Students

CWPG822 – Short Form Writing - short story, novella, poetry cycle

2019 – S2 Online

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and tutor
Marcelle Freiman
Contact via Email
Australian Hearing Hub, Lvl 2, 16 University Ave
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
CWPG810 or CWPG811
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
ENGL718
Unit description Unit description
This unit builds on the skills and knowledge developed in CWPG810 and CWPG811, with a focus on the short story in its evolving forms, including the long short story and novella, the short story sequence and cycle, and micro and 'short short' stories. In addition to the weekly writing workshops, we read works by Australian and international writers including Tim Winton, Alice Munro, Peter Goldsworthy, and Molly Ringwald; we investigate technique and craft, and consider the form's history and current scholarly debates, reader response theory, publishing trends, new medias and book futures. Students develop a critical awareness of the broader national and international contexts in which their writing is to take a place; devise a project of their own choice; and are encouraged toward publication.

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:

  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Applied technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts, in order to consider craft and technique.
  • Able to assess and critically evaluate a range of writing and other production values in contemporary Australian journals to determine their interest and value.
  • Developed communication skills in the context of writing workshop discussion and discussion of literary texts and issues arising from those readings.
  • Use and understanding of digital and print technologies, and the development of digital literacies.

General Assessment Information

The importance of Participation for Assessment and passing the unit.

It is an assessment requirement of this unit that students participate weekly. Without participation, the Learning Outcomes of the unit cannot be achieved. Missed weeks must be explained with a medical certificate relating to urgent or unavoidable circumstances; or in the case of employment demands, a letter from the employer. Marks are deducted from the Participation mark for undocumented absences. Students whose participation is unsatisfactory for more than 2 weeks for ongoing medical reasons, may apply to the University for Withdrawal without Penalty from the unit. Students who do not satisfactorily participate online (External) on a weekly basis, or do not attend class each week (Internal) without valid documentation, will receive a Fail grade. If you have any concerns about your participation, contact the lecturer.

Assessment tasks

Assessment tasks are designed to encourage students to develop familiarity and skills as emerging and developing writers through the inter-related practice of creative writing, reading, and discussion. The varied assessment tasks focus on these three skills and aim to develop them in inter-related ways.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 15% No Weekly 1-12
Writing Exercises 15% No Weeks 2, 4, 8
Journal Report 25% No Week 10
Creative Writing Assignment 45% No Week 13

Participation

Due: Weekly 1-12
Weighting: 15%

Assessment is based on the quality and relevancy of participation.

  • Class or online discussion; listening to the lectures, reading the set texts and evidencing your engagement through discussion and posts that refer clearly to the set texts, themes and topics;
  • Maintaining a regular creative writing practice, evidenced through your workshop submissions;
  • Reading and commenting on other students’ creative work in the workshops, employing concepts and vocabularies discussed in the topics, readings and lectures;

See the Unit Handbook and iLearn for further details of this assessment component.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Developed communication skills in the context of writing workshop discussion and discussion of literary texts and issues arising from those readings.
  • Use and understanding of digital and print technologies, and the development of digital literacies.

Writing Exercises

Due: Weeks 2, 4, 8
Weighting: 15%

Three writing exercises are to be completed, each worth 5%. The writing exercises are an opportunity to experiment with techniques and forms being discussed in this unit.  See the Unit Handbook in the unit's iLearn site for the due dates for this activity.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Applied technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts, in order to consider craft and technique.

Journal Report

Due: Week 10
Weighting: 25%

Review an issue of an Australian journal of creative/literary/nonfiction writing published in the past 12 months. Maximum word length: 1,200 words. See the Unit Handbook at the unit's iLearn site for full details of this task.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Able to assess and critically evaluate a range of writing and other production values in contemporary Australian journals to determine their interest and value.
  • Developed communication skills in the context of writing workshop discussion and discussion of literary texts and issues arising from those readings.
  • Use and understanding of digital and print technologies, and the development of digital literacies.

Creative Writing Assignment

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 45%

This assignment can be one work or a series of linked works e.g. a poetry cycle; a set of micro fictions; or linked sections of a novella. A poetry cycle will comprise 5-6 poems not more than 70 lines in total.

Your creative writing submission will be based on the writing of a new, original work undertaken during the Session. It should develop a workshop piece that you’ve received feedback on during the session.

See the Unit Handbook at the unit's iLearn site for details of this task.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Applied technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts, in order to consider craft and technique.

Delivery and Resources

Required texts

The online weekly short readings (chapters, stories, extracts etc) can be downloaded from the Library through the unit's iLearn site. These readings are detailed in the Weekly Reading schedule in the full Unit Handbook available at the unit's iLearn site.Complete texts:

  • Nick Earls, Vancouver, book three in a series of linked novellas (The Wisdom Tree). Inkerman & Blunt, 2016.
  • Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad. Knopf, 2010. Online access available from MQ Library
  • Kirsten Tranter & Linda Godfrey, eds, Out of place: prose poems and microfictions, Spineless Wonders, 2015
  • Tara June Winch, After the Carnage, UQP, 2016.
  • Tim Winton, The Turning. Picador, 2005.

Unit Schedule

Week 1 Introduction and micro-fictions

Week 2 Short Fictions

Week 3 Poetry cycle

Week 4 Short Story - brevity

Week 5 Writing reflection

Week 6 Long short story

Week 7 Novella

Week 8 Short Story Cycle

Week 9 Short Story Cycle, or Novel, or ..?

Week 10 Short Story Cycle

Week 11 New Medias and Book Futures

Week 12 Review and reflect

The full reading list and topics are set out in the Unit Handbook available to enrolled students and through iLearn.

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

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:

Learning outcome

  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Writing Exercises
  • Journal Report
  • Creative Writing Assignment

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Applied technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts, in order to consider craft and technique.
  • Use and understanding of digital and print technologies, and the development of digital literacies.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Writing Exercises
  • Journal Report
  • Creative Writing Assignment

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Applied technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts, in order to consider craft and technique.
  • Able to assess and critically evaluate a range of writing and other production values in contemporary Australian journals to determine their interest and value.
  • Developed communication skills in the context of writing workshop discussion and discussion of literary texts and issues arising from those readings.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Writing Exercises
  • Journal Report
  • Creative Writing Assignment

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Applied new understandings and critically reflective practice to creative writing and reading of the genres of short fiction or creative nonfiction, novella, short story or poetic sequence.
  • Able to assess and critically evaluate a range of writing and other production values in contemporary Australian journals to determine their interest and value.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Writing Exercises
  • Journal Report
  • Creative Writing Assignment

PG - Effective Communication

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrated problem solving skills in the planning, revision, editing and completion of creative works, to a publishable standard.
  • Able to assess and critically evaluate a range of writing and other production values in contemporary Australian journals to determine their interest and value.
  • Developed communication skills in the context of writing workshop discussion and discussion of literary texts and issues arising from those readings.
  • Use and understanding of digital and print technologies, and the development of digital literacies.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Writing Exercises
  • Journal Report
  • Creative Writing Assignment

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Able to assess and critically evaluate a range of writing and other production values in contemporary Australian journals to determine their interest and value.
  • Developed communication skills in the context of writing workshop discussion and discussion of literary texts and issues arising from those readings.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Journal Report

Changes since First Published

Date Description
26/07/2019 A reading no longer being used for this unit has been removed from the reading list.
17/07/2019 Changes have been made to bring the unit information up to date for 2019. This version of the Unit Guide is correct.