Are the English courses in TCD just reading.?

moosemann0001

Hi I was just wondering If the English courses in TCD are mainly reading novels and then writing essays on them? Or is there some element of creative writing involved, because that's my favorite part of English.! I'm only going into 5th year and don't really know what I want to do with my life but in sort of leaning towards being an author, would TCD be the best place for this? Thanks so much.

Ash_M

If you take English TSM, it's English Literature, which is yes, reading texts and writing essays/doing exams on them. Single Honours is English Studies, which does a slightly broader range (I think there was a module on like analysing poetry and stuff, and they do Old English..) but creative writing isn't really a subject in college. There are opportunities to do creative writing through societies and such I believe, and there's a broad curriculum module afaik... And also in my personal experience, studying English has made my own writing better. (I'm English TSM)

gutenberg

Most English degrees in Ireland afaik are literature-based, with perhaps one or two creative writing modules included.

There would be an option to perhaps do a Master's in creative writing when you've done your primary degree? I know UCD offer such a course; alternatively, if you still enjoyed the literature material, you could keep up your creative writing by getting involved in Icarus or the Literary Society while studying English?

moosemann0001

gutenberg wrote: »

Most English degrees in Ireland afaik are literature-based, with perhaps one or two creative writing modules included.

There would be an option to perhaps do a Master's in creative writing when you've done your primary degree? I know UCD offer such a course; alternatively, if you still enjoyed the literature material, you could keep up your creative writing by getting involved in Icarus or the Literary Society while studying English?

Yeah ok thanks alot.!

jarock

While TCD might not offer creative writing modules, St.Patricks College, Drumcondra does. The English department hosts a creative project in the first year which students can do anything from writing plays, poems, short stories, painting etc. and in the second and third years B.A.s have the option of doing a module on creative writing with the writer in Residence. I participated in this and found it to be an enlightening module that can help in developing your creative writing skills.

Ravelleman

Just because there are no specific ´composition´ classes in TCD´s English course doesn´t mean that your writing can´t be creative. That´s one of the fundamental aims of any liberal arts course - ensuring that graduates can and do think and write and solve probles creatively.

If you´re thinking about becoming an author, English might not even be the course for you. Think about how many successful authors actually studied in university, let alone English literature courses.

The most interesting authors and journalists are, in my view, the ones who didn´t just study English or journalism; they are the ones who studies something else - philosophy, languages, history and beyond -which allow them to expand their horizons, experience new things and inform their understanding of life. Ultimately it doesn´t matter if you´ve studied various styles of literature or journalism because if you have nothing interesting to say, no one will listen to you.

Studying arts in college is as much about the process as the result so don´t get too hung up on course content. Even if you study French and Theology you can write just as much as you like. And maybe, just maybe you´ll be successful!