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ENG-40018 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

ENG-40018 - The Writer as Critic, The Critic as Writer
Coordinator: James Sheard Tel: +44 1782 7 33302
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Degree (normally 2.2 or above) in relevant Humanities or Social Science discipline

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

Usually taught by two members of staff, one a creative writing tutor, one a literary critic, this module explores the relationship between writing and different modes of literary and cultural criticism. Examples of 'critical' texts which employ 'writerly' techniques are studied and discussed, and participants are encouraged to consider ways in which critics write and writers critique. The tutors and students present on critical questions in their own research and/or writing and on key areas of debate in contemporary culture. There are two main assessments: a 'Review' of a contemporary cultural work; and a 'Critical Essay' which seeks to deploy some of the ideas or writerly criticism raised during the module.

Aims
&· To introduce students to key critical debates in the field of medical humanities
&· To encourage an interpretive and reflective approach to forms of evidence that constitute the primary materials of humanities (in particular literature, history and film studies) and medical disciplines (in particular history of medicine and psychiatry).
&· To facilitate ways of using the debates, and the materials comprising them, to work across disciplines.
&· To assist students to orientate themselves towards planning a research dissertation.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/eng-40018/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically understand of the practice of reading creative work and acting on feedback; will be achieved by assessments: 1
write a book review and will have achieved a critical understanding of the practices and uses of book reviews; will be achieved by assessments: 2
understand the poetics and forms of critical writing; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
develop, sustain, and support an argument in diverse critical formats; will be achieved by assessments: 2, 3
communicate complex ideas in spoken and written work. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3

Study hours

12 x 2 hour seminars (24 hrs)
24 hrs seminar preparation
100 hrs assessment preparation
152 hours private study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Seminar weighted 20%
Workshop participation
Assessment of seminar performance will include the student reading, responses to other students' readings, student presentations, responses to the tutor presentations, and contributions to discussions of the contemporary literary texts.

2: Review weighted 30%
2000 word written review of a literary work, theatrical prod or film
Students will study representative reviews of literary works, theatrical productions or film in publications such as the Guardian, Times Literary Supplement, London Review of Books, New York Review of Books and write their own. The assessed review will consist of a short (2000 words) written review of a literary work, theatrical production or film, showing an understanding of the trajectory of the writer involved.

3: Essay weighted 50%
3500 word critical essay
The critical essay (3500 words) can be on any topic relating to contemporary literature or culture, and may involve either literary or cultural criticism or both. We would like students to pay attention to the literary form of the essay, its rhetorical as well as its critical content. In other words, we encourage students to bring in writerly and/or poetic elements. Past topics have included, poetry and location, autobiography and culture, fashion and femininity, and have included semi-autobiographical elements, fictional dialogues, and philosophical speculation. We will give students examples of what we mean and there will be plenty of opportunities to discuss their topics, including a presentation to the rest of the class.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023