Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module brings together reading, writing and performing skills in a consideration of the different ways we write for voice. We will read, listen to, watch and critically engage with a variety of modern and contemporary radio plays, stage plays and spoken word poems, consider some of the key debates about these burgeoning forms, and write our own plays, adaptations, and poems in response. Learning takes place both in seminar groups, where analytical reading and practical writing interconnect, and in smaller peer groups, where students both enjoy creating and co-operating, and support each other with constructive feedback. Assessment is by portfolio, with the option to include videos of performance. This module is delivered at the University of Reading.

Aims:

The module has three aims: 

• to enable students to read, watch and analyse a range of modern and contemporary pieces of writing for performance, introducing them to literary considerations specific to the form.


• to introduce students to some of the literary debates about the written voice, especially those around identity and diversity. 


• to equip students to write and edit their own plays, radio plays, adaptations and spoken word poems, and to gain confidence and enjoyment in doing so. 

 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

• write and edit their own plays, radio plays, adaptations, poems, and spoken word performance pieces. 


• reflect critically on their own creative writing and gain resilience and confidence in their own writing process. 


• demonstrate knowledge of modern and contemporary writing for performance.  


• identify and analyse dist inctive literary features of writing for performance.


• engage critically with key debates about writing for writing for performance.

Additional outcomes:

Oral and written communication skills will be developed, together with critical, interpretative and analytical abilities. Students will regularly be reading and performing one another’s work and should gain in editing skills, co-operation and leaderships skills, and poise and confidence in oral presentation. Students will enhance their IT competence through the use of relevant web resources in a critically informed manner. Students who chose to submit a video performance alongside their written one will gain in technical,  filming, editing and self-presentation skills. This module will present an especially wide range of BAME writers and performers, and provide a wide range of diverse role models. 

Outline content:

Recordings of plays that we will read and watch may include examples by Tony Kushner, Sarah Kane, Sabrina Mafouz and Natasha Gordon, which will help us to think especially about the contemporary monologue. We will read and listen to radio plays by Dylan Thomas, Lee Hall, Ed Harris, and Jackie Kay, and studying the development of scripts in production. We will read poems and watch spoken word video performances by Hera Lindsay Bird, Holly Pester, Jay Bernard, Ocean Vuoung and Raymond Antrobus and in engage in the debates about this emerging form, especially those around identity, history and representation.  Students will take this body of knowledge into their own writing, producing plays, adaptations, monologues and performance poems both traditional and experimental in form.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught in a weekly two-hour seminar for which students are required to do preparatory reading and writing. This seminar will be supplemented by a weekly one-hour autonomous peer group session in which students will consider issues of editing and redrafting set in advance by their seminar leader. Students are also entitled to a half-hour tutorial on their formative written work. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	20
Tutorials	0.5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	20
Wider reading (directed)	30
Peer assisted learning	10
Advance preparation for classes	20
Completion of formative assessment tasks	29.5
Essay preparation	30		40
Total hours by term		0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	30
Portfolio	70

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The creative writing portfolio (3-4 performance poems with 1 video, or 6 poems, or a short play or adaptation for stage or radio of 3000 words; 70% of final mark) will be submitted at the end of week 1, Summer term. At the same time students will submit a critical essay (2000 words; 30% of final mark) that sets their creative writing in the wider context of their reading.

Formative assessment methods:

Oral feedback will be given in seminars. Students will also receive one piece of formative written feedback on a selection of their creative writing, and a half-hour tutorial.

Penalties for late submission:

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of at least 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination in August. Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more. Otherwise it must be resubmitted during the University Resit Period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 4 April 2020