Students
ENGX2036 – Writing Popular Genre Fiction
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
Michelle Hamadache
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
ENGX1021 or ENGX121
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit explores commercially popular fiction and genre fiction in the marketplace today. We begin by analysing the form and features of bestselling novels as well as mass-market genre fiction such as fantasy, science-fiction, suspense/thriller/horror, crime, and romance. We examine how generic forms crossover with each other, and how digital publishing enables the proliferation of hybrid genres and niche subgenres within the popular fiction market. Students learn how to identify different types of research fields that are relevant to their genre of interest, and to integrate this research into their creative writing in practical ways. There will be a particular focus on world-building, characterisation, and the development of character-driven plots. |
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: Analyse and evaluate different readerships and audiences for popular mass-market genre fiction.
- ULO2: Identify and analyse practices and techniques of writing popular genre fiction.
- ULO3: Apply practical and theoretical knowledge of different genre conventions in creative written work.
- ULO4: Work collaboratively in groups to identify and analyse the features of popular genre fiction, and to build creative worlds within specific genres.
- ULO5: Critique and evaluate their own research and creative writing processes.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participatory Task | 20% | No | Weekly |
| Book Review | 30% | No | 9am Monday 29 March |
| Creative Work | 50% | No | 9am Monday 31 May |
Participatory Task
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%
Preparatory reading of set texts and other students’ creative works. Answering questions in weekly tutorials and contributing meaningfully to in-class discussion. Providing critical feedback on other students’ creative works.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse and evaluate different readerships and audiences for popular mass-market genre fiction.
- Identify and analyse practices and techniques of writing popular genre fiction.
- Work collaboratively in groups to identify and analyse the features of popular genre fiction, and to build creative worlds within specific genres.
- Critique and evaluate their own research and creative writing processes.
Book Review
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 9am Monday 29 March
Weighting: 30%
Pick one book from a genre of choice and write a 1000 word review, based on secondary research, explaining how the novel explicates and/or deviates from its generic conventions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse and evaluate different readerships and audiences for popular mass-market genre fiction.
- Identify and analyse practices and techniques of writing popular genre fiction.
Creative Work
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 60 hours
Due: 9am Monday 31 May
Weighting: 50%
2000 word creative writing piece based on a particular genre or genres, accompanied by a 500 word reflective statement explaining techniques used and the research underpinning the creative work.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse and evaluate different readerships and audiences for popular mass-market genre fiction.
- Identify and analyse practices and techniques of writing popular genre fiction.
- Apply practical and theoretical knowledge of different genre conventions in creative written work.
- Critique and evaluate their own research and creative writing processes.
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 Tuesdays from 10am to 11am. Please consult the ENGL/ENGX2036 iLearn site to access the Zoom lecture link. These lectures will be recorded and made available to students through Echo360 on the ENGL/ENGX2036 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 ENGL2036 must participate in the weekly on-campus tutorials or via Zoom. For internal students enrolled in the