Students

ENGL8010 – Creative Writing Seminar I

2020 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Teacher
Jane Messer
Contact via jane.messer@mq.edu.au
Lvl 2, Australian Hearing Hub 16 University Ave
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit students develop their creative writing practice across one or more writing genres, drafting new creative work in the genres of the short story, novel, or poetry. Students extend their skills both in the crafting and the analysis of the craft of writing, and practice close reading skills. New approaches to craft and technique or genre are explored, and students reflect upon and interrogate their writing and writing process. Analysis and evaluation of published creative works and contemporary narrative studies inform and enlarge students’ writing skills and technical vocabularies. At the end of the unit students will have drafted, workshopped and written a new creative work in their chosen genre.

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:

  • ULO1: Develop and demonstrate creative writing and close reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
  • ULO2: Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, or novel.
  • ULO3: Analyse and evaluate the work of others in writing communities.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international literature and creative writing.
  • ULO5: Evaluate your learning in relation to your reading and writing of creative texts.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Seminar structure

 

The unit is delivered online, and in blended mode (face-to-face and online) for campus students. Online students will work in groups of 6-8 students in a discussion group and a workshop group.

Weekly seminars will include 6 weeks of discussion and quizzes that focus on the readings, topics, themes and lectures; and six weeks of workshop intensive classes, complemented with writing exercises.

Resources

Most of the essential and recommended readings for this unit are available via the unit's Leganto link. Some books will need to be borrowed or purchased. Your lecturer recommends that you source these from Australian suppliers in order to support your peers ( i.e. Australian writers, booksellers and publishers). Bootopia.com; independent booksellters such as Gleebooks; your local library; and Australian re-sellers of used books such as through Abebooks.com are all excellent supply sources.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week 1 Narration – ways of telling

Week 2 Text and Character

Week 3 Speech and Dialogue in literary texts

Week 4 Workshop

Week 5 Workshop

Week 6 Workshop

Week 7  Focalisation – expressing perspective

Week 8 Structure, scene, plot

Week 9 Workshop

Week 10  Workshop

Week 11 Workshop

Week 12 Choreography and Time

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:

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

Violent and Sexually Violent Content in creative writing workshop and assessment submissions

Material that might seriously disturb or distress other students or the teacher is not suitable for the University writing workshop environment. The aim of our workshops is to provide a safe place for students to share their work in progress. We are all required to read and discuss work that is presented in the workshop, and so for this reason you must consider the impact on others if you are planning to write potentially distressing content.

Students presenting work that includes detailed descriptions of violence including sexual violence, especially material that involves rape, or harm to animals must contact the Unit Convenor before submitting the work for workshop or as work for assessment. They must discuss their work with the convenor at least 2 weeks before the scheduled workshop or assessment due date. Permission may be withheld, in which case the student will be required to submit a new work by the due date.

You should also be aware of the Student Code of Conduct and in particular clauses in the sections Safety and Breach of Rights http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/student_conduct/conduct.html

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

As part of the MQ curriculum renewal 2020, the unit has been significantly redesigned in structure, with new readings and assessments introduced. It continues to focus be writing practice-focused.