- Mon, 05/09/2011 - 17:22
Hi everyone, I just received my cd's, workbook and study guide. I was reading through the letter that came with the delivery and was wondering if anybody knows if there is an actual exam at the end of the course, if so where will it be held?
Paula x
Hi, Paula! I'm doing A215, too. The assessment is not very clear, is it? I've just re-read the letter that came with my stuff this morning and it does appear that there is an EMA - see the bottom of page one. It says the fifth TMA must be completed when you are also preparing for the EMA. As to where the exam takes place I've no idea - can anyone help? I'd also like to know when the first TMA has to be in as I will be away for the first week of the course.
I got the impression there was a project at the end rather than a traditional type exam, but like you, not v clear how this all works exactly.
Hi Joy,
Seems we can't access the info online until the 21st Sept, I am terrible under exam pressure and the sooner I know what's expected of me the better so I can prepare myself.
Hi Stephanie,
It seems a tad confusing, the letter seems to indicate that there is an exam but online info points towards a project. Hopefully some light can be shed on the subject.
I will try to clarify this for you tomorrow.
Scott
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Member of the Platform team
(@InScottLand)
Thanks for looking into it Scott
I've put in call about the query but the main three contacts don't appear to be around today. I will update once I get a reply to my email.
Scott
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Member of the Platform team
(@InScottLand)
Hi all, I can confirm that there is no exam. Best of luck all.
Scott
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Member of the Platform team
(@InScottLand)
Thanks for finding out, Scott.
Thanks Scott
Greetings all. Just sent off Registration for A215.
Is this the main forum for this course?
Mike
Hi Mike
No, this isn't the main forum for the course, that forum will open when the course starts or shortly before and you'll be able to access it from StudentHome. But this forum will remain open - before, during and after your course - so you can chat with those who are studying with you, those who are thinking of doing A215 or even those who have already completed it and may have some tips.
Hope that helps, Robyn
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Robyn Bateman (member of the Platform team)
Many thanks Robyn. Looking forward to getting started.
Thanks so much for your help, Scott.
A huge relief for me :)
I did A215 in 2009-2010. The EMA is a marked assessment so no Exam.
Top tips:
Don't neglect the commentary element of your TMA's. It is good for you personally, in that you reflect on how you created the TMA, and it is (from memory) a good part of your overall marks.
Give yourself 'walk away' time. A couple of my pieces suffered from me writing them right up to the last minute. When I managed to build in time to draft, then leave for a day or so, then go back, I found the quality of the final piece improved. It's just easier to spot bloopers, repitition or clunky lines when I was coming back to them fresh.
An active forum is vital so when the book or your tutor says post something online.... do it. Don't be nervous about its reception. If you get stuck with a poorly attended forum then go to the general A215 forums. I was lucky, my group forum was pretty active but I noticed on the general forums that not everyone was so lucky, so they supported one another there.
DO critique others work - it helps you look critically (in a positive sense) at your own.
And finally.... MOST IMPORTANT THIS BIT..... be prepared to be surprised and delighted at what you are good at and what you enjoy writing about. I was terrified of poetry and just hated some of the stuff where poets talk about the 'act of creation' but ended up loving the final pieces. Thought life-writing would be a piece of cake - yikes! turgid rubbish.... ah well :D
Good luck!!!!! Enjoy.....
Thanks for the tips, Mary. Always good to learn from the experience of others.
Hi there, it took me some time (and a bit of confidence) to enrol on A215 but I now appear to be 'champing at the bit'. I am still waiting for my stuff to arrive. Does anyone have the schedule yet? The reason I ask is that I am on holiday for three weeks in November and need to plan my work. If the schedule hasn't been published yet, can anyone who has previously done the course (ie. last year) give me an idea of the timing/assessment dates throughout the year? Thanks in advance!
Hi all, I'm signed up for this as well. I'm now waiting on my study pack to arrive. The poor old postman is almost getting his hand bitten off every morning with all the anticipation.
Sharon so is mine, but that is for an Income Tax rebate cheque ;-))
Which has now arrived !
lol @ Michael! I have my study pack, I think we find out about TMA's and dates etc when we can access the info online from the 21st? Or perhaps when we are assigned our tutor groups.
Mary thanks for your input, really helpful to have tips from someone who has already been there :)
Hi,
For those of you like me who have registered at the last minute before the deadline or are just waiting for materials may I suggest you could try the OpenLearn Write What You Know course which is an extract from A215.
It can be found at:
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=397185
I tried it before signing up for the main course.
Regards, Iain
Hi all! Just thought I'd pop my head in as I've just registered too and am awaiting my materials with much impatience!!
Anyone here from the Milton Keynes area?
Suzy
Hi Suzy
No not Milton Keynes a lot further South, off the bottom of England
Isle of Wight
Mike
Crikey I thought I was south with Sussex lol
No, you're North. It's the North / South divide
Ha! That's the first time I've been classified as being up North!
Is anyone still waiting for their study pack?
Not arrived yet, but my registration went in after the cut off date. Have had a letter of confirmation that I have the course this morning.
Mike
Mike,
My confirmation email arrived on the 10th and the materials arrived yesterday, so hopefully they should arrive for you soon.
Iain
Thanks Iain, will let you know when it arrives.
Been thinking about the course for a long time but it took even longer to do something about it
Nearly missed the boat!
Mike
Just thought I'd say 'hi' - I'm very excited, albeit somewhat tentative about this course because it's a level 2 and I've only done one 10 point level course before at the OU which was NOT in creative writing. It's a pity the OU don't have a 30 or 60 point level 1 in writing first as it is a big leap, especially for mature students, and I'm sure some won't take that leap. (I know there's a 10 pointer but that's not quite the same.) But hey ho .... best foot forward and all that.
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