This is a two-semester course that builds on students’ development as writers and their learning across individual courses, which range from foundational courses, where they grasp the fundamentals of creative writing and arts, to topical electives, where they explore specific writing approaches, as well as the Creative Writing Workshop, where they hone their craft in a collaborative setting. The course is experiential and longitudinal, immersing students in selfdirected Creative Capstone Projects under the mentorship of published writers. Over the course of two semesters, students initiate and navigate their own reading and writing trajectories, exploring the roles of a reader who writes and a writer who reads. While the Capstone Experience is writer-oriented, the course emphasises individual and, if applicable, group supervision to stimulate rigorous feedback, reflection, revision, and editing cycles, enhancing students’ capacity for writing that meets publishing standards and has high potential for dissemination in various formats, such as print, digital, virtual, and stage. The course equips students for the early stages of a writer’s career in the 21st century, preparing them to become emerging members of global and local creative communities.
- To immerse students in the development of a full-fledged creative writing project under the mentorship of published creative writers.
- To provide students with first-hand experience in the cyclic and lengthy process of creative writing, which involves but is not limited to research, drafting, revision, and dissemination.
- To cultivate effective feedback and editing practices by involving students in individual and group supervision sessions focused on providing and receiving constructive feedback.
- To foster self-reflexivity in creative writing practice and promote critical engagement with not only creative and critical points of reference but students’ own original creative work.
Supervision: Students are responsible for arranging regular supervision meetings with their designated capstone supervisors, either individually or in groups. Each meeting is intended to support progress toward the completion of the Creative Dissertation, which comprises a Creative Writing Portfolio and an Analytical Reflection.
Every student will be assigned at least one capstone supervisor. Students should aim to meet with their supervisors once per month during teaching weeks to report on draft progress and adjust the frequency and schedule of meetings as needed. It is the responsibility of each student to maintain regular contact with their supervisor to support the successful development of their Dissertations.
Drafting, feedback, and reflection: Students will receive personalised feedback on their writing during supervision meetings and/or via email. They must incorporate this feedback to revise and refine their work in preparation for future meetings and the final submission of the Dissertation. In addition, students must engage in regular self-reflection to monitor their writing progress and prepare for the completion of the Analytical Reflection.
Readings: Required and/or suggested readings will be assigned by individual capstone supervisors. Students are also expected to curate a personal creative-critical bibliography that supports the development and completion of their Dissertations.
Journaling: Students must monitor their progress toward completing the Dissertation through regular journaling. Each entry should document the progress achieved, challenges faced, and concrete plans to address those challenges. Students should also reflect on relevant learning experiences.
Email and Moodle: Students must check their university email accounts daily and respond promptly and responsibly to communications from their assigned course instructor. The course Moodle site remains the primary portal for learning throughout the year. All written assignments must be uploaded to Moodle via Turnitin.
Creative showcase: Students will draw upon the work developed in their Creative Writing Portfolios to participate in a communal showcase held in a studio setting. Each student must submit a proposal for approval by the Course Convenor. Based on the approved proposal and any feedback received, students are expected to plan and prepare for the showcase, which will take place by the end of the Spring Semester or shortly thereafter. Logistical details will be provided in due course.
Co-curricular activities: Students are expected to actively participate in co-curricular activities such as the Black Box Writers’ Series and the Black Box Open Readings. These experiences are intended to enrich their creative and critical development. Students should incorporate insights gained from these activities as they develop their Dissertations and Showcase presentations.
Supervision journal 15%
Creative dissertation: Creative writing portfolio 50%
Creative dissertation: Analytical reflection 20%
Creative showcase 15%