The Student Experience
The Student Voice - Student essay competition 2008
The English Subject Centre’s student essay competition, run in spring 2008, was a great success, and you can read the winning entries below. In gathering first-hand experience from students we were impressed by the number and quality of essays on the set topic of:
"What makes a good English or Creative Writing lecturer?"
Together with the external assessor, we found that reading the essays gave us valuable insights into the student experience of English and the personal sacrifices, tribulations and joys of studying in higher education. The winner was Nicola Harlow from Manchester Metropolitan University.
The competition is an annual Higher Education Academy event in which all Subject Centres participate. The winner of the English Subject Centre competition goes forward to a national competition involving students from all disciplines.
Winning Entry
Nicola Harlow - Manchester Metropolitan University(109kb)
"It is the tutor's job to facilitate the kind of discussion in which errors and developmental problems can be sensitively raised as well as praise. Each student must be encouraged to contribute, not only by submitting pieces for feedback, but to the general discussion. "
Runner up
Tom Hammond - Lancaster University (48kb)
"What makes it so easy to ask Mr Fantastic for help is his approachable demeanour towards us; he really seems like he’s here to help us, rather than treating us like a distraction from his ‘proper’ research, like grumpy old Dullman does. "
Last Year's Entries
What advice would you give to students starting your course?
Read essays on this topic from our 2007 essay competition -->
