1. Demonstrate knowledge of storytelling in a cultural and social context
2. Develop a variety of storytelling techniques responding to the themes of the module.
3. Communicate, both orally and in writing, creative and critical responses to the themes of the module.
4. Apply and critically assess storytelling techniques in own and others work through experimental writing and shared editorial practice

The Oral Story Presentation will give you the opportunity to develop your storytelling skills through a traditional practice that is seeing a rebirth in contemporary times. Formative assessment and development may take place in the classroom to a live audience, and summative assessment may be a recording suitable for sharing via varied media. It will assess, in whole or in part, learning outcomes 1, 2, and 4.
The Portfolio will include 3000 words (or equivalent) of your own stories developed in response to the module content and in class. It will also include 1000 words of critical commentary on your creative practice. It will assess, in whole or in part, Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

This module will introduce you to the art of storytelling, from the oral tradition, through genre writing, to contemporary digital forms. It will build a foundational understanding of narratology and the craft and techniques of storytelling telling within varied genres, analysing exemplars from a writer’s perspective and creating your own stories through exploration of different plots, myths, realist writing and literary genres.

You will have the opportunity in this module to re-engage with imaginative processes and experiment with storytelling in the genres / forms of your choosing, which will empower you to further develop your identity as a writer and to focus intently on the kind of writing that interests you. You will enjoy a programme of workshops and tutorials, with time set aside to work with your peers on editorial feedback on your writing in progress. Presenting your writing via an oral storytelling assessment either live or via a negotiated media format will help you to develop professional industry skills in line with the University’s Authentic Assessment Policy.

Why do we tell stories? How do they function in culture and society? Fall in love with storytelling again by taking a journey through varied genres and forms of narrative, from the oral tradition and towards contemporary digital forms. Combine the study of exemplars of different storytelling methods with the creation of your own stories, drawing on styles, techniques, myths, plot structures and narrative skills to write and present innovate new writing.

There will be a programme of seminars and/or workshops related to carefully chosen literary and theoretical texts, with individual tutorials available to support your own creative writing. One of the principles underlying this module is the belief that the practice of writing can be assisted by knowledge and understanding of literature from a writerly perspective. Therefore, the process of critical analysis in the programme of workshops will accompany creative writing, reading and evaluations of student work in the sessions. We will consider a number of literary forms, stylistics and techniques as an aid to students' own writing in in a variety of genres and forms.

Gottshall, J. (2013) The Story Telling Animal: How Stories Make us Human. London: Mariner Press
Porter Abbott, H., (2021) The Cambridge Introduction to Narratology. Cambridge: CUP
Oever, A. van den and Christie, I. (2019) Stories. Baltimore, Maryland: Project Muse
Brazier, C. (2009) One world: a global anthology of short stories. Oxford: New Internationalist.

Library and VLE