The fundamental objectives of this course are to encourage students to take their own writing seriously, to practice their craft and polish their skills in an environment conducive to growth and development, and to nurture constructive criticism; all within the context of modern Irish fiction including Northern Irish fiction. In this course we examine some of the approaches and methods used by contemporary Irish novelists and short story writers. The emphasis is on the practicalities and practice of writing. The imagination responds enthusiastically to regular and focused exercise. Students are encouraged to develop the habit of writing regularly and effectively. Each weekly session involves a short presentation by the tutor on the topic of the week, a presentation by a student on a prescribed topic, an open forum for discussion, creative writing exercises focusing on the topic of the day with an emphasis on experimentation, spontaneity and possibility. Finally, in the latter half of each session, a creative writing workshop gives students a number of opportunities to give and receive considered and constructive criticism of their own writing.
Attendance policy:
Because IES Abroad courses are designed to take advantage of the unique contribution of the instruction and the lecture/discussion format, regular class attendance is mandatory. Any missed class, without a legitimate reason will be reflected in the final grade. A legitimate reason would include: documented illness or family bereavement. Travel, (including travel delays) is not a legitimate reason.
Method of presentation:
Presentations by tutor and students, creative writing exercises, discussion sessions, and creative writing workshops
Required work and form of assessment:
Verbal participation (20%); individual presentations (15%); course journal of 1,500 words in workbook form (25%); final assessment of 3,000 words (40%)
content:
1. Session 1: Introduction
The group will meet formally for the first time. Members will be encouraged to introduce themselves, share their taste in reading, and their experiences of writing. To begin, we will discuss the objectives of the course, examine the syllabus, and consider the fundamental question: why write? The benefits of writing regularly and of developing healthy writing habits will be emphasized. These include the importance of awareness, the subtlety of inspiration, the significance of making time for meditation and reflection, the need for discipline, and the value of our indispensable companion, the pocket
notebook.
2. Session 2
Reading: Albert Knobb by George Moore.
Student presentation on Albert Knobb. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
3. Session 3
Reading: Araby and The Dead by James Joyce.
Student presentation on Araby and The Dead. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
4. Session 4
Reading: Guests of the Nation by Frank O’Connor. Student presentation on Guests of the Nation.
The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
5. Session 5
Reading: Sarah by Mary Lavin & The Poteen Maker by Michael McLaverty.
Student presentation on Sarah and The Poteen Maker. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our
constructive response to the student submission of the week.
6. Session 6
Reading: From an Abandoned Work and The Image by Samuel Beckett.
Student presentations on From an Abandoned Work and The Image. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
7. Session 7
Reading: The Pilgrims by Benedict Kiely & The Irish Revel by Edna O’Brien.
Student presentation on The Pilgrims and The Irish Revel. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
8. Session 8
Reading: The Country Funeral by John McGahern.
Student presentations on The Country Funeral. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive
response to the student submission of the week.
9. Session 9
Reading: Selected stories by Mary O’Donnell.
Student presentation on the selected stories of the week. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
10. Session 10
Reading: Playboy and Rainbows at Midnight by Sean O’Reilly.
Student presentation on Playboy and Rainbows at Midnight. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
11. Session 11
Reading: Selected stories by Claire Keegan and Philip Ó Ceallaigh.
Student presentation on the selected stories of the week. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our
constructive response to the student submission of the week.
12. Final Session
Reading: Chosen extracts from prescribed texts and student writings.
In the first half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week. The latter half of the final session of this course will be dedicated to readings. Each member of the group will have selected and will read an extract from their favorite piece of prescribed reading. A final reading of their own work from each member of the group will conclude this session and bring the course to a close.
Required readings:
Excerpts from the following collections of short stories:
Joyce, James. Dubliners, London: Penguin Classics, 2000.
Keegan, Claire. Walk the Blue Fields. London: Faber and Faber, 2007.
McLaverty, Michael. Collected Short Stories. Belfast: Blackstaff Press, 2002.
McGahern, John. Creature of the Earth: New and Selected Stories. London: Faber and Faber, 2006. Ó Ceallaigh, Philip. Notes from a Turkish Whorehouse. London: Penguin, 2007.
O’Donnell, Mary. Storm over Belfast. Dublin: New Island Books, 2008.
O’Reilly, Sean. Curfew and other stories. London: Faber and Faber, 2000.
Toibin, Colm. The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction. London: Penguin Books, 2000.
Trevor, William. The Hill Bachelors. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
Trevor, William, ed. The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories. London: Oxford University Press, 1989. Turner, Mark. The Literary Mind: The Origins of Thought and Language. New York: Oxford University
Press, 1996.
Walsh, Caroline, ed. Arrows in Flight: Short Stories from a New Ireland. Great Britain: Scribner Town
House Publishers, 2002.
Recommended readings:
Bourke, Angela et al ed. The Field Day Anthology of Irish Literature: Irish Women’s Writing and
Traditions (volume 5). Cork: Corke University Press, 2002.
Deane, Seamus ed. The Field Day Anthology of Irish Literature (volume 3). London: Faber and Faber. O’Connor, Frank. The Lonely Voice: a Study of the Short Story. New Jersey: Melville House Publishing,
2004.
