Students

ENGL310 – Contemporary Australian Children's Literature

2015 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Victoria Flanagan
Contact via victoria.flanagan@mq.edu.au
W6A 627
By appointment - please email to arrange.
Ryan Twomey
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
6cp in ENGL units at 200 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit examines the relationships between Australia's changing culture and society, and the literature that society produces for its children. It deals mainly with the literature of the past 20 years, and explores the representations of such issues as: maturation; relationships of self to place; structures of power and authority in society; and the quest for reconciliation between the white settler society and the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. These issues are examined in fiction, picture books, and film.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Develop the ability to conceptualise notions of high culture and popular culture and understand the orientation of literature to cultural presuppositions and forms.
  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Class participation 10% Evaluated at end of session.
Short Essay 30% 18/03/15
Annotated bibliography 20% 24/04/15
Major essay 40% 11/06/15

Class participation

Due: Evaluated at end of session.
Weighting: 10%

Students will be graded on their class participation. If internal, they will be graded on their class contribution and preparation. If external, they will be graded on the basis of their participation in the iLearn Discussion Board. External students must make a minimum of one post per week (with the exception of week 6, when there are no lectures or tutorials).


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Develop the ability to conceptualise notions of high culture and popular culture and understand the orientation of literature to cultural presuppositions and forms.
  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Short Essay

Due: 18/03/15
Weighting: 30%

Students will submit a short essay (1,500 words) on the Week 2 topic:

To what extent do the texts listed below engage with global politics and culture? Does this engagement problematise the construction of Australian culture and the notion of an Australian cultural identity?

Choose 2 of the 3 texts listed here to use in your discussion:        

  1. Meme McDonald & Boori Pryor, The Binna Binna Man;
  2. Wheatley and Rawlins, My Place (picture book)
  3. Australian Rules (film)

On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Annotated bibliography

Due: 24/04/15
Weighting: 20%

 

Students must submit an annotated bibliography on the topic that they have selected for their final essay.

Find five items of literary criticism or cultural theory that are relevant to your proposed topic. They should each be the length of an article or a book chapter and at least four of them should be high-quality secondary research sources that you think are worthy of inclusion in your thesis bibliography. READ them. Write a 300 word assessment of each one indicating its value to your research for your thesis. Each entry should also list the full bibliographic details for each source.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Major essay

Due: 11/06/15
Weighting: 40%

 

Please choose an essay topic from the list provided in the Weekly Guide, which is available from the ENGL310 iLearn site. This essay should be approximately 3000 words in length and should refer to two or three texts set for study.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Develop the ability to conceptualise notions of high culture and popular culture and understand the orientation of literature to cultural presuppositions and forms.
  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Delivery and Resources

REQUIRED READING

  • Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Ten Things I Hate About Me, 2006 (978-1-74197-772-1)
  • Caswell, Brian and David Chiem. Only the Heart, 2003 (0702233765)
  • Disher, Gary. The Divine Wind, 2002 (9780733605260)
  • Dubosarsky, Ursula. Theodora’s Gift, 2005 (9780670041169)
  • McDonald, Meme & Boori Pryor. The Binna Binna Man, 1999 (9781865080710)
  • Metzenthen, David. Boys of Blood and Bone, 2003 (9780143001300)
  • Roy, James, Town, 2007 (978-0-7022-3637-2)
  • Tan, Shaun, The Lost Thing (9780734411389)
  • Wheatley, Nadia and Donna Rawlins, My Place (picture book)

 We will also be looking at some picture books and some film/TV narratives (especially Summer Heights High, My Place (ABC TV series), The Lost Thing, Australian Rules and Yolngu Boy).

To complete ENGL310 students must:

  •     Attend and participate in tutorials (if internal) or on-campus sessions (if external).*
  •     Complete all prescribed assessment tasks.
  •     Reach a satisfactory level of achievement in the prescribed assessment tasks.

*Absence from more than two tutorials without written explanation (medical or counselling certificate) will result in loss of the tutorial mark and will disqualify a student from passing the unit.  University regulations also stipulate that a student must attempt every part of assessment in order to be eligible to pass a unit of study.  

Notes on Participation for External Students:

External students must participate in online discussions via the ENGL310 iLearn site. External students should read the weekly texts and prepare the tutorial discussion topics in advance, then post responses to the tutorial questions and respond to the posts of other students, to facilitate an active discussion such as would occur in a face-to-face tutorial. Students are also encouraged to raise other relevant points of interest in their online discussions. Be prepared to question the opinions of others, to have your opinions challenged and to participate actively in discussion. Students are expected to make at least 12 posts* over the semester.

*A “post” is defined as a discursive response relevant to unit interests of at least 50 words: a short paragraph of at least 4 sentences.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Short Essay
  • Major essay

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Major essay

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Annotated bibliography
  • Major essay

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Develop the ability to conceptualise notions of high culture and popular culture and understand the orientation of literature to cultural presuppositions and forms.
  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Short Essay
  • Annotated bibliography
  • Major essay

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand and apply concepts employed in discussing and analysing relations between Australian culture and texts produced for children.
  • Develop the ability to conceptualise notions of high culture and popular culture and understand the orientation of literature to cultural presuppositions and forms.
  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Short Essay
  • Annotated bibliography
  • Major essay

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop the ability to conceptualise notions of high culture and popular culture and understand the orientation of literature to cultural presuppositions and forms.
  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Short Essay
  • Annotated bibliography
  • Major essay

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Develop skills in textual and cultural analysis, especially the ability to analyse the extent to which texts attempt to intervene in cultural formations
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Short Essay
  • Annotated bibliography
  • Major essay

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop the ability to theorise concepts of gender representation and examine changing representations of gender in literature, film and television.
  • Attain a conceptual language with which to discuss children’s film and television and gain an increased level of visual, verbal and critical literacy.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Annotated bibliography

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Class participation