UNIVERSITY OF KENT
MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
SECTION 1: MODULE SPECIFICATIONS
1. Title of the module The Creative Writing Magazine
2. School which will be responsible for management of the module School of English
3. Start date of the module January 2013
4. The cohort of students (onwards) to which the module will be applicable September
2011
5. The number of students expected to take the module 12
6. Modules to be withdrawn on the introduction of this proposed module and
consultation with other relevant Schools and Faculties regarding the withdrawal
NONE
7. Level of the module (e.g. Certificate [C], Intermediate [I], Honours [H] or Postgraduate
[M]) M
8. The number of credits which the module represents 30
Note: undergraduate full-time students take modules amounting to 120 credits per year and
postgraduate full-time students take modules amounting to 180 credits per year for a Masters
award
9. Which term(s) the module is to be taught in (or other teaching pattern) AUTUMN OR
SPRING
10. Prerequisite and co-requisite modules NONE
11. The programme(s) of study to which the module contributes MA IN CREATIVE
WRITING
12. The intended subject specific learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their
relationship to programme learning outcomes
Students will have:
a) developed their capacity for close reading and critical analysis and applied these
skills to their practice (12 C. 7)
b) identified, critically evaluated and interrogated particular literary techniques and
publishing practices found in modern and contemporary poetry and prose and made
use of them in publishing the magazine (12 D. 8)
c) reflected on the wide range of stylistic practices open to the contemporary writer
and developed an understanding of how these relate to their own practice (12 C.4)
d) confidently applied advanced poetry and fiction techniques within their work (12
C.3)
e) understood through practice the value of drafting, editing and publishing (12 C.2)
f) planned and undertaken a portfolio of poems or prose which demonstrates
a developed sense of their relationship between their work and its audience (12 C.1)
13. The intended generic learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their relationship to
programme learning outcomes
At the end of the module, students will have:
a) developed a critical language (12 C.9)
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UNIVERSITY OF KENT
b) learned to apply that language to their own work, through collective and self-criticism
(12 C.10)
c) developed, in part through b), sympathy with practices and traditions other than those
in which they themselves are working (12 C.12)
d) increased confidence and ability to work in group situations (12 D.3)
e) advanced communicative and collaborative skills (12 D.5)
f)
substantial capacity for independent imaginative and practice-based projects and
research (12 D.1)
g) learned to gather and evaluate a range of materials from diverse contexts (12 B.2)
14. A synopsis of the curriculum
‘The Magazine in Creative Writing’ contributes to the poetry and prose strands of the MA in
Creative Writing. The objective of ‘The Magazine in Creative Writing’ is to give students as
close an experience as possible of what it might be like to publish a magazine of creative
writing, and to produce a magazine, which is open to all postgraduate and undergraduate
students at the University of Kent to contribute to each academic year. Students taking the
module will be grouped into editorial teams of 6 and assigned production tasks as seem
appropriate. And assessment will be based on their creative work; an essay about magazine
publishing; reflective work on My Folio; and their contribution to an assigned role for
magazine production. We will look at little magazine and literary magazine publication through
the Twentieth Century to the present day. Students will be encouraged to work to a standard
of professional publishing. This module aims to enable students to develop their practice of
writing through both the study of a range of contemporary examples and practices, and
constructive feedback on their own work. Each week, students will be exposed to a wide
range of instances of exemplary, contemporary work (as suggested by the indicative reading
list). They will be encouraged to read as writers and think like magazine editors, to apply
appropriate writing and production techniques to their own practice and to experiment with
voice, form and content. The approach to the exemplary texts will be technical and historical.
At every point in the module, priority will be given to students’ own development as writers. It
is an assumption of the module that students will already have a basic competence in the
writing of poetry and prose, including a grasp of essential craft and techniques. The purpose
of this module will be to stimulate students towards further development of, and to hone their
already emerging voices and styles through engaging with various literary texts, raising an
awareness of publishing practice historically, and contemporary new technologies.
15. Indicative Reading List
The following reading list does not represent a curriculum as such, but indicates the range of
work tutor will draw upon in stimulating students to new thought about their work. Typically,
reading will be provided in the form of handouts, and in any given session decisions about
reading will be taken in response to students’ interests and investments. Likewise, individual
students will be directed toward work which will be of particular benefit to them.
