Students

ENGX307 – Creative Writing 3: Narrative Fiction

2017 – S1 OUA

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Geoffrey Payne
Michelle Hamadache
Marcelle Freiman
Michelle Hamadache
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ENGX201 or ENGX121
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit will expand on the writing theory and practice introduced in ENG210 Creative Writing: A Practical Introduction. Students will develop their creative writing with a focus on essential elements of narrative and structure. Students are encouraged to develop one or more short stories and/or a sequence of conceptually linked poems during the unit. Learning will include workshopping of student writing and doing readings and exercises throughout the Study Period. The writing done for this unit must be self-contained and written specifically for this unit (no chapters of novels). Assessment will take into account students' creative work as well as their engagement with weekly workshops and group discussions. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/

Learning Outcomes

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

  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing
  • Ability to analyse, critique and discuss the work of others in a workshop context

General Assessment Information

Extensions

Extension requests should be made at least 24 hours before the assignment due time. Requests of a short duration (up to 1 week) should be directed to your tutor. Requests for longer extensions should be submitted formally via the Ask system (https://ask.mq.edu.au/splash.php).

Unless otherwise stated in your iLearn unit, late submission of written work will result in a deduction of 2 marks from the total percentage grade for each day beyond the due date, or date to which an extension has been granted.

Extensions are granted only on grounds of illness or misadventure, and appropriate supporting documentation must be submitted. Work submitted after 3 weeks beyond the due date, or date after which an extension has been given, will not be accepted. If you are having problems completing an assignment, please contact the tutor as soon as possible.

 

OUA Special Circumstances Process

Special Circumstances refers to late withdrawal from a unit and your request to have your circumstances taken into account for a possible refund of fees and removal of a "fail" result.

Applications for Special Circumstances are to be submitted to Open University Australia directly.

https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/student-support-services/special-circumstances/ (https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/student-support-services/special-circumstances/)

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Creative Writing 20% No End of Week 8
Creative Writing 2 35% No End of Week 13
Reflective Essay 15% No End of Week 13
Writing Exercises 10% No Intermittent from Week 3
Participation 20% No Ongoing

Creative Writing

Due: End of Week 8
Weighting: 20%

Creative writing - prose or poetry.  Word limit 2000-2500 or if submitting poetry, minimum 80 lines (one poem, or several).

See Full Study Guide with Schedule for more details, available from the unit's iLearn site


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing

Creative Writing 2

Due: End of Week 13
Weighting: 35%

Creative Writing – prose or poetry. Word limit: 2500-2750 words or if submitting poetry, minimum 80 – 100 lines (MAX 130).

See Full Study Guide with Schedule for more details, available from the unit's iLearn site.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing

Reflective Essay

Due: End of Week 13
Weighting: 15%

Reflective essay. Word limit 1000 words.

See Full Study Guide with Schedule for more details, available from the unit's iLearn site.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing

Writing Exercises

Due: Intermittent from Week 3
Weighting: 10%

5 exercises weighted at 2 marks per exercise. Word limit 300 words max., or as stipulated by individual exercise.

See Full Study Guide with Schedule for more details, available from the unit's iLearn site.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices

Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Online participation in workshops, participation exercises and other discussions.  Mark given at the end of Week 13.

See Full Study Guide with Schedule for more details, available from the unit's iLearn site.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing
  • Ability to analyse, critique and discuss the work of others in a workshop context

Delivery and Resources

Unit Requirements and Expectations

It is expected that students will read set primary texts and complete weekly writing tasks, participate thoroughly in online discussion and submit all items of assessment. It is also imperative that students participate in the weekly discussion forums.

 

Unit Webpage and Technology Used and Required

Online units can be accessed at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.

PC and internet access are required. basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.

Please contact teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements. Consult the OUA website for more detailed information on technology requires:

https://www.open.edu.au/getting-started/studying-through-oua/computer-requirements.

 

Required Reading

Readings are available from Macquarie University Library e-Reserve.

https://www.library.mq.edu.au/borrowing/ereserve.php

or some as links on the unit website

 

Recommended Reading

  • Jack Hodgins, A Passion for Narrative, McClelland & Stewart, 2001
  • Kate Grenville, The Writing Book, Allen and Unwin, 2010
  • Jerome Stern, Making Shapely Fiction
  • Mark Tredinnick, Little Green Grammar Book, UNSW Press
  • John Singleton and Mary Lockhurst (eds), The Creative Writing Handbook: Techniques for New Writers, Macmillan, 1996, 2000
  • Jenny Newman, Edmund Cusick & Aileen La Tourette (eds), The Writer’s Workbook, Arnold Publishers, 2000
  • Jeffrey Wainwright, Poetry: The Basics, Routledge, 2004

Policies and Procedures

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.

You need to show that the circumstances:

  1. were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
  2. were beyond your control
  3. caused substantial disruption to your academic work
  4. substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
  5. lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

  1. Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
  2. Fill in your relevant details
  3. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
  4. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.

If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.

If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.

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_2016.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 (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

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://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.

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

  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing

Assessment tasks

  • Creative Writing
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Writing Exercises

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Ability to analyse, critique and discuss the work of others in a workshop context

Assessment tasks

  • Creative Writing
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Reflective Essay
  • Participation

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

  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing

Assessment tasks

  • Creative Writing
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Reflective Essay
  • Writing Exercises
  • Participation

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

  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing

Assessment tasks

  • Creative Writing
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Reflective Essay
  • Writing Exercises
  • Participation

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

  • Development of imaginative and fluent creative writing practices
  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing

Assessment tasks

  • Creative Writing
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Writing Exercises

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

  • Development of capacity to realise and produce a complete piece of creative writing
  • Understanding of the limits and possibilities of a variety of contemporary forms of creative writing
  • Development of self-reflective, critical and analytical skills in writing and editing
  • Ability to analyse, critique and discuss the work of others in a workshop context

Assessment tasks

  • Creative Writing
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Reflective Essay
  • Participation

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 outcome

  • Ability to analyse, critique and discuss the work of others in a workshop context

Assessment tasks

  • Reflective Essay
  • Participation

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:

Learning outcome

  • Ability to analyse, critique and discuss the work of others in a workshop context

Assessment task

  • Participation