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Arts with Creative Writing

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  • 16-06-2009 9:33pm
    #1
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭


    Hi, I'm thinking of coming to Galway next year to do the Arts degree with Creative Writing. I was just wondering if anyone had any information on it? What kind of subjects are covered? What are the exams like/are there exams? Do you work in groups or is it more individual work? Is there a lot of focus on any particular area of creative writing e.g. poetry or short stories or can you pick what style of writing you enjoy most? Do you think the points will jump by much this year? Thanks for reading :).


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    #2
    da_shivsta
    Registered Users Posts: 197 ✭✭da_shivsta


    Well none of the Connect subjects have exams, grades are purely based on continuous assessment.
    That's all I can tell you, sorry :( Maybe try the NUIG website..Just do a search for Connect or Arts with Creative Writing or something...


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    #3
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    Really? So your grade would be based on essays and stuff? That would be brilliant, I was worried about having to come up with stuff under exam pressure (my brain won't work when I'm stressed :rolleyes:). I've looked it up already on the website and asked my career guidance teacher about it, but I was just hoping to hear from someone who'd taken it. Thanks for replying :).


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    #4
    da_shivsta
    Registered Users Posts: 197 ✭✭da_shivsta


    I did Arts with Women's Studies which is another of the Connect subjects... All of our work is continuous assessment and we were told that it's the same for all the other Connect subjects.... No prob, sorry I couldn't be of more help... Any more q's I might be able to help with just ask....


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    #5
    WiseMona
    Registered Users Posts: 80 ✭✭WiseMona


    beccabeccabecca wrote: »
    Hi, I'm thinking of coming to Galway next year to do the Arts degree with Creative Writing. I was just wondering if anyone had any information on it? What kind of subjects are covered? What are the exams like/are there exams? Do you work in groups or is it more individual work? Is there a lot of focus on any particular area of creative writing e.g. poetry or short stories or can you pick what style of writing you enjoy most? Do you think the points will jump by much this year? Thanks for reading :).

    I just got accepted to NUIG - BA Connect - Creative Writing (mature). I will keep you posted on how it goes, but I am certain it is the right course for me.


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    #6
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    Congratulations on getting your place :). I have to wait until Monday to see if I got in or not, but if all goes well I'll be there in September :).


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    #7
    Snas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38 ✭Snas


    Hi sorry to bring up an old thread but has anyone got any more info on this course?


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    #8
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    Hey :).

    I ended up deciding to take this course, and I LOVE it. It's hard work and can be challenging at times, but if you like writing it's well worth it.

    There are less than twenty people in the class, so it's easy to get to know each other well and to get extra help if you're stuck on something.

    In September, we started off with fiction writing (short stories, no poetry). We had two classes per week, and two written assignments for these classes as well as pieces to read and to discuss in class. As the semester progressed, we had an extra class where visiting writers would come in to talk to us about their work. We would then have to write a review on their visits.This second semester we're covering creative non-fiction and essays.

    The lecturers are tough but for the most part fair. They expect a lot from you but in return give you good feedback and guidance. The grades for each class are broken down into 40% class participation and 60% based on the assignments you turn in.

    The only negative thing I have to say about the course really is the difficulties that arise if you are taking a language. I'm planning on taking two, and at the moment it's proving to be a bit of a disaster administration-wise. Third year in the BA Connect is meant to be spent solely focusing on your Connect subject (Creative Writing). However, third year is also the Erasmus year for people taking languages. So far I've only spoken with the head of Creative Writing, but he seems happy enough to allow for a project to be completed rather than a work placement, leaving me free to go abroad for the languages. I'm still waiting to hear if this will work from the language department's perspective.

    Other than that, I'm glad I chose this course. I wouldn't take it if you're not prepared to put a bit of work into it, but at the same time it's not something that'll take over your whole life. Just keep up with the assignments and you'll be grand :).

    If you have any other questions, let me know!


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    #9
    WiseMona
    Registered Users Posts: 80 ✭✭WiseMona


    Ditto - what BeccaBeccaBecca said ;)

    It is awesome..............go for it, and good luck!


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    #10
    Snas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38 ✭Snas


    Thanks for the replies. Not sure if I like the sound of that whole hard work thing ha. The only language I'm doing is Irish so any idea what I would be doing for 3rd year?

    Also could you give me an example of a typical assignment you could get in a class?

    Much appreciated. :)


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    #11
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    There shouldn't be any problems with Irish because as far as I know you don't have to go abroad as part of the course requirement.

    Some typical assignments:
    *Write a story showing a character's flaws.
    *Write a story in a particular voice.
    *Have a character receive a phonecall and push them into some sort of action.

    And for non-fiction:
    *Write a piece on obsession
    *Write a piece on somewhere you love
    *Write a piece on sport.

    Seeing them alone like that might make them sound kind of abstract, but you will almost always have a class based on what the assignment is asking you to write before you do it. Also, the two pieces you'll be asked to read tie in with the style of writing required in the assignment. Generally they're expected to be around 500-700 words long, but all of the lecturers agree that what they're looking for is quality over quantity.

