2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LLLC2303 Writing for Children and Young Adults

20 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Sally Brown
Email: S.M.Brown@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

You will be shown and write stories for three key age-ranges using genre, and age suitable content and language. Technical creative writing skills, e.g., in plotting and dialogue will be developed alongside critical skills. You will learn about contemporary children's literature, paying particular attention to questions of diversity. Teaching and learning will take place in interactive workshops. The module is assessed wholly by coursework and requires your active and regular participation in writing exercises and discussions of students' work-in-progress.

Objectives

On completion of this module students will:
1. be able to identify a range of age-specific genres designated under 'writing for children', primarily picture book (3-6), middle grade (7-11), tween (12-14) and young adult (14 +) fiction
2. have an awareness of the importance of representation of diverse child characters to child readers (for example, through ethnicity, disability or gender diversity of primary and/or secondary characters)
3. have some awareness of the historical development of writing for children
4. have developed critical reading skills in relation to work by published authors, and to be able to identify different writing skills that make the texts succeed as engaging stories
5. have gained practical experience of writing using a variety of craft skills appropriate for children

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. demonstrate understanding of who the gatekeepers of children's literature are (agents, publishers, librarians and parents)
2. identify the commonly used age categories and what material might be expected within these (subject matter, language use and length) and articulate how their writing fits their chosen category
3. develop their own writing for children and create engaging characters and stories with an understanding of genre, diversity and representation
4. Demonstrate critical understanding of their own writing process and editorial decisions in a way which responds appropriately to peer and tutor feedback
5. Demonstrate understanding of how commercial considerations affect the publication of children's fiction

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

1. Enterprise: Demonstrate commercial awareness through the presentation of creative work which appeals to a particular target audience (LO’s 1, 2, 3, 5)
2. Work ready: Critically reflect on creative process and development, taking into account feedback (4)
3. Academic: Develop academic argument drawing on evidence to show relevance of their own work to particular critical and creative contexts (2)

Syllabus

This module examines Writing for Children from a range of critical and creative perspectives. Both creative writing craft skills and critical editorial skills will be taught and practised in the workshop. Issues and areas to be explored may include: genre; popular versus 'educational' books; humour; representation, including ethnicity, gender, disability, class, and sexuality.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Practical	11	2.00	22.00
Independent online learning hours			11.00
Private study hours			167.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Throughout the module, there will be at least three opportunities for in-depth peer feedback on your creative writing. You are also expected to submit half a draft of your creative work and critical commentary for written feedback from your tutor on the date specified in Minerva, approximately Week 6 or 7 of the semester. This feedback will assist you when producing your creative piece and the accompanying critical commentary and submission package. There will be an opportunity to discuss this with your tutor in Week 8 or 9. Verbal feedback will be provided within sessions; this will help with the continuing development of your creative and critical work, as well as with the final letter and synopsis you will produce.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Creative piece, Critical Commentary (1000 words) + Submission package. To develop skills in writing for children and young adults To deepen understanding of own writing practice in relation to industry and cultural context To develop skills in articulating process for an audience/to industry.	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 19/02/2024

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