Students
ENGX3035 – Novel and Novella Writing
2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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
Hsu-Ming Teo
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
20 cp at 2000 level including ENGX2033 or ENGX233
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to long-form narrative writing in the genre of the novel and novella. Students apply their previous learning of narrative writing technique and craft to the creation and planning of a new work, focusing on creativity and inspiration, research and planning, drafting the plot outline, developing characters, and building the story-world. Students read and discuss novels and novellas from different genres, and are introduced to current industry practices and conditions. At the conclusion of this unit students will have produced the opening to a novel or novella, and a book proposal including a synopsis. |
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:
- ULO2: Practice a range of methods of improvisation and drafting that support the creative development of the novel or novella.
- ULO1: Produce the opening of a long-form narrative, either a novel or novella, and a book proposal.
- ULO3: Employ close reading skills and technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts to discuss and analyse craft and technique.
- ULO4: Collaborate in the analysis and discussion of the work of others in writing workshops.
- ULO5: Research and select potential publication or funding opportunities.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Work | 50% | No | 9am Friday 28 May 2021 |
| Participation | 20% | No | Weekly. Writing exercises due 9am Monday 17 May 2021 |
| Book Proposal | 30% | No | 9am Monday 19 April 2021 |
Creative Work
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 9am Friday 28 May 2021
Weighting: 50%
Creative Work: opening 2,500 words to a novel or novella.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Produce the opening of a long-form narrative, either a novel or novella, and a book proposal.
- Collaborate in the analysis and discussion of the work of others in writing workshops.
Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Weekly. Writing exercises due 9am Monday 17 May 2021
Weighting: 20%
Contribute to discussion and appraisal of readings and to workshop feedback to student peers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Practice a range of methods of improvisation and drafting that support the creative development of the novel or novella.
- Employ close reading skills and technical creative writing terms, vocabulary and narrative studies concepts to discuss and analyse craft and technique.
- Collaborate in the analysis and discussion of the work of others in writing workshops.
Book Proposal
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 9am Monday 19 April 2021
Weighting: 30%
Book Proposal
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Practice a range of methods of improvisation and drafting that support the creative development of the novel or novella.
- Produce the opening of a long-form narrative, either a novel or novella, and a book proposal.
- Research and select potential publication or funding opportunities.
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
Lectures
Lectures begin in Week 1. Live Zoom lectures will take place on Mondays from 10am to 11am. Please consult the ENGL3035 iLearn site to access the Zoom lecture link. These lectures will be recorded and made available to students through Echo360 on the ENGL/ENGX3035 iLearn site.
Listening to the lectures is expected before participating in the weekly tutorial. Missing lectures will reduce your opportunities for learning and probably result in poor marks across the unit.
Tutorials
Depending on your mode of enrolment, internal students in ENGL3035 must participate in the weekly on-campus tutorials or via Zoom. For internal students enrolled in the Special Circumstance mode, please access the the weekly Zoom tutorial links via the ENGL3035 iLearn site.
External/OUA students enrolled in ENGX3035 will participate in the weekly tutorials via the iLearn Discussion Forums beginning in week 1.
Required text
Alan Watt, The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within. 90-Day Novel Press, 2014.
An e-book version is available from Booktopia.com.au, while Amazon.com.au has a paperback version.
A copy will also be available in the MQ library.
Any other unit reading will be accessible through the ENGL/ENGX3035 iLearn site.
Recommended texts:
Walter Mosely, This Is The Year You Write Your Novel. Little, Brown, 2009.
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Hodder & Stoughton, 2010.
Hsu-Ming Teo, Love and Vertigo. Allen and Unwin, 2000. This is optional as background context to the lecture in Week 4.
Hsu-Ming Teo, Behind the Moon. Allen and Unwin, 2005. This is optional as background context to the lecture in Week 7.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 12/01/2021 | Delivery and resources updated |