FA1MW-Visual Thinking and Material Writing

Module Provider: Art
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: FA2MW Visual Thinking and Material Writing
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Alun Rowlands
Email: a.rowlands@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is a seminar based module designed to develop writing skills and the awareness of the scope of writing within art and art history. It will focus on the range of writing that constitutes the current discourses in art. The module will look at writings from Art Historical and critical theory approaches to genre in order to expand the student's expectations of what approaches are acceptable and useful within writing about art and art writing. Each week the group will look at different models of art writing in order to think through and begin to find a position on the appropriate forms for different contexts.

Aims:

This module aims to:

• introduce students to a range of writing forms and their appropriateness for different contexts


• offer students practical experience in writing through different forms


• deliver frequent short writing assignments to facilitate quick turnover of ideas in written form


• enable students to critique writing forms in an informed way

Assessable learning outcomes:

• demonstrate an ability to engage with and analyse art writing forms for different contexts


• demonstrate a competence to write in a range of voices via an assessed journal


• organize material and articulate arguments effectively in essay writing, incorporating a bibliography and appendices where necessary


• experience of group work and group critique of written work

Additional outcomes:

• an ability to work effectively in groups


• an ability to write quickly and without procrastination


• an ability to organize work load


• an awareness of current debates in art writing


• an awareness of historical and theoretical precedents in art writing


• confidence in writing

Outline content:

The students will engage in a developing group of critical engagement and production of texts over the weeks of the module. The assessment will be continuous and peer led from session to session and documented individually through an assessed journal.

Global context:

Texts from the global south and dealing with postcolonial issues will be included in the curriculum

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be seminar led and split into two parts (over 3 hours). In the first half, each week the tutor will prepare a presentation, looking at and discussing specific examples of writing (each week a different genre or methodology). In the second half the students will work in small peer groups. They will be reading and critiquing their own short written examples that have been written during the previous week in response to the previous week's presentation.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	20
Tutorials	2
Guided independent study:	178
Total hours by term	200
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The recommendation is that the student will write 500 words a week in a different voice each week to be critiqued by their peers and one of these written pieces to be developed into a 1500 word piece of writing for the summative assessment.

Formative assessment methods:

The module will be driven by weekly peer formative assessment with informal on-going feedback by tutor.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres 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 (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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:

The summative essay must be submitted in order to gain a pass and achieve a threshold performance.

Reassessment arrangements:

Submission of additional essay by August

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 22 September 2022