Students

ENGX121 – Creative Writing 1: An Introduction

2019 – S2 OUA

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor/Tutor
Kavita Nandan
Marcelle Freiman
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This is a practical unit that introduces students to various approaches and ways of thinking about creative writing. The unit consists of a series of workshops and lectures covering a range of creative writing skills and topics. Students are encouraged to be experimental and adventurous in their writing. Each seminar addresses a different creative writing topic so that students can engage with different genres, methods and approaches. The workshops are interactive; they aim to increase understanding of the process of creative writing. Assessment of each student's creative work is based on development and realisation of a topic, language use and the writing skills, structure and overall presentation as well as demonstrated engagement with unit topics in all set assignments and on-course writing exercises.

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:

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.
  • Demonstrate professional skills appropriate to the unit.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

General Assessment Information

*Criteria for marking for each assessment are included in the details of the assessment tasks in iLearn. Students are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with these criteria before attempting, completing and submitting each assignment.

Students should also consult the marking rubrics for each assessment task, in iLearn, as they provide the standards against which the criteria are marked.

  • Assignments for this unit are submitted and marked electronically, via Turnitin. The links for submission of each assignment are on the iLearn website under ‘Assessment’.
  • Submit only Word documents.
  • * Submit each assignment as one document directly to the appropriate Turnitin Assignment link, eg. creative writing + reflective statement as one document (Assignments 1 & 2), or the creative writing + reflective essay as one document (Assignment 3) for each of these assignments.

Return of marked work

Marked work will be returned to students electronically via Turnitin.

Special Consideration

If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration:

https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Late Submission Penalty

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.

* Assessments: an extra note on word length, criteria and penalties for written assessment tasks.

  • Word or line lengths and marking criteria are provided in the details for each assignment.
  • It is necessary to set word or line limits for assignments, though we have no wish to restrain your creativity. It is important to learn to write concisely, clearly and with a direct style. Avoid submitting ‘wordy’ stories that are way over the word limit. (penalties of 10% per 200 words (or part thereof)  over or under the limit will apply—though please see the note below about “wiggle room”), and there will also be penalties applied to very short poems (if your poem is made up of very short lines, then you need to submit more than the minimum 60 or 80 lines respectively). Your work should be substantial enough to show your full engagement with the unit topics. If you aren’t sure, check with your tutor.
  • There is 10% wiggle-room on prescribed word length. No penalty applies to students who remain within the 10% leeway given. So if an assessment word count is 1,000 words, a student who writes 1,100 words will not be penalised. A student who exceeds 1,101 words will be penalised because they have overrun the 10% wiggle room. All titles are included in the word count.   
  • Note the relative weightings of the assessment tasks.
  • In this unit, marks are given for demonstrated progress in your work and the development of your writing skills and concepts, your willingness to revise, rewrite, edit, and reconsider your writing during drafting, and for your engagement with unit topics and strategies.
  • Please retain all drafts of assignment work – early handwritten notes, hand-annotated printouts, computer drafts. You are not asked to submit these with your assignments, but markers may ask you to provide them at a later stage.

NB: It is a requirement of this unit that all creative work handed in for workshops or as assignments is new, original work written during this unit and engaging with unit topics. Work from a concurrent unit or previous units or studies must not be presented for workshops or assessments. Creative writing written prior to the unit commencing cannot be presented either.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quizzes on readings 10% No Ongoing
Creative writing & reflection 30% No Sunday, Week 08
Creative writing & Reflection 40% No Sunday, Week 13
Participation 20% No Week 07 & Week 13

Quizzes on readings

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

Students must complete the quizzes on the weekly readings where prompted to do so in the iLearn modules. For further information on this item of assessment, please see the Unit's iLearn site. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Demonstrate professional skills appropriate to the unit.

Creative writing & reflection

Due: Sunday, Week 08
Weighting: 30%

This assignment requires the submission of creative writing (prose or poetry) and a short reflective statement. 

For further information on this item of assessment, please see the Unit's iLearn site. 

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Creative writing & Reflection

Due: Sunday, Week 13
Weighting: 40%

This assignment requires the submission of creative writing (prose or poetry) and a short reflective statement. 

