Module: CW7041-30 Context Module One: Writing for Young People: Forms, Ages and Stages

Level: 7

Credit Value: 30

Module Tutor: Steve Voake

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.voake@bathspa.ac.uk

1.Brief description and aims of module

In this context module you will explore the demands of the young audience, looking at the developmental stages in children’s lives and reading from infancy to adolescence. It will introduce the main forms and some key issues in writing for children, as well as broadening your acquaintance with some classic texts and authors in the field.

2.Outline syllabus

This opening module will provide you with the context for the creative writing you will be doing in Writing Workshop 1, which will run concurrently for full-time students.

You will read a variety of classic and more recent texts and come prepared to discuss them in practical, critical ways – always with the goal of enriching and broadening the range of your own creative writing.

The course will provide an overview of the forms and formats of children’s books, including picture books, early readers, illustrated stories, poetry, non-fiction, novels, and will look at the developmental stages in children’s lives and their reading, especially the key ‘transition’ points. Topics may include:

• Picture books: working with text & pictures, visual and design ideas (seeing the book as a whole). How a picture book gets used and read.
• Writing for adolescents: social/ emotional issues; why many young people stop reading now, especially boys. Genre writing. Entertainment v the serious young adult ‘issue’ book.
• Fantasy in children’s writing – some historical context plus contemporary examples.
• Fairy stories, folk tales, myths – ancient stories and how they enter modern writing. Updatings, re-tellings, revisionist versions.
• Non-fiction writing for young people.
• Poetry for young people.

3.Teaching and learning activities

You will attend seminar-workshop for three hours each week.

You will be expected to read the set texts and come prepared to participate in, and sometimes initiate, group discussion. You will also be expected to seek out relevant reading of your own.

The seminar discussions introduced and guided by the tutor, will aim to build a shared understanding of the texts and a language in which to describe their techniques and assess their achievement. You will be encouraged to contribute and to learn from each other, discussing a range of issues affecting writing for children today. You will be asked to write both creatively and critically about the topics discussed, including self-starting pieces and assignments set by the tutor.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: An essay of 2,500 words exploring a chosen theme in children’s writing
• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: A selection of the student’s own creative writing (2,500 words)
• % Weighting: 50%