2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LLLC2303 Writing for Children and Young Adults

20 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Cath Nichols
Email: c.s.nichols@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This online module explores methods and theories of writing for children. You will be shown three key age-ranges (picture books for ages 3-6, middle grade fiction for the 7-11s, tween fiction for ages 12-14 and Young Adult fiction for 14+ readers) and will be expected to write stories for each category. You will try out specific craft skills: plotting, dialogue, characterisation, description. You will consider genre, age and suitable content and language. As with all creative writing modules you will share work with your peers, and receive and give feedback. You will also consider changes in published children’s literature with particular attention being given to diversity (or lack of diversity) therein. Thus you will develop technical creative writing skills and critical skills whilst learning about the world of contemporary children’s literature. Teaching and learning for this module will take place through interactive online seminar/workshops and through small group work – facilitated online for discussion and peer review. Some reading and filmed resources will be made available on Minerva. The module is assessed wholly by coursework and requires your active and regular participation in writing exercises and workshop discussions of your own and your fellow students' work-in-progress.

Objectives

On completion of this module students will:
· 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
· have an awareness of the importance of diversity of representation of child characters to child readers (for example, through race, disability or gender diversity of primary and/or secondary characters)
· have some awareness of the historical development of writing for children
· 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
· have gained practical experience of writing using a variety of craft skills appropriate for children

Learning outcomes
At the end of this module students will know:
1. who the gatekeepers of children’s literature are (agents, publishers, librarians and parents)
2. the commonly used age categories and what material might be expected within these (subject matter, language use and length)
3. how to critically evaluate children’s literature, especially with regard to representation and diversity
4. how to develop their own writing for children and create engaging characters and stories
5. how to approach re-drafting their own work both structurally and at a more detailed editorial level, giving thought to language and vocabulary suitable for their preferred age of reader
6. how to give critical feedback to their peers
7. how commercial considerations affect the publication of children’s fiction
8. how to approach an agent and provide a short synopsis of their work

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 online workshop. Issues and areas to be explored may include: genre; popular versus ‘educational’ books; humour; representation, including race, gender, disability, class, and sexuality. Topics will be explored through reading complete picture books and the opening chapters or extracts from older children’s novels. Textbooks will be utilized for theory on craft. One workshop will be spent learning how to prepare a letter, synopsis and sample of work for submission to an agent.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	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

Private study

All students will need to engage with the weekly materials provided on Minerva for 1 hour per week. In addition, they will need to undertake continual reading and research to prepare for the workshops and to prepare their own creative writing piece. This reading and research will help inspire ideas when crafting their own piece, and it will also enable them to critically reflect on the work for the critical commentary. Finally, the students will be expected to engage with writing exercises and also be drafting their own piece throughout the module. These are the recommended hours for these activities:
Reading: 50 Writing: 72 hours Research: 45

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 contextual commentary for written feedback from your tutor on the date specified in the module handbook, approximately Week 6 or 7 of the semester. This feedback will assist you when producing your creative piece and the accompanying critical commentary. 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 developing 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
Portfolio	Creative piece: 2500 words. Accompanying critical commentary	90.00
Written Work	Letter and synopsis: 500 words	10.00
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: 27/01/2023

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