CRWT30030 Travel Writing

Academic Year 2023/2024

This elective is an introductory course to travel writing. Participants will get the opportunity to
explore the genre in all its elements. It is suited to a broad range of students, including those who
are considering the possibility of a career in travel writing, those who wish to build up journalistic
skills in associated careers such that of a foreign correspondent, those who are just interested in
recording their own travel experiences, those who wish to prepare entries for travel writing
competitions, such as the Maeve Binchy Travel Award, administered by the School of English, Drama
and Film at UCD. Students will be addressed by a travel editor of a national newspaper and / or a
professional travel writer during the course.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Students will

 Acquire a working knowledge of the different types of travel writing, together with the conventions associated with each
 Become familiar with the publishing outlets for travel articles and essays
 Develop an understanding of the ethics and etiquette of travelling and travel-writing
 Learn different and imaginative ways of recording their own travel experiences
 Get an insight into how online media and blogging are impacting on travel writing
 Be introduced to the work of some of the great travel writers of our time
 Explore ways of pitching their travel writing to journals as well as formatting it for competition entry.

Indicative Module Content:

Course is a mix of creative and practical teaching. Students will learn how to write a compelling opening, how to structure a travel narrative, composing endings and editing. They will also study voice, character, dialogue, tenses, tone, style and modulation.
The work of great travel writers is also examined.
On the practical side, students are taught how to get published, pitching to editors, digital content creation, social media and marketing. The ethics of travel writing is also covered.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Specified Learning Activities

52
Autonomous Student Learning

36
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Group work; active-task-based learning; practical writing; reflective learning; presentations. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Travel Writing (ENG31510)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Portfolio: < Description >Portfolio comprises 8 written assignments including a book review, an opinion piece, character study, short essays and critical evaluation and summary of material taught in the module. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70
Continuous Assessment: < Description Students are expected to participate in and contribute to group discussion. We do written exercises and a short group project during the classes; students share and discuss their work. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Seminar Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn
      
Spring
      
Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Seminar Offering 2 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Spring