Writing Studies at Waikato offers a writing-intensive learning experience that will enable you to grow as a writer no matter where your interest lies. It will give you the research skills needed to write convincingly about the past, or create a vivid sense of the contemporary world. It will develop the reading and analytical skills essential for effective writing.
You can structure your Writing Studies programme to suit your interests and needs. There are papers offered in:
- Historical fiction
- Short fiction
- Poetry
- Creative writing
- Literary non-fiction, including food writing
- Life writing
- Travel writing
- Digital story-telling
- Business communication
- Professional speaking and speech writing
- Public relations writing
- The philosophy of language and communication
- Understanding the requirements of specific audiences and readers
- Theories of reading
- Academic writing and research.
Writing Studies graduates seek employment opportunities working for newspapers and magazines, central and local government, schools, the media, theatres and publishing houses. Writing Studies also lends itself to a freelance career.
Career opportunities
- Copy Writer
- Digital and Broadcast Media Writer
- Journalist
- Literary Non-Fiction Writer
- Public Relations Practitioner
- Report Writer
- Speech Writer
- Teacher
Qualifications
Study Writing Studies in any of these qualifications
Papers
Papers available within this subject
100 level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ARTSC110 | Old Worlds - New Worlds | 18A (Hamilton) |
| This multi-disciplinary paper offers students a rich context in which to develop arts-based reading, writing and research skills. It is structured around stories of cultural encounter and journeys through place and time, and focuses on a variety of printed and electronic texts, moving and still images, and sound. The paper is deliv... | ||
| ARTSC111 | Social Science Theory and Action | 18B (Hamilton) & 18B (Tauranga) |
| This paper introduces University of Waikato social scientists as researchers. Each presenters research will be discussed to demonstrate how it illustrates key themes of the social sciences and their specific disciplines. | ||
| ENGLI100 | Telling the Story | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the deep stories which are at the core of the English literary tradition and the wider Western canon, with examples from the poems of Keats to Star Wars IV: A New Hope. | ||
| ENGLI113 | English.Confidence | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the structure of the English language and, by linking structure to practical application, offers support for student writing. This can be a useful preparatory paper for language, linguistics and creative writing papers. | ||
| LLTED100 | Writing for University Purposes | 18A (Hamilton), 18A (Online), 18A (Tauranga), 18B (Hamilton) & 18B (Online) |
| This paper supports students to develop an understanding of the expectations of writing at university, and to develop an awareness of what constitutes quality writing in the context of university disciplines. Students engage in analysing how effective texts are written and they analyse their own. Students are introduced to writing ... | ||
200 level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ENGLI201 | Genre Studies: Tropes and Techniques | 18A (Hamilton) |
| This paper is an introductory study of specific literary forms, in particular the tropes and techniques of either comedy or tragedy. The focus will vary from year to year. | ||
| LINGS202 | Exploring English: From Grammar to Discourse | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper presents a hands-on introduction to the grammar of English, paying special attention to the syntactic components involved, as well as their strong connection to discourse. | ||
| PUBRL204 | Contemporary Public Relations Writing | 18A (Hamilton) |
| Modern communications professionals write to represent organisations across many different audiences, purposes and contexts. PUBRL204 teaches students to select and use a range of genres from established media to emerging digital platforms. | ||
| WRITE201 | Applied Writing: Food Writing | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper uses writing about food, including recipes, memoirs, restaurant reviews and researched food writing, as the primary materials in a learning experience with an intensive applied writing focus. | ||
| WRITE202 | Creative Writing: Voice and Image | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This course explores the basic elements of imaginative writing - image and voice - concentrating the students attention on the central writing practices of seeing and saying. | ||
| WRITE203 | Special Topic: Inspiring Work | 18T (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the concept of inspiration as it applies to creative writing, and enables students to develop their writing skills through a range of creative exercises and workshop activities. | ||
| WRITE204 | Writing Historical Fiction | 18T (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines how historical research relates to and can work profitably with the creative imagination, exploring genres from social realist historical novels to historical fantasy. | ||
| WRITE205 | Writing for the Screen | 18A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores key concepts in writing for the screen and develops practical skills in the application of these concepts. The paper is organised around four main topic areas: concepts, characters, structures, and scenes/sequences. | ||
300 level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ALED325 | The Teacher as Writer | 18S (Block) |
| This paper encourages teachers to think of themselves as writers, while offering them a range of perspectives to think about. They engage in writing as an aspect of their professional practice. | ||
| ENGL314 | Creative Writing: Creative Non-Fiction | 18B (Hamilton) |
| An intensive writing workshop focused on creative non-fiction. Students will develop skills in a variety of genres through discussion of course readings, workshop exercises and critique of work in progress. | ||
| ENGL316 | Literary Theory | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| ESLA300 | Academic Research Writing: An Introduction | 18A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides an introduction to academic research methodologies and writing for students for whom English is an additional language. | ||
| LING304 | Sociolinguistics | 18B (Hamilton) |
| The major methods and principles of sociolinguistic investigation. The study of accents and dialects; language variation; the relationship between language and education, language and sex; social codes; language attitudes. | ||
| MCOM332 | Professional and Public Relations Writing | 18A (Hamilton) & 18A (Tauranga) |
| This paper focuses on the theory and practice of written communication in public relations and other professional contexts. Students learn to design, write and edit a portfolio of documents, including a brochure, an annual report narrative, and a newsletter. | ||
| SCIE300 | Science Communication | 18T (Hamilton) |
| Students will investigate contemporary scientific topics; learning to source relevant information, assess its validity, draw conclusions and communicate their findings to a non-scientific audience. | ||
| SMST309 | Propaganda and Advertising | 18B (Hamilton) |
| In this paper, students will develop a framework for analysing instances of propaganda, advertising and public information in order to gain a critical understanding of their usage in commercial and political contexts, as well as focusing on contemporary social media. | ||
| THST390 | Directed Study | 18A (Hamilton) & 18B (Hamilton) |
| Students may nominate a field of study and proceed to cover it by their own reading and research under the personal direction of an appropriate staff member. Note: Admission is subject to the availability of supervision and is at the discretion of the programme convenor. | ||
| WRIT391 | Writing Project | 18A (Hamilton) & 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper involves an independent but guided writing project. | ||
| WRIT396 | Work Placement | 18C (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students to refine their writing skills in a professional workplace environment. | ||
Prescriptions for the GradCert(WritSt) and GradDip(WritSt)
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Writing Studies at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Office.
Level 9
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| CWRT900 | Creative Writing PhD Thesis | 18C (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
Subject links
Subject Requirements
Writing Studies is available as a major for the BA. Writing Studies may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.
To complete a major in Writing Studies, students must gain 120 points above 100 level in Writing Studies, including ENGL215, WRIT391, 20 points at 300 level from ENGL papers listed for the Writing Studies major, and at least 20 further points in Writing Studies above 200 level.
To complete a supporting subject in Writing Studies, students must gain 70 points in Writing Studies, including ENGL215 and at least 20 further points above 100 level.
Documents
Contacts
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4922
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: engl-fass@waikato.ac.nz