The fundamental objectives of this course are to encourage students to take their own writing seriously, to practice their craft and polish their skills in an environment conducive to growth and development, and to nurture constructive criticism; all within the context of modern Irish fiction including Northern Irish fiction. In this course we examine some of the approaches and methods used by contemporary Irish novelists and short story writers. The emphasis is on the practicalities and practice of writing. The imagination responds enthusiastically to regular and focused exercise. Students are encouraged to develop the habit of writing regularly and effectively. Each weekly session involves a short presentation by the tutor on the topic of the week, a presentation by a student on a prescribed topic, an open forum for discussion, creative writing exercises focusing on the topic of the day with an emphasis on experimentation, spontaneity and possibility. Finally, in the latter half of each session, a creative writing workshop gives students a number of opportunities to give and receive considered and constructive criticism of their own writing.
Because IES Abroad courses are designed to take advantage of the unique contribution of the instruction and the lecture/discussion format, regular class attendance is mandatory. Any missed class, without a legitimate reason will be reflected in the final grade. A legitimate reason would include: documented illness or family bereavement. Travel, (including travel delays) is not a legitimate reason.
Presentations by tutor and students, creative writing exercises, discussion sessions, and creative writing workshops
Verbal participation (20%); individual presentations (15%); course journal of 1,500 words in workbook form (25%); final assessment of 3,000 words (40%)
1. Session 1: Introduction
The group will meet formally for the first time. Members will be encouraged to introduce themselves, share their taste in reading, and their experiences of writing. To begin, we will discuss the objectives of the course, examine the syllabus, and consider the fundamental question: why write? The benefits of writing regularly and of developing healthy writing habits will be emphasized. These include the importance of awareness, the subtlety of inspiration, the significance of making time for meditation and reflection, the need for discipline, and the value of our indispensable companion, the pocket
notebook.
2. Session 2
Reading: Albert Knobb by George Moore.
Student presentation on Albert Knobb. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
3. Session 3
Reading: Araby and The Dead by James Joyce.
Student presentation on Araby and The Dead. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
4. Session 4
Reading: Guests of the Nation by Frank O’Connor. Student presentation on Guests of the Nation.
The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
5. Session 5
Reading: Sarah by Mary Lavin & The Poteen Maker by Michael McLaverty.
Student presentation on Sarah and The Poteen Maker. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our
constructive response to the student submission of the week.
6. Session 6
Reading: From an Abandoned Work and The Image by Samuel Beckett.
Student presentations on From an Abandoned Work and The Image. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
7. Session 7
Reading: The Pilgrims by Benedict Kiely & The Irish Revel by Edna O’Brien.
Student presentation on The Pilgrims and The Irish Revel. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
8. Session 8
Reading: The Country Funeral by John McGahern.
Student presentations on The Country Funeral. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive
response to the student submission of the week.
9. Session 9
Reading: Selected stories by Mary O’Donnell.
Student presentation on the selected stories of the week. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
10. Session 10
Reading: Playboy and Rainbows at Midnight by Sean O’Reilly.
Student presentation on Playboy and Rainbows at Midnight. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week.
11. Session 11
Reading: Selected stories by Claire Keegan and Philip Ó Ceallaigh.
Student presentation on the selected stories of the week. The tutor’s presentation, subsequent discussion and creative writing exercises will follow. In the latter half of the session we will share our
constructive response to the student submission of the week.
12. Final Session
Reading: Chosen extracts from prescribed texts and student writings.
In the first half of the session we will share our constructive response to the student submission of the week. The latter half of the final session of this course will be dedicated to readings. Each member of the group will have selected and will read an extract from their favorite piece of prescribed reading. A final reading of their own work from each member of the group will conclude this session and bring the course to a close.
Excerpts from the following collections of short stories:
Joyce, James. Dubliners, London: Penguin Classics, 2000.
Keegan, Claire. Walk the Blue Fields. London: Faber and Faber, 2007.
McLaverty, Michael. Collected Short Stories. Belfast: Blackstaff Press, 2002.
McGahern, John. Creature of the Earth: New and Selected Stories. London: Faber and Faber, 2006. Ó Ceallaigh, Philip. Notes from a Turkish Whorehouse. London: Penguin, 2007.
O’Donnell, Mary. Storm over Belfast. Dublin: New Island Books, 2008.
O’Reilly, Sean. Curfew and other stories. London: Faber and Faber, 2000.
Toibin, Colm. The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction. London: Penguin Books, 2000.
Trevor, William. The Hill Bachelors. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
Trevor, William, ed. The Oxford Book of Irish Short Stories. London: Oxford University Press, 1989. Turner, Mark. The Literary Mind: The Origins of Thought and Language. New York: Oxford University
Press, 1996.
Walsh, Caroline, ed. Arrows in Flight: Short Stories from a New Ireland. Great Britain: Scribner Town
House Publishers, 2002.
Bourke, Angela et al ed. The Field Day Anthology of Irish Literature: Irish Women’s Writing and
Traditions (volume 5). Cork: Corke University Press, 2002.
Deane, Seamus ed. The Field Day Anthology of Irish Literature (volume 3). London: Faber and Faber. O’Connor, Frank. The Lonely Voice: a Study of the Short Story. New Jersey: Melville House Publishing,
2004.
Updated 2/09