Module: CWR5004-20 Professional Portfolio

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Steve Hollyman

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

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module builds on The Writer’s Workshop 1 and 2. It focuses on three related areas:

• Your own development as a writer in a specialist area of your choice

• Your knowledge of opportunities within the creative industries to get your work "out there".

• Your awareness of and confidence in yourself as an independent practitioner.

You'll also explore ways in which writers independently manage themselves (and their writing) in writing-related careers.

The module will help you to develop specialist skills in a chosen area of creative writing while at the same time helping you to think about your work and writing-related activities beyond University.

2. Outline syllabus:

You will develop your writing skills within a specialist field, and refine your understanding of how creative writing is presented within professional contexts surrounding the creative industries. The module is assessed via a Negotiated Professional Portfolio.

The negotiated Portfolio will enable you to extend your specialist skills within the context of the creative industries and related occupations. You will be encouraged to sharpen your writing skills, develop an understanding of the business of creative practice and either write new work or adapt existing work for a specific publication, outlet or audience.

In your Professional Portfolio, you will need to demonstrate that you are aware of the possible outlets and audiences for your writing.

Looking forward, this module will help to prepare you for a greater level of independent study at level 6. It will enable you to develop both your writing skills and your employability skills, laying the foundations for enterprise-focused modules at L6 such as Creative Enterprise 1 and 2.

3. Teaching and learning activities:

Your pattern of study will normally be as follows:

At the start of the module, you will attend an introductory lecture, during which the module leader will outline the module aims, assessment criteria and learning outcomes. Throughout the duration of the module, there will be industry focused plenary lectures delivered by academic staff and/or specialist visiting lecturers, the aim of which is to broaden your knowledge of the practice of writing within a professional context.

Before the module begins, you will be asked to decide what type of project you would like to complete. You will then be assigned a tutor, who will help you to develop your negotiated Professional Portfolio in the second semester. This will consist of an industry-focused body of creative work (the Creative Project) that may extend from your experience in the first semester, and a Proposal and Positioning Statement in which you analyse the market for your creative work and position it within the broader context of the Creative Industries. Your tutor will be available to meet with you in individual and/or group tutorials to discuss your writerly aspirations and help you develop both the creative work and the Proposal and Positioning Statement. In your scheduled meetings with your tutor, you will discuss the content of your Professional Portfolio and review your work in progress at key stages in your journey.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Professional Portfolio to include proposal, positioning statement (1000 words) and creative project (4000 words)

• % Weighting: 100%