Course summary

What makes a writer’s work worth reading? What turns a wannabe writer into a professional? How are the study of literature, creative writing and language related? English at USW offers a unique opportunity to combine the study of literature with creative writing and language in modules designed to bring the three areas of study into enlightening conversation. In addition to studying each of them you will develop an appreciation of how each can be used to enhance the others. Blended and complementary modules explore the styles and modes of literary composition from ancient times to the present, engage students in carefully planned and structured writing workshops, and develop advanced linguistic expertise. As well as gaining specialist skills in analysis and close reading, you will be able to improve your writing in range of modes, including fiction, poetry, media copy and non-fiction. Whether you want to be a writer, or just a highly employable person with advanced critical and creative competence, the advancement of these key abilities means you’ll be ready for the workplace when you graduate. What will I study? From the start, this course encourages you to read widely and experiment in a variety of ways in order to achieve a high standard of critically informed understanding and creative know-how. In your first year, you will take core introductory modules which combine imaginative and analytical elements with language study, as well as exploring classic literature from the age of Shakespeare. Guiding you through the basics of critical appreciation, writing fiction, poetry and media copy, the first-year programme provides you with the tools you’ll need to get the most out of subsequent years. Year two builds on this foundation with modules which continue the disciplinary strands encountered in your first year. Language skills are enhanced by modules looking at social and employment-based usage, literary studies continue with modules in nineteenth century, utopia/dystopia and gothic modes, and creative writing modules focus on producing fictional and non-fictional stories. Deepening your comprehension of the scope and variety of literature in English and sharpening your sense of how to realise your creative ambitions, the second year equips you to meet the exciting challenges of the final year. In your third year, creative writing modules encourage you to engage with the world of publishing, honing your understanding of what it means to write specifically for the marketplace. Modules in literary studies cover modernism and after, postcolonial writing, and the widespread adaptation of myth – from ancient narratives to modern fiction and film. The study of language continues with consideration of its use in creative and professional contexts. You will also have the opportunity to produce a dissertation on the subject of your choice. This can be either a creative piece or a work of literary scholarship. Working with a supervisor, you will be able to design a project which reflects your own tastes, ambitions and skills. How will I be taught? Teaching is delivered through lectures, workshops, small group discussions and individual tutorials. You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including imaginative writing portfolios, critical exercises, essays and presentations. Where will I Study? Just a short train ride north of Cardiff, our Treforest campus is located near the valley town of Pontypridd, amid beautiful scenery in a richly historic landscape. With an onsite student union, halls of residence, sports centre, restaurants, bars, shops, and more, it hosts a lively and colourful student community.