Students

ENGL8011 – Creative Writing Seminar II

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Tutor
Associate Professor Marcelle Freiman
Contact via Via email
Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk Macquarie University
By appointment: email; phone; Zoom
Lecturer and Tutor
Dr Willo Drummond
Contact via Via email
Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk Macquarie University
By appointment: email; phone; Zoom
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
ENGX8011
Unit description Unit description

In this unit students develop their writing across one or more genres including poetry. The unit encourages students to experiment with new approaches to craft and technique, with particular attention to language. Close reading skills are developed, and students reflect upon and interrogate their writing processes, explore new methods in relation to craft and technique or genre. and Students undertake close reading and analysis of published creative works and contemporary narrative and poetry studies. Writing workshops and discussion of the readings are structured so that students can make productive links between concepts in narrative studies and their own writing. At the outcome of the unit students will have produced major and minor works of creative writing and extended their skills in practical analysis of narrative and poetry.

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 creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
  • ULO2: Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, novel chapter, or creative nonfiction.
  • ULO3: Understand and use technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts in the analysis of texts.
  • ULO4: Analyse and appraise the work of others in writing communities.

General Assessment Information

Our approach to assessment

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

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

It is a unit requirement that all creative work handed in for workshops or as assignments is new work. Work from a concurrent unit or prior study is not to be presented. Creative writing written prior to the unit commencing cannot be presented.

If you are writing a creative work which you have developed in earlier units (for instance as a writing exercise) or before commencing the program, consult your lecturer for advice, and to clarify that you are submitting new chapters or sections.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 20% No Weekly online tasks and discussions
Creative Work (Minor) 15% No Three Writing Exercises due Sunday pm Weeks 3; 8; 10
Quizzes 15% No Week 6; Week 12
Creative Work (Major) 50% No 2 November 2020

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Weekly online tasks and discussions
Weighting: 20%

Written or verbal analysis and appraisal of lecture topics, set readings, and work in progress by student peers.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and use technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts in the analysis of texts.
  • Analyse and appraise the work of others in writing communities.

Creative Work (Minor)

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Three Writing Exercises due Sunday pm Weeks 3; 8; 10
Weighting: 15%

Three writing exercises are completed in order that students practice specific elements of writing craft and technique.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
  • Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, novel chapter, or creative nonfiction.
  • Understand and use technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts in the analysis of texts.
  • Analyse and appraise the work of others in writing communities.

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Week 6; Week 12
Weighting: 15%

Two online quizzes enable students to review and consolidate the concepts, topics, and content of the readings and lectures.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and use technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts in the analysis of texts.

Creative Work (Major)

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: 2 November 2020
Weighting: 50%

A complete short story, series of poems or novel section. The work will develop upon one or both of the workshop drafts submitted for workshop; and may also have developed upon one or more of the Writing Exercises. The Creative Work (Major) must have been workshopped, and students are expected to have developed their work substantially following the workshop.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
  • Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, novel chapter, or creative nonfiction.
  • Understand and use technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts in the analysis of texts.
  • Analyse and appraise the work of others in writing communities.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

DELIVERY: INTERNAL STUDENTS

Internal students will be studying online  in Session 2, 2020. Writing workshops and discussion of the lectures, readings and course topics will take place through online discussion posts.

DELIVERY: ONLINE STUDENTS

All online/external students will work in full online mode.  Writing workshops and discussion of the lectures, readings and course topics will take place through online discussion posts.

RESOURCES:

Weekly readings including creative works (poetry, memoir, short story, etc) and academic papers and book chapters will be made available via the unit's Leganto site. There are no books that students need to purchase for this unit.

Unit Schedule

 

 

Week 1: Beginnings, Openings, First Words: online discussion and analysis of lecture and readings

Week 2: Defamiliarizing language : online discussion and analysis of lecture and readings

Week 3: Words and Tropes: online discussion and analysis of lecture and readings + workshop and submit Writing Exercise 1

Week 4:  Workshop 1 + online discussion of a reading (no lecture)

Week 5: Workshop 2 + online discussion of a reading (no lecture)

Week 6: Workshop 3 + Quiz 1 + online discussion of a reading (no lecture)

Week 7: Poetry: orality: online discussion and analysis of lecture and readings

Week 8: Poetry: sound and sense: online discussion and analysis of lecture and readings + workshop and submit Writing Exercise 2

Week 9: Poetry as a made thing: online discussion and analysis of lecture and readings

Week 10: Workshop 4 + online discussion of a reading (no lecture) + workshop and submit Writing Exercise 3

Week 11: Workshop 5 + online discussion of a reading (no lecture)

Week 12: Workshop 6 + Quiz 2  + online discussion of a reading (no lecture)

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

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.