(MA) Master of Arts
Wild Writing: Literature, Landscape and the Environment
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Masters
Part-time
None
MA W8F924
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A 2.2 degree in Creative Writing, Theatre/Drama Studies, Literature, Film and Media Studies, Modern Languages , Art History, Music, Philosophy, History, American Studies, Performance studies, Journalism, Law, Politics and Sociology.
You may be asked to provide a piece of creative writing if you do not hold a degree in a relevant field.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5 except for 6.5 in writing
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
Please refer to the full time version of this course for information on Core and Compulsory modules.
External examiners
Dr Tim Atkins
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
University of Roehampton
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- To introduce students to writing about the natural world, landscape, place and the environment, and to provide them with tools of analysis to understand this relationship.
- To develop students understanding of some of the fundamental aspects of studying nature, conservation and landscape management and some of the literary traditions of writing about the environment (irrespective of their disciplinary backgrounds).
- To improve students’ own writing skills.
- To encourage students to develop a range of transferable skills including numeracy, IT skills, presentation skills, problem solving, and information retrieval.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: A broad overview of the ways in which the natural world and the environment are studied
A2: An understanding of some of the fundamental aspects of exploring the natural world and the environment
A3: An understanding of some of the literary traditions of writing about the natural world and the environment
A4: A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a selected current research area
Learning methods
A1-A4 are developed through module seminars and related assessed coursework (with feedback from markers). Learning is enabled through reflection on work-in-progress; visiting writers as appropriate; analysis of key texts, genres and theories; writing exercises and field trips. The development of a dissertation in close consultation with a supervisor supports and extends this learning.
Students are expected to extend and enhance their knowledge and understanding acquired from seminars by consulting library and other materials related to the course.
Such independent research is a fundamental part of most assessments.
Assessment methods
A1-A3 are assessed through a variety of coursework, including essays or creative writing equivalent assignments and oral presentations.
A4 is assessed by a dissertation.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: To systematically retrieve, select and integrate a variety of perspectives relating to writing on environmental issues
B2: To synthesise evidence, arguments and ideas in a self-directed manner, leading to coherent and logical analyses
B3: To think independently and to make connections between familiar and new ideas
B4: To integrate and link information across course components from different disciplines
B5: To plan and conduct a substantial research project with guidance from a supervisor, and present it in a coherent manner
Learning methods
B1-B4 are taught and developed through seminars and coursework.
The seminars encourage critical discussion, together with an emphasis on ability to reason and argue coherently, and to learn from others.
B5 is developed through the dissertation plan and execution.
Assessment methods
B1-B4 are assessed through coursework essays of differing length.
B5 is assessed through a dissertation which can take two forms:
EITHER a 15,000-word dissertation excluding bibliography and footnotes
OR a substantial piece of creative work, length negotiable (but normally c.6,000-10,000 words) accompanied by a critical commentary of 6,000 words excluding bibliography and footnotes
C: Practical skills
C1: General research skills: capacity to locate appropriate material and datasets
C2: Capacity to form a research question for the dissertation
C3: Deploy an advanced array of creative and/or critical writing skills
C4: Provide references according to accepted conventions
C5: Compile and present extended bibliographies
C6: Use libraries and IT to gain access to a variety of creative and critical sources
Learning methods
C1-C6 are taught through the research methods module and/or through independent research, lecturer feedback, peer feedback, and students’ own critical reflection on writing practice.
Considerable autonomy is encouraged in researching all assessed essays (for compulsory seminars and optional modules) supported at all times by the course director.
Assessment methods
C1-C6 are assessed through critical and/or creative essays, the submission of an original dissertation and exercises in the research methods or research for creative practice modules.
D: Key skills
D1: Write within disciplinary perspectives and genres, using proper academic conventions, creating logical and well-argued essays and dissertation.
D2: Typing and word-processing skills; use of electronic library catalogues, databases, and
email, and web-browsing skills
D3: Exploring, analysing and finding effective solutions for involving a variety of information
from different disciplinary contexts
D4: Working to deadlines, including planning and time-management to meet assessment
targets
D5: Working independently for extended periods
Learning methods
D1-4 are developed through in-class discussion and workshops and class preparation, as well as writing and interacting outside the classroom. Time is dedicated in compulsory module seminars to essay writing skills. D5 is developed through coursework and the dissertation.
Assessment methods
D1-5 are assessed through coursework essays and the dissertation.