities and creative writing exercises and assignments.


    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must attempt all assessment requirements in order to pass the course. 
    Other assessment related requirements can be found in the Discipline of English and Creative Writing
    Policies and Procedures and the relevant course guide.
    Assessment Detail
    In lecture writing exercises 20%
    1000 - 1500 word first draft towards chap book 20%
    2000 word Chapbook 50%
    Seminar participation 10%
    Submission
    Assessment submission will be provided in the relevant course guide.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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