MA in Creative Writing assessments
Assessment methods throughout the course are designed to help you develop your confidence and craft as a writer.
Assessment during your MA in Creative Writing is an ongoing process and will take different forms. These can include tutor-facilitated group discussions, individual tutorials or peer critiques (formative assessment).
Formative assessment can also include ‘challenge activities’ and ‘reflections’ that are embedded into each week’s online content.
Assessment methods are tailored specifically for each module and will reflect their particular aims and learning outcomes.
Naturally, feedback plays a key role in your assessments. You'll receive detailed feedback from your tutor on each of your summative assessments.
Assessment methods for individual modules:
The Writer's Craft 
Formative assessments:
- A weekly writing exercise that engenders peer feedback
- Several writing exercises that engender tutor feedback
Summative assessments:
- Critical and Creative Response (1,000 words maximum). Provide examples of crafting skills in a writer that have interested you, and then provide a short writing sample that utilises those techniques in your own creative work.
- Prose Portfolio (3,500 words maximum). Produce a portfolio comprising one or two pieces of original prose.
- Commentary (750 words maximum). Describe your ambitions and intent for your Prose Portfolio.
Writing the Short Story
Formative assessments:
- A weekly writing exercise that engenders peer feedback
- Several writing exercises that engender tutor feedback
Summative assessments:
- Critical and Creative Response (1,000 words maximum). Provide examples of crafting skills in a short story that have interested you, and then provide a short writing sample that utilises those techniques in your own creative work.
- Short Story Portfolio (3,500 words maximum). Produce a portfolio comprising one or two short stories.
- Commentary (750 words maximum). Describe your ambitions and intent for your Short Story Portfolio.
Writing from Life
Formative assessments:
- A weekly writing exercise that engenders peer feedback
- Several writing exercises that engender tutor feedback
Summative assessments:
- Critical and Creative Response (1,000 words maximum). Provide examples of crafting skills in a non-fiction writer that have interested you, and then provide a short writing sample that utilises those techniques in your own creative work.
- Narrative Nonfiction Portfolio (3,500 words maximum). Produce a portfolio comprising one or two pieces of original prose in the form of narrative nonfiction.
- Commentary (750 words maximum). Describe your ambitions and intent for your Narrative Nonfiction Portfolio.
Writing the Novel
Formative assessments:
- A weekly writing exercise that engenders peer feedback
- Several writing exercises that engender tutor feedback
Summative assessments:
- Critical and Creative Response (1,000 words maximum). Provide examples of crafting skills in a novelist that have interested you, and then provide a short writing sample that utilises those techniques in your own creative work.
- Excerpt(s) of a Novel (3,500 words maximum). Produce the original opening excerpt(s) of a novel.
- Commentary (750 words maximum). Describe your ambitions and intent for your Excerpt(s) of a Novel.
The Writer's Portfolio
Formative assessments:
- Peer feedback on portfolio work in progress
- Individual supervision sessions
- Writing Plan (1,000 words maximum). Produce a detailed plan for your final portfolio of prose work, including writing challenges, a synopsis of the work, and an annotated bibliography.
Summative assessments:
- Prose Portfolio (12,000 words maximum). Produce a portfolio of prose pieces, one complete and extended work, or the opening chapters of a piece of long form prose.
- Commentary (2,000 words maximum). Describe your ambitions and intent for your Prose Portfolio.