ENG212

Creative Writing I

Arts
200 level
3 credit units
162 pages
20 units

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of creative writing across three primary genres: fiction, drama, and poetry. It explores the tools and techniques necessary for crafting engaging stories, plays, and poems, emphasizing the importance of imagination, structure, and language. Students will learn to develop characters, plots, settings, and themes while understanding the unique elements of each genre. The course also aims to foster critical thinking and analytical skills through the study of established literary works.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 208 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of ENG212, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

ENG212 · UNIT 1: PRELIMINARY ISSUES IN FICTION WRITING

5.0 SUMMARY In this first unit, we have not burdened you with an overload of definitions. Writing in its process and processing defines and re-defines it. We have instead led you to appreciate how to open a novel like the old masters, why you need to shape your thinking, and why you must know your basic tools.

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What you should be able to do

Distinguish the languages of fiction, drama, and poetry
Understand the nature of action and dialogue
Appreciate the elements common to all genres of literature
Use key technical apparatuses such as progression, exposition, rhythm, and symbols
Know the procedures for starting to write and structure a good play, poem, or novel

What it prepares you for

Careers

Author
Playwright
Screenwriter
Poet
Editor

Where it is applied

Publishing
Film
Television
Theatre
Journalism

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 1: Fiction
Unit 5: Sound-Rhythm of Prose and Dialogue Flow
Advanced techniques in prose rhythm and dialogue flow require a strong understanding of language nuances.
Module 2: Drama
Unit 4: Character(ization)
Understanding the relationship between character and stage movement requires a deep understanding of theatrical space and actor psychology.
Module 3: Poetry
Unit 4: Imagery and Allusion: Expanding Scope
Requires deep understanding of literary devices and ability to convey complex emotions concisely.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 62 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Fiction
- Unit 1: Preliminary Issues in Fiction Writing · 3 hours
  Read Unit 1: Understanding the purpose of creative writing and its various forms.. Explore the initial stages of novel writing and the importance of purpose and method.. Identify and discuss the tools needed for creative writing, such as mind, pen, notebook, and machines..
- Unit 2: Story Selection and Projection · 3 hours
  Read Unit 2: Learn to identify what constitutes a story and its various perspectives.. Explore sources for story selection and the principles that guide this selection.. Practice projecting a story from a camera-eye perspective..
Week 2Module 1: Fiction
- Unit 3: Setting: Situation and Environment · 4 hours
  Read Unit 3: Study how to set a scene by vision and space, focusing on what can be seen.. Learn to set a scene by sounds and storms, emphasizing what can be heard.. Understand how weather and geology can enhance a story's environment..
Week 3Module 1: Fiction
- Unit 4: Structure: Plots & Plotting · 4 hours
  Read Unit 4: Understand the importance of plots in structuring a story.. Learn how to handle conflicts effectively within a narrative.. Explore how action determines the direction and outcome of a story..
Week 4Module 1: Fiction
- Unit 5: Sound: Rhythm of Prose and Dialogue Flow · 4 hours
  Read Unit 5: Examine the importance of syntax and rhetoric in creative writing.. Understand the significance of the language of the word in conveying meaning.. Learn how to create effective dialogue and understand the rhythm and voice in prose..
Week 5Module 1: Fiction
- Unit 6: Character (ization): Symbols and Images · 4 hours
  Read Unit 6: Learn how to build characters effectively in fiction.. Understand the relationship between character and life, drawing from real-world observations.. Explore how characters can serve as symbols and images within a story..
Week 6Module 1: Fiction
- Unit 7: Sense: Total Meaning and Import/Message · 4 hours
  Read Unit 7: Understand the importance of sense as total meaning in writing.. Explore the concepts of reality and illusion in storytelling.. Learn about chronology and chronicle and how they affect the narrative..
Week 7Module 2: Drama
- Unit 1: Preliminary Issues in Drama(tic) Composition: Devices · 4 hours
  Read Unit 1: Understand the preliminary issues in dramatic composition and the devices used.. Conceptualize ideas and develop them into full-length plays.. Acquaint yourself with the basic tools needed for playwriting..
Week 8Module 2: Drama
- Unit 2: Thought/Idea · 4 hours
  Read Unit 2: Learn about thought and idea in dramatic writing.. Distinguish between theme, subject matter, and the story in drama.. Tell your story in a dramatic form based on an idea..
- Unit 3: Plot · 4 hours
  Read Unit 3: Understand what plot is and how to construct it effectively.. Identify different types of plots and distinguish plot from story.. Learn to appreciate and undertake plot construction in playwriting..
Week 9Module 2: Drama
- Unit 4: Character(ization) · 4 hours
  Read Unit 4: Differentiate the characters in a play and understand characterization.. Distinguish between movement and motivation in drama.. Discuss and design stage geography and its effects on playwriting..
Week 10Module 2: Drama
- Unit 5: Language: Dialogue and Action · 4 hours
  Read Unit 5: Understand the importance of language in playwriting.. Distinguish different forms of language, including spoken and non-verbal.. Determine the functions of dialogue in a play..
Week 11Module 2: Drama
- Unit 6: Spectacle · 4 hours
  Read Unit 6: Determine what spectacle is in a play and identify its aspects.. List the importance of spectacle in dramatic performances.. Understand the roles of costume, make-up and scenery..
Week 12Module 3: Poetry
- Unit 1: Preliminary Issues in Poetry Writing · 4 hours
  Read Unit 1: Understand preliminary issues in poetry writing, including setting and atmosphere.. Identify mood and atmosphere in a poem and distinguish setting.. List the major types of poems..
Week 13Module 3: Poetry
- Unit 2: What makes a Poem? · 4 hours
  Read Unit 2: Learn what makes a poem, including content and devices.. Identify the theme and subject matter in poetry.. Understand the uniqueness of poetic diction and the importance of sound and rhythm..
- Unit 3: Creative Blocks: Emotion in Tranquility · 4 hours
  Read Unit 3: Understand creative blocks and the role of emotion in poetry.. Distinguish between the expression of emotion in daily life and in poetry.. Explore the concept of emotion in tranquility..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create outlines for potential exam questions related to each module.
Practice writing short stories, play scenes, and poems under timed conditions.
Review key literary terms and concepts from the glossary of terms.
Analyze examples of successful creative writing from the course materials.
Form study groups to discuss and critique each other's work.

Questions students ask about this course

What is ENG212 about?

How many units does ENG212 have?

ENG212, Creative Writing I, has 20 units across 3 modules, over 162 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is ENG212?

ENG212 carries 3 credit units, at 200 level in Arts.

Is ENG212 hard?

ENG212 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does ENG212 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.

How is ENG212 assessed?

ENG212 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with ENG212?

Author, Playwright, Screenwriter, Poet and Editor.