Storytelling MRes

This module allows students to outline their own needs and requirements as they begin their Master’s-level study of storytelling and narrative, as well as noting the cultural omniscience and significance of stories. Students will explore how narrative works with culture, identity, nationality, and ethnicity, and how ‘narratives’ makes sense, on an analytical level, to different readers. Key methodologies to stories, storytelling and narrative will be considered, and, by the end of the module, the students will be conversant with major critical discussions concerning ‘stories’. They will also have garnered an awareness of the importance of their own definitions of key terminology for their research, as well as the approaches necessary to for their research dissertation. The module will include, among other topics: Traditional Research Methods; Using Libraries and Archives; Writing as Research and New practices in Research Methods/Creative Writing; 

• To prepare students to design and plan a deliverable project for their critical and/or creative Research Dissertation
• To develop students' ability to present knowledge of appropriate research methods within the field of storytelling - both as a practice and a research area - in writing and through oral presentation
• To facilitate students in attaining their own understanding of key terminology and research approaches for their own critical and/or creative research into storytelling

This module offers an analysis of constructions behind the history, popular culture and theoretical understanding of stories, storytelling and narrative now, giving students the concepts of critical enquiry necessary for Master’s-level research. On this guided reading module, students will examine and critically evaluate different ways of reading and writing stories, consider the importance of cross-disciplinary conversation between critical and creative writers, while also identifying key ideas and traditions in the history of narrative studies. The module will explore how study in creative writing and critical practice has become a powerful and worthy combined discipline within the academy, offering a fusion of critical and cultural theory with storytelling. The nature of creative writing as a research methodology will be examined through discussion of the reading and the input of students, teachers and practitioners, as well as analysis of more traditional research models. The module will touch upon the following: Storytelling Practices; Narrative Studies; Community Storytelling; Producing Innovative Writing and Research; Theoretical Study and Creative Practice; Praxis and Critical Appraisal; Critical and Creative Writing Pedagogies.

• To provide training in subject-specific understanding and knowledge of the processes and techniques behind effective storytelling
• To enable students to develop a range of M-level skills for both the analysis and/or telling of stories, as well as applied specifically to the stories within their own Research Dissertation
• To develop students’ skills in the sourcing, summarising, interpretation, and critique of both fictional and non-fictional textual material to M-level
• To prepare students for all the paratextual activities involved in research and writing-up, whether editorial, bibliographical, citational, or annotational, to a high level of professional and transferrable skill

All students will produce a 28,000-word equivalent critical or creative writing dissertation (drama, prose, non-fiction options available), creative performance, or exhibition inspired in different ways by stories, narrative and storytelling. In researching their dissertations, students may spend time working in archives, libraries and other repositories. An appropriate supervisor will be assigned to each student, from either a critical or creative background, and their guidance, advice and support will be given through frequent one-to-one tutorials and email contact. The supervisor will provide considerable academic and practical assistance; however, the dissertation will be the result of the student’s own independent research.

• To further and develop students' detailed knowledge in one or more areas of specialism within the field of storytelling
• To familiarize students with a range of primary and secondary texts appropriate for their dissertation topic
• To enable the students to explore and examine critically the research base of their chosen topic
• To facilitate students in selecting and pursuing topics to produce independent critical and/or creative research