Studio details

  • Journalism Week

    APR 4 - APR 12, 2020

  • Opportunity

    Your studio outputs will be evaluated and considered for publication through Architecture Live

  • Mediums explored

    Poetry, essays, and journal articles

Aim and Objective of the course

Great writers produce lasting works of literary art. Not everyone can be a great writer. But this course can make you a better communicator for sure- to share your thoughts and ideas with the world as clearly and simply as possible. 


Framework of the course

This course is about writing advice as much as it is about engaging the learners to read and think. The framework of the course follows a simple mantra- In order to write, it is important to think; as you think for yourself it is important to read what others think; thus it is important to reflect on the big picture and then begin writing systematically . Each idea begins, pikes curiosity of the reader and finally flows into the next idea and thus concluding one chain of the thought process. 

 

Methodology followed

 The course follows a rational system of communication. What you need to communicate?, is a preface necessary before introducing the idea?, how to introduce the idea?, how to follow it with the next idea, and how to conclude the previous idea. The course will follow two parallel notes, one for the idea and one the syntax. 

Course takeaways

  • Instructions when combined with practice will lead you to up your skills of communication

  • Develop a thorough attitude towards writing. The course begins by reading, understanding multiple vantages, applying one's mind and reflecting on the case at hand and finally communicating the solution and idea in English through writing.

  • A checklist and template for beginners will be provided with the sky being the limit to your creativity as you grow

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Message from Darpana

    • How to use the course browser
  • 2

    Day 1: Read

    • Focus

    • Live Session Day 1 : Reading

    • Presentation: Fundamentals of Reading

    • Assignment 1

    • References for Reading
  • 3

    Day 2: Communicate

    • Focus

    • Live Session Day 2

    • Presentation: What is Communication? Why do we write?

    • Assignment 2

    • Reference Books
  • 4

    Day 3: Research

    • Focus

    • Live Session Day 3

    • Presentation: Write | Research

    • References: SESSION 3
  • 5

    Day 4: Write

    • Focus

    • Live Session Day 4

    • Presentation: session 4 | Writing

    • References: SESSION 4
  • 6

    Day 5: Write and Reflect

    • Focus

    • Live Session Day 5

    • Presentation: session 5 | Write and Reflect

    • Assignment 3: Exercises during Live Session

    • Assignment 4

    • Reference 1

    • Reference 2

    • Reference 3
  • 7

    Day 6: Edit

    • Focus

    • Live Session Day 4

    • Presentation: Session 6 I Edit
  • 8

    More Content for You to Explore

    • Previous AMA with Apurva Bose Dutta on Writing, Communication and Curating

    • Previous AMA on Architecture Journalism as Career with Rajesh Advani, Vertica Dvivedi and Darpana Athale

    • Future Prospects
  • 9

    The Next Step....

    • Quick Survey

Mentor

Darpana Athale

Senior Instructor

Practicing design for 25years, Darpana is the Founder Director and Principal Designer at Sarvasva Designs Pvt Ltd, and Co-founder of In.Kaa, a repository for Arts, Crafts and Design of India. An avid promoter of design thinking, she has been part of setting up of the Association of Designers of India (ADI) and the Pune Design Festival, amongst other design led initiatives.She is currently consultant to the Thinkering Campus as Chief Thinking Officer. Darpana has been into Architecture Journalism since 1999, and has been an Editorial Consultant and Columnist for magazines and newspapers. And has initiated the first Architecture Journalism course in the country since 2001. Also an educator for almost two decades, Darpana has been teaching in various architecture and design + design management schools, in Mumbai and Pune. Also a passionate traveller between worlds, she weaves stories through Design, Photography, Urban Sketching and Poetry.

Course Outline

All the sessions are conducted ONLINE from 6.30 PM - 7.30 PM.

Session 1: 4th April, Saturday

Review/Input from mentor:  Why is reading necessary? How to read? What to read? When to read? How to make reading more fun. Reading live from the suggested resource material. 

Output from participants - Reading one book a week. Share one book/story/ article that they liked and state why.


Session 2: 5th April, Sunday

Discussion: Book review/discussions

Review/Input from mentor :What is Communication? Why we write?  Relation of Design and Words.   Why we need to express through words? How can we express design better? (Quick Exercise)

Output for next session :  Design + Words exercise


Session  3: 7th April, Tuesday

Discussion: Comment on the design + words exercise

Review/Input from mentor : Writing is Easy!  Introduction to Writing. Why should Architects write? Structure the writing - before writing- Research, Do your homework. What is Research? How to gather data? What to do with the data? How writing depends on Observation and Research. What are the basics of Writing? 

Output for next session: Find a topic and research it./ Discussion ?


Session  4: 9th April, Thursday

Discussion: Discuss the topics selected.

Review/Input from mentor: Structure Writing>Starting small. Deciding the Topic. Target Audience. Focus Point? Creating questionnaire for writing + finding answers. Different genres of Writing _ Poetry, Articles, etc

Output for next session: Explore any textual medium of communication on Architecture as per instructions.


Session  5: 11th April, Saturday

Discussion: Discuss the poem

Review/Input from mentor: Format of Writing. Discussing through a template for beginners and understanding the practice of those who already have a good grasp on writing. Engage the reader through the written word, but within an easy structure.

Output for next session: Write an article


Session  6: 12th April, Sunday

Discussion: Discuss the article written as the previous assignment

Review/Input from mentor: Style of Writing. Understanding the style of writing wrt context and target audience. Understanding the different styles of writing. How structure impacts style.

Output for next session : Discuss the articles

 

FAQ

  • Do I need to be an expert writer to join this course?

    Not at all. In fact, if you would like to begin exploring your passion for writing, this is a perfect stepping stone.

  • I am good at writing already, Will this course help me or is it only for beginners?

    We are happy to know that you enjoy writing and are passionate about it. This course has a take away for every level of writing skill. You will surely benefit from the content, assignments and discussion in the course.

  • Does this course have a lot of engagement or can I just be a silent observer?

    This is a course centered around assignments and discussions. You may receive a participation certificate but not a completion certificate if you do not complete the course assignments and participate in the discussions.

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