WRITE546-20A (HAM)

Creative Writing: Writing and Embodiment

30 Points

Edit Header Content
Division of Arts Law Psychology & Social Sciences
School of Arts
English

Staff

Edit Staff Content

Convenor(s)

Tracey Slaughter

Tracey Slaughter
9194
I.3.28
See Moodle
tracey.slaughter@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Administrator(s)

: alexandra.cullen@waikato.ac.nz

Placement/WIL Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

: anne.ferrier-watson@waikato.ac.nz

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
Edit Staff Content

Paper Description

Edit Paper Description Content

“…we must as writers leap into the skin of a person or a community in an attempt to embody them. That’s obviously an incredibly violent procedure, but…unless we’re willing to do that as writers (and go along for that ride as readers), then we’re not actually doing our job.” (John D’Agata)

Creative Writing: Writing and Embodiment is a writing-intensive course exploring the centrality of ‘the body’s imagination’ to the creative writing process. Writing creatively involves the fusion of the writer’s ‘felt sense’ of character, scene and story with the concrete language which will most powerfully embody those elements in the reader’s senses. The course will focus on the ways in which ‘embodiment’ is key in generating characters with compelling physical presence and voice, shaping narratives with dramatic impact and drive, setting scenes that evoke a textured and arresting experience for the reader, and crafting resonant sentences aware of the sensory impact of language on the body.
Edit Paper Description Content

Paper Structure

Edit Paper Structure Content
A close-reading of selected texts will concentrate the student’s attention on how writers use techniques of embodiment to ‘breathe life’ into character and story, to engage the reader’s sensory absorption and involvement, and to leave an impression of their own embodied presence in their writing style. Writing exercises designed around the studied texts will then stimulate the student to explore and discover techniques and themes of embodiment in their own creative writing. Students will be assessed on the regular weekly submission of work in progress, on participation in workshop discussion, on a creative writing/reading journal, and on a final portfolio of creative pieces.
Edit Paper Structure Content

Learning Outcomes

Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • Be familiar with 'embodied writing' in some of the major genres, including poetry, short fiction, prose poetry and the novel.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Have gained awareness of key structures of ‘embodied’ writing – such as characterisation, voice, setting, dialogue, imagery, point of view, pacing, sound, form and style – and an ability to target and strengthen these facets in their own creative writing.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Have the ability to ‘read like a writer,’ deconstructing selected texts to identify and analyse creative techniques central to generating dynamic imagery and powerful voice.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Have the ability to exercise their own ‘embodied’ energy through interaction with writing prompts, tasks and models based on connected texts.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Have gained creative workshop skills for peer review, and for critiquing their own and others’ work in progress.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Have the ability to revise and proofread their creative work, responding to constructive critique from workshop feedback, and developing an awareness of substantive and structural editing.
    Linked to the following assessments:
Edit Learning Outcomes Content
Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Assessment

Edit Assessments Content

Students MUST complete all assessment modules for the completion of this paper.

Edit Additional Assessment Information Content

Assessment Components

Edit Assessments Content

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 0% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 0% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Draft Portfolio and Preliminary Notebook Grading
9 Apr 2020
5:00 PM
30
  • Hand-in: Assignment Box
2. Creative Writing/Reading Notebook
11 Jun 2020
5:00 PM
20
  • Hand-in: Assignment Box
3. Final Portfolio
11 Jun 2020
5:00 PM
35
  • Hand-in: Assignment Box
4. Submission, attendance, participation
15
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
Edit Assessments Content

Required and Recommended Readings

Edit Required Readings Content

Required Readings

Edit Required Readings Content
The Virgin Suicides, by Jeffrey Eugenides
As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner

Notes on a Scandal, by Zoe Heller

The Road, Cormac McCarthy

The Body Artist, by Don DeLillo

The Boy and the Sea, by Kirsty Gunn

Poetry readings and related handouts detailing workshop exercises will be made available each week. A Course Reader containing selected poetry and prose extracts will also be available from Campus Copy.

Edit Required Readings Content

Online Support

Edit Online Support Content
There is an online Moodle community for this course. Moodle can be accessed via iWaikato. Selected lecture material, tutorial exercises, assignment details, important dates and the paper outline are all available from this site.
Edit Online Support Content

Workload

Edit Workload Content

The expected workload for this paper is 12 hours per week (3 hours of teaching and 9 hours of self-directed study) throughout the 17 weeks semester.


Edit Workload Content

Linkages to Other Papers

Edit Linkages Content

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: ENGL546 or ENGLI546

Edit Linkages Content