Primary material
BRINGHURST, ROBERT The Elements of Typographic Style: 4.0: 20th Anniversary Edition
FRAZER, TONY, Shearsman Magazine
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/magazine/home.html
FREEMAN, JOHN (ed.) Granta Magazine
GLOVER, JON (ed.) Stand Magazine
HAMILTON, IAN The Little Magazines: A Study of Six Editors
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UNIVERSITY OF KENT
LEWIS, WYNDHAM (ed.) BLAST
LOYDELL, RUPERT Stride Magazine
http://www.stridemagazine.co.uk/
MILLER, DAVID & PRICE, RICHARD British Poetry Magazines 1914-2000: A History and
Bibliography of Little Magazines
SCHMIDT, MICHAEL (ed.) PN Review
SMITH, A.M (foreword) Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2011
TURNER, B (2010) The Writers’ Handbook 2011
A selection of little magazines and online publications
Selected publications from the Special Collections in the Templeman Library
ONLINE
Blart Magazine http://blartmagazine.jimdo.com/
BLURB Publishers http://www.blurb.com/home/1/
LULU Publishers http://www.lulu.com/uk
LRB Archive http://www.lrb.co.uk/archive
The Lyre http://thelyreonline.blogspot.co.uk/
The Paris Review http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews
‘Poetry Magazines’ at the Poetry Library http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/
Society of Authors http://www.societyofauthors.net/
Secondary material
BRANDE, D. Becoming a Writer
FICH, P. How to Publish Your Poetry
GARDNER, J. The Art of Fiction
GOLDSMITH, K. Uncreative Writing
KOWIT, S. In the Palm of Your Hand
LAMOTT, A. Bird by Bird
PADGETT, R. Creative Reading
SINGLETON, J & LUCKHURST, M. The Creative Writing Handbook
STRUNK, W. & WHITE, E.B. The Elements of Style
WOOD, M. The Pocket Muse
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UNIVERSITY OF KENT
16. Learning and Teaching Methods, including the nature and number of contact hours and
the total study hours which will be expected of students, and how these relate to achievement
of the intended learning outcomes
The module will be taught by a combination of weekly two-hour seminars and workshops, the
balance to be determined by the particular teacher in any one period. Students will have the
opportunity for tutorials. Seminars will focus on exemplary texts, the history of magazine
publication and contemporary publishing/printing practices. Workshops and tutorials will focus
on the students’ own work. Expected hours of study will be 20 hours per week.
17. Assessment methods and how these relate to testing achievement of the intended
learning outcomes
In consultation with module tutors, students will submit a portfolio of creative work, and
assessment will be on 30% creative work; 30% essay about some aspect of magazine
publishing; 20% reflective work on My Folio; 20% contribution to an assigned role for
magazine production.
The portfolio will test all subject specific learning outcomes, and the following generic learning
outcomes: a), b), c), f) and g).
18. Implications for learning resources, including staff, library, IT and space The module will
be taught in the first instance by Simon Smith and David Flusfeder. There are no implications
for IT, but we will be visiting the Templeman Library to consult texts in Special Collections by
appointment.
19. The School (delete as applicable) recognises and has embedded the expectations of
current disability equality legislation, and supports students with a declared disability or
special educational need in its teaching. Within this module we will make reasonable
adjustments wherever necessary, including additional or substitute materials, teaching modes
or assessment methods for students who have declared and discussed their learning support
needs. Arrangements for students with declared disabilities will be made on an individual
basis, in consultation with the University’s/Collaborative Partner’s (delete as applicable)
disability/dyslexia support service, and specialist support will be provided where needed.
19.
20. Campus(es) where module will be delivered 1 CANTERBURY
If the module is part of a programme in a Partner College or Validated Institution,
please complete the following:
20.
Partner College/Validated Institution
21.
University School (for cognate programmes)
programmes) responsible for the programme
or
Faculty
(for
non-cognate
SECTION 2: MODULE IS PART OF A PROGRAMME OF STUDY IN A UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL
Statement by the School Director of Learning and Teaching/School Director of
Graduate Studies (as appropriate): "I confirm I have been consulted on the above module
proposal and have given advice on the correct procedures and required content of module
proposals"
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Required for information purposes only. Changes of campus will not require re-approval of the
module specification.
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UNIVERSITY OF KENT
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Director of Learning and Teaching/Director of Graduate
Studies (delete as applicable)
Date
…………………………………………………
Print Name
Statement by the Head of School: "I confirm that the School has approved the introduction
of the module and, where the module is proposed by School staff, will be responsible for its
resourcing"
.................................................................
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Head of School
Date
…………………………………………………….
Print Name
SECTION 3: MODULE IS PART OF A PROGRAMME IN A PARTNER COLLEGE OR
VALIDATED INSTITUTION
(Where the module is proposed by a Partner College/Validated Institution)
Statement by the Nominated Officer of the College/Validated Institution (delete as
applicable): "I confirm that the College/Validated Institution (delete as applicable) has
approved the introduction of the module and will be responsible for its resourcing"
.................................................................
Nominated Responsible Officer
College/Validated Institution
of
..............................................
Partner
………………………………………………….
Print Name
…………………………………………………..
Post
………………………………………….
Partner College/Validated Institution
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Date
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Module Specification Template
Last updated November 2011
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