Course overview
This course is a practical introduction to travel writing through history and practice. It covers ways to begin and develop a sustained and reflective travel writing practice, including revision and editing. Students will workshop their own and other students' work, in order to develop the capacity to revise and self-edit. It also considers the ethics of travel and tourism from the context of a range of readings. The course consists of a series of exercises designed to develop aspects of the travel writer's craft and a selection of connected readings from classical and contemporary travel writing in a range of genres, styles and techniques. Students will write a final travel piece, which will include a reflective exegesis on their practice.
Course learning outcomes
- Introduce students to a range of travel writing practices and genres
- Introduce students to ways of reading, talking and thinking about travel writing
- Develop students’ capacity to investigate contemporary travel writing contexts (social, historical, political, cultural)
- Develop students’ awareness of the nexus between reading and writing works of travel writing
- Develop students’ ability to evaluate and apply critical material pertaining to travel writing
- Develop students’ ability to produce travel writing demonstrating a range of contemporary techniques and styles
- Develop students’ ability to reflect upon their own work in the context of travel writing by established writers
- Develop students’ ability to confidently, thoughtfully and respectfully express their ideas to their peers
- Develop students’ confidence to share work in progress with peers, giving and receiving constructive criticism
- Develop students’ editing skills
- Develop students’ teamwork skills