Humanities Independent Study

Are you a pathway student wanting to gain experience of one of the longer types of assignment and research project you might encounter on a degree?

Or a returning Lifelong Learning student, or a student coming back to study after a gap, who has a specific topic you would like to work on within a structured independent learning environment?

Perhaps you already have a degree, and are considering next steps prior to enrolling on a postgraduate qualification, and want to revisit the skills associated with longer pieces of research, writing and/or creative writing?

This module will provide you with an opportunity to develop an extended piece of writing (academic or creative) on a topic of your choice.

Working with a supervisor from the Lifelong Learning Humanities tutor team, you will explore your chosen topic whilst developing and practising the required skills, supported through a series of workshops and supervisions designed to guide you through the journey of independent study.

By the end of the module, you will have prepared a portfolio of work which you will then use to develop your final extended piece of academic or creative writing.

Prior study, preferably with the Division of Lifelong Learning, or enrolment on courses on the Pathways to a Degree programme in Humanities disciplines, is a pre-requisite for signing up for this course.

Learning and teaching

The module will be delivered through a combination of guided study workshops and supervisions to support a period of independent study to prepare a 1500 word written submission.

The workshops will introduce and enable discussion and practice of specific study skills relating to the module.

The supervisions will provide student specific advice linked to the stages of building the assignment submission and linked to each student’s chosen topic.

All sessions and the lectures will be supplemented by resources available to students via Learning Central.

Syllabus:

Workshops will cover themes including:

• Identifying your topic and preparing your initial reading list
• Refining your topic and building your plan
• Writing your submission
• Refining and presenting your final submission

Supervisions will focus on submitted work, including the elements required for the engagement portfolio: initial reading list, annotated bibliography, project plan, and sample section

Coursework and assessment

Assignment 1 (Engagement portfolio): 30% - A set of tasks including: initial reading list, annotated bibliography, project plan, sample section.

Assignment 2 (Essay): 70% - 1500 word essay or creative writing submission.

Reading suggestions

Creative Writing Suggestions

• J. Burroway, E. Stuckey-French, and N. Stuckey-French, Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, 9^th edn (New York, 2014)
• G. Harper, Creative Writing Guidebook (London, 2008).
• D. Morley, The Cambridge Introduction to Creative Writing (Cambridge, 1964).
• Francine Prose, Reading like a Writer: A Guide for People who love books and for those who want to write them (London, 2012).

Academic Writing Suggestions:

• John Peck and Martin Coyle, Write it Right: The Secrets of Effective Writing, 2^nd edn (Basingstoke, 2012).
• John Peck, The Student’s Guide to Writing: Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling 2^nd edn (Basingstoke, 2005).
• Jean Rose, The Mature Student’s Guide to Writing, 3^rd edn (Basingstoke, 2012).
• William Zinsser, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, 6^th edn (New York, 1998).

Specific reading suggestions to get you started on your topic will be identified in discussion with your supervisor.

Library and computing facilities

As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities.

Accessibility

Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.