For further information on this item of assessment, please see the Unit's iLearn site. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Participation

Due: Week 07 & Week 13
Weighting: 20%

This mark is for participation in online discussion groups and workshops. Students are required to demonstrate that they have engaged with the unit readings and topics, and sustained a regular writing practice. The mark is awarded in two instalments, each worth 10% of the overall grade. 

For further information on this item of assessment, please see the Unit's iLearn site. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.
  • Demonstrate professional skills appropriate to the unit.

Delivery and Resources

Unit Requirements and Expectations

The university Assessment Policy states that in order to pass a unit, a student must make a serious attempt at all pieces of written assessment.

Students enrolled in this unit are expected to:

  • listen to lectures each week – lectures cover essential concepts and information for the unit topics.
  • complete and submit all assessment tasks on time;
  • participate via iLearn in all online discussions and workshop activities whether they are scheduled to submit a draft that week or not;
  • complete all online quizzes as required;
  • demonstrate preparation each week for online discussion and workshop forums by having done the readings for each week and be prepared for workshops as outlined under Assesment Task 4 Participation

* It is a requirement of this unit that all creative work handed in for workshops or as assignments is new, original work written during this unit, and engaging with unit topics. Work from a concurrent unit or previous units or studies must not be presented for workshops or assessments. Creative writing written prior to the unit commencing cannot be presented either. See the University Academic Honesty Policy.**

Lectures

* Lectures start in Week 1.

Recorded lectures are available from Echo 360, located on the righthand sidebar of the iLearn homepage for this unit.  The material contained in the lectures is essential for obtaining the learning outcomes of this unit and the information contained in the lectures is presumed knowledge. The lectures are live recordings taken from the on campus offering of this unit and therefore any references to classroom conditions are not relevant to online study.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Required Reading

Required weekly readings for this unit must be accessed via Unit Readings ENGX121 in Library Leganto Reading System. The Leganto link is located on the right side-bar of the ENGX233 iLearn site, and here, for your convenience: Leganto

It is strongly recommended that students access, download and print the readings well before the scheduled weeks, so that the readings can be read and annotated. Annotating your readings promotes active reading and comprehension, and enables you to make notes on your reading responses.

This texts is also required:

  • Kate Grenville, The Writing Book: A Practical Guide for Fiction Writers, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 2010.

Recommended

  • Mark Tredinnick, Little Green Grammar Book, UNSW Press
  • Hazel Smith, The Writing Experiment: Strategies for Innovative Creative Writing, Allen & Unwin, 2005.
  • John Singleton and Mary Lockhurst (eds), The Creative Writing Handbook: Techniques for New Writers, Macmillan, 1996, 2000.
  • Hodgins, Jack, A Passion for Narrative, McClelland & Stewart, 2001.

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

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

PC and Internet access are required, Broadband or WiFi connection is essential. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.

Students must  be able to upload, download, and print Word documents for workshopping and for other students to access for feedback.

iLearn is used for access to recorded lectures (Echo), for quizzes, for communication and for access to all unit materials via the library or directly in iLearn.

 

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 (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

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

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.

Assessment tasks

  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection

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

  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.
  • Demonstrate professional skills appropriate to the unit.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection
  • Participation

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

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.
  • Demonstrate professional skills appropriate to the unit.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Quizzes on readings
  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection
  • 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

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Quizzes on readings
  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection
  • 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

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection

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 outcome

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.

Assessment tasks

  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection

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

  • Compose several pieces of conceptually developed creative writing and understand the value of drafting and revision.
  • Reflect on student’s own creative writing processes.
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form in creative writing.
  • Employ written and language skills in different creative writing contexts.
  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.

Assessment tasks

  • Quizzes on readings
  • Creative writing & reflection
  • Creative writing & Reflection
  • 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 outcomes

  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Assessment task

  • 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 outcomes

  • Participate in group-interaction and collaborative learning environments.
  • Demonstrate professional skills appropriate to the unit.
  • Practice academic honesty in scholarly and creative writing.

Assessment task

  • Participation

Changes from Previous Offering

This is the Open Universities Australia (OUA) offering analogous to the on-campus unit ENGL121. Previously this unit has been offered in a different format, with different assessments and readings, as ENGX201 through OUA.