Critical Friends: The Real and Virtual Support of Writers

Overview

This unit focuses on the acquisition of a specific set of skills that writers need before their writing is ready for publication. It achieves this by introducing students to the essential elements of the writing craft, such as plot, setting, character etc. This unit also gives learners the opportunity to develop and apply the skills of critiquing and editing in a collaborative online environment. It explores how 'critical friends' can enrich others' writing ability and further their own insights into the processes of writing.

Learning outcomes

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• ​What is a critical friend
• Practical strategies for overcoming the blank page
• The essential elements of writing, including plot, character, setting etc
• Models of genres and forms of writing and how these work with the idea of critical friendship
• Critical and cultural theories and using these to enrich writing
• Developing peer feedback and self-editing skills
• Graduate Attribute: Communication Skills - Verbal Communication
• Graduate Attribute: Communication Skills - Communicating using different media
• Graduate Attribute: Teamwork Skills - Collaboration and negotiation
• Graduate Attribute: Teamwork Skills - Teamwork roles and processes
• Graduate Attribute: Digital Literacies  - Technical literacy