ENGL3386 Telling Lives: Reading and Writing Family Memoir

Telling your family stories has become one of the most popular and compelling forms of writing, in what has been called our 'age of memoir'. This module reads six writers' very different approaches to telling family lives in both a critical and a creative capacity, using the texts as possibilities for your own writing. The module tutor has written his own family memoir; the creative workshops will begin the sharing of writing-in-progress with his work.

To introduce students to family memoirs.
To read memoirs with a critical and creative eye.
To help students produce creative writing related to memoirs.

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• 1. Acquire knowledge of family memoirs.
• 2. Read memoirs critically and recognise techniques of memoir writing
• 3. Model memoir techniques in creative writing.

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:

• 1. Use critical thinking to enhance and develop creative practice skills.
• 2. Communicate effectively through written text and through contribution to group presentation.
• 3. Show enhanced time management, team-work, and interpersonal skills.

In-person feedback on plans for critical analysis from tutor: one consultation, weeks 1-5
Written feedback on critical analysis, providing formative feedback for final assessment: one session, week 8 onwards
In-person and written feedback on group presentation from tutor: one session, week 1-6.
In-person feedback on creative writing idea: one consultation, week 10 or 11
Written and in-person feedback on memoir drafts from tutor and peers: 1000=1500 words of student writing: one session, weeks 10-11.