ENH2995

Writing in theory and practice: an introduction

Proposed to be offered next in 1999

T Threadgold

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton

Objectives On successful completion of this subject students should have developed a critical understanding of what is involved in effective writing in a large range of contexts and genres; learnt how to analyse what they themselves and others write; and developed their own writing skills in critical and other genres.

Synopsis This subject is designed to introduce students to the theory and practice of writing in the humanities, and to provide students with the grammatical, rhetorical and generic skills to write effectively in a range of contexts and situations. It will cover a range of topics. These include differences between speech and writing, the historical emergence of prose registers and genres, changing conceptions of originality and creativity, the meaning of innovation and creativity in different disciplines, an introduction to genre theory and practice, questions of `craft' and `technique' in professional and creative writing, the redefinition of academic writing in the humanities and the emergence of ficto-criticism, feminist and poststructuralist challenges to disciplinary and discursive authority where writing is concerned, and the question of the evaluation and assessment of writing.

Assessment Folio submission (fourth week): 15%
* Text analysis (2000 words): 25%
* Essay (2000 words): 30%
* Folio submission (last week): 20%
* Workshop and seminar participation: 10%

Prescribed reading

A reader will be available at the beginning of the course.

Recommended texts

Cameron D Verbal hygiene Routledge, 1995
Fairclough N Critical language awareness Longman, 1992
Swales J M Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings CUP, 1990