    Hope that gives you a better idea :).


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    #12
    Snas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38 ✭Snas


    beccabeccabecca wrote: »
    There shouldn't be any problems with Irish because as far as I know you don't have to go abroad as part of the course requirement.

    Some typical assignments:
    *Write a story showing a character's flaws.
    *Write a story in a particular voice.
    *Have a character receive a phonecall and push them into some sort of action.

    And for non-fiction:
    *Write a piece on obsession
    *Write a piece on somewhere you love
    *Write a piece on sport.

    Seeing them alone like that might make them sound kind of abstract, but you will almost always have a class based on what the assignment is asking you to write before you do it. Also, the two pieces you'll be asked to read tie in with the style of writing required in the assignment. Generally they're expected to be around 500-700 words long, but all of the lecturers agree that what they're looking for is quality over quantity.

    Hope that gives you a better idea :).

    Thanks a million. Is there a nice atmosphere in the class? Do you get to know your classmates? Is the workload of this combined with your other arts subjects manageable?


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    #13
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    The atmosphere is grand in class. Everyone's encouraged to have their own opinion when discussing the reading assignments. In one of our classes this semester, people read their work out and others write comments on it to give feedback. For me, it took a while to get to know the class because we only had two classes per week, but I have some good friends and would feel comfortable talking to anyone in it now.

    Creative Writing is the subject I get the most assignments in, but the work load is very easily managed. To be honest, half the time I use it as an incentive to work on my other subjects e.g. I can't start writing a piece until I've revised French grammar or whatever. Plus by having small assignments weekly, we avoid getting a massive assignment towards the end of the course and we don't have an exam. It also stops you from leaving things until the last minute and then stressing out.


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    #14
    Skykes
    Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭Skykes


    Heh, I had this down as my first choice since January, funny that I found a thread on the course!

    It really sounds like a great course and I hope I get accepted!

    Snas and Becca in particular, thank you for the detailed information!


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    #15
    Snas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38 ✭Snas


    Skykes wrote: »
    Heh, I had this down as my first choice since January, funny that I found a thread on the course!

    It really sounds like a great course and I hope I get accepted!

    Snas and Becca in particular, thank you for the detailed information!

    I might see ya there next September so! :D

    Thanks a million Becca! Can't think of any more questions right now, but I might get back to you in the future. :) Good luck with it!


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    #16
    Skykes
    Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭Skykes


    Hopefully!

    If I get in I will try and figure out who you are :P


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    #17
    teenagedream
    Registered Users Posts: 712 ✭✭✭teenagedream


    Anyone doing this course?
    Any good?


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    #18
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    Have a read of this, there's answers down towards the second half of the first page. http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055594977&highlight=arts+creative+writing. If you have any other questions, let me know. This year (second year) we're covering poetry first semester and drama/screenwriting next semester.


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    #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Out of curiousity - how long is this course? Is it the full 3 years or just the one?


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    #20
    beccabeccabecca
    Closed Accounts Posts: 50 ✭✭beccabeccabecca


    It's actually four years and runs concurrent with an Arts degree i.e. in First Year you pick three other subjects to study alongside it, then in Second Year you drop one of those three subjects (so you wind up with the same number of subjects as someone doing an ordinary Arts degree), in Third Year you focus on just Creatve Writing (and going away if you study a language just like other Erasmus students), and then in Fourth Year you finish off your other two ordinary Arts subjects.

    So basically, you'll end up with an Arts degree with a specialism (not such a big deal in Ireland, but I've been told it means something more in other countries).


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    #21
    paddykell
    Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭paddykell


    I just stumbled on this thread and I hereby resurrect it!

    I've applied for this course as number one on my CAO, but what is with the points being so high for it! I love Creative Writing more than I love my left arm (and I do really love my left arm) but I know I'll never get enough points to get into this course. But you know, we can always dream. You're all really lucky to get to do it, it sounds like a great course!:)


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    #22
    HeatherB94
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭HeatherB94


    I was hoping someone might be able to tell me the difference in Creative Writing with Arts and then Arts - Creative Writing. Sorry to be bringing up an old threat also but I've been looking at this course for about 2 years now but I'm not sure I'd be able to get the points needed for one of them, I saw that the other was lower and I was wondering what the difference was between them? Any help would be massively appreciated!


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    #23
    Dropping No Eaves
    Registered Users Posts: 178 ✭✭Dropping No Eaves


    *cough*


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    #24
    WiseMona
    Registered Users Posts: 80 ✭✭WiseMona


    If you look up BA Connect with Creative Writing at NUIG it is a 4yr undergrad where you carry three subjects instead of two. Your specialism is Creative Writing and you take third year to 'live the life of a writer' ... Sounds romantic but is hard work ..but an excellent way to figure out if you I've what it takes to sit your butt in a chair and write a book. If you choose a BA with English, you can choose a Creative Writing module .. it is good but not enough ...
    Hope this helps.
    Móna


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