Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Jane Messer
Contact via 02-98508738
Building W6A Room 632 Ryde Campus
Meetings and phone discussions by appointment. Please email to arrange.
Lecturer
Elizabeth Claire Alberts
Contact via claire.buchel@mq.edu.au
Phone or skype by appointment. Please email to arrange.
Claire Buchel
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
CWPG810 or CWPG811
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
LIT848
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Taught by professional writers of young adult (YA) fiction, this unit focuses on the writing of fiction for young adult readers in the genres of novel and short story; and critical and analytical discussion and writing about the YA genre. It is suitable for students with some experience in narrative writing, who want to develop their knowledge and practice of YA fiction. Students devise their own writing projects and are encouraged to write across a range of YA genres that might include for instance, comedy, speculative fiction, or verse forms. Students read a range of international and Australian contemporary YA fiction, including work that experiments with the YA form, and which explore new developments in publishing such as e-books. Assessment is based on the student's creative work and reflection, and critical writing about the set texts.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
It is an assessment requirement of this unit that students participate online or in class weekly: missed weeks must be explained with a satisfactory Professional Authority Form (PAF) relating to urgent or serious medical circumstances; or in the case of employment demands, a letter from the employer. 20% of the Participation mark will be deducted from the Participation mark for each online or class absence. Written tasks must be completed within the week they are due (except where students have provided the PAF or employer's letter to satisfactorily document their absence.) The online week commences each Monday and ends on the Sunday.
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Participation | 20% | Ongoing & scheduled |
Writing Exercises | 10% | 5 scheduled tasks |
Creative Writing Assignment 1 | 30% | 19th September |
Creative Writing Assignment 2 | 40% | 14th November |
Due: Ongoing & scheduled
Weighting: 20%
Participation includes graded written work. See the full Unit Handbook available from the unit's iLearn site for a complete description of this task.
Due: 5 scheduled tasks
Weighting: 10%
See the full Unit Handbook available from the unit's iLearn site for a complete description of this task.
Due: 19th September
Weighting: 30%
See the full Unit Handbook available from the unit's iLearn site for a complete description of this task.
Due: 14th November
Weighting: 40%
See the full Unit Handbook available from the unit's iLearn site for a complete description of this task.
The unit is taught through a combination of live and pre-recorded lectures and discussions; in class and/ or online workshopping of student writing; discussion of the set readings; and individual presentations by the students about the readings. For external students, you will discuss readings and each others’ work with your group peers and your lecturer on a weekly basis. Your lecturer will contribute feedback to your individual creative writing workshops, and to your discussion groups’ discussion threads.
Required Reading - Texts
These are the full texts you will be reading. Other required chapters and articles will be made available through the Library's Unit Readings online.
Week 1 Introduction, Greetings, Schedules for workshopping and Individual Presentations.
Week 2 Readers Past/Present/Future, Issues of Identity
Week 3 Dramatic Elements of Young Adult Fiction (Romance, Darkness and Conflict) and Young Adult Bildungsroman
Week 4 Character, Voice, Focalisation, Dialogue Guest Author Talk
Week 5 Themes, 3 Act Structure, Multiple Perspectives
Week 6 Writing multi-cultural literature for YA readers Guest Author Talk
Week 7 Writing and publishing poetry and Verse novels
Week 8 Flash Fiction/Graphic Novels
Week 9 Pitching, Publishers and Pay
Week 10 Writing the Series, experimenting with form - Guest Author Talk
Week 11 Writing Dystopias
Week 12 Environmental Crisis in Young Adult Fiction
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
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.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.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by: