Unit information: Writing as Inquiry in 2015/16

Unit name	Writing as Inquiry
Unit code	EDUCD0097
Credit points	20
Level of study	D/8
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Reed
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Narrative Inquiry
Co-requisites	Understanding Educational Research, Preparation for Dissertation
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is designed to give participants a critical awareness of writing as a research method. The unit will explore, review and practice creative, evocative, poetic, experimental and engaging writing strategies as legitimate re-search sites. Fictionalised and creative research accounts, layered accounts, and poetic narratives will be included as examples within a range of written re-presentation methods. There will be opportunities to participate in critical reading groups and writers workshops and improve writing strategies and critical capacities.

Intended Learning Outcomes

It is anticipated that upon completion of this unit participants will have:

• Developed a knowledge and understanding of writing as a method of inquiry and of narrative ethics and aesthetics
• Identified, evaluated and experimented with a range of writing strategies in terms of research process and progress as well as ‘product’
• Demonstrated and situated their own developing writing style(s)

Teaching Information

Teaching and learning opportunities will include presentations, seminars, critical reading groups and creative writing workshops.

Assessment Information

A written or multimodal assignment equivalent to 4000 words will be required.

Reading and References

1. Cixous, H (2004) The Writing Notebooks of Helene Cixous, London: Continuum

2. Clough, P (2002) Narratives and Fictions in Educational Research. Buckingham: Open University Press

3. Etherington, K (2002) Narrative ideas and stories in disability, in K.Etherington (Ed) Rehabilitation counselling in physical and mental health, London: Jessica Kingsley

4. Richardson, L &St Pierre, E (2005 3rd ed) Writing: A method of inquiry, in: NK Denzin &YS Lincoln (Eds) Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

5. Speedy, J (2008) Crossing the borders between fiction and researching: Narrative Inquiry and Psychotherapy, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan

6. Sparkes, A. (2002) Telling Tales in Sport &Physical Activity: A Qualitative Journey. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics Press