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EL5095: CREATIVE WRITING III: NON-FICTION (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

This course is devoted to the development of non-fiction creative prose. Among the themes and genres engaged with will be: travel writing, psychogeography, non-academic critical writing, prose poetry, diary, memoir, and the fragment. Students will study examples across the genre and build up a portfolio of work, discussion of which will form the basis of weekly workshops.  

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr David Wheatley

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Master Of Science In Cultural And Creative Communication or Master of Letters in English Literary Studies or M Litt in Creative Writing

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Creative writing students may be tempted to see their work as divided between the discipline of primary/creative writing and the secondary/critical analysis of other texts. Non-fiction prose writing exists somewhere between these two poles, combining the creative intensity of fiction or poetry writing and the analytical and research skills required for critical writing. Non-fiction comes in many forms, from the personal essay to travel and nature writing to memoir, and on this course, students will study examples of modern and contemporary non-fiction prose by major practitioners of the genre. Critical writing too will be studied, in non-academic forms such as the book review and the manifesto. Historical and theoretical contexts will be studied, but with an emphasis too on the practical and a study of the market for contemporary non-fiction, in print and online forms. Assessment will take the form of a longer piece of non-fiction and a shorter self-reflective commentary piece.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Presentation: Recorded 15 min presentation on a piece of your work in progress OR on a piece of writing that has inspired you. Format to be discussed and agreed in advance with the tutor. (30%)

Folio of 4500 words: as developing your own writing skills is a crucial aspect of the course you will be encouraged to formulate your own ideas for the submission, but it can be developed from (though must not be identical with) one or more of the pieces that you have submitted for discussion in the workshops. The general outline of the work must be discussed with the course convener and agreed no later than Friday of week 10 of the course. (70%)



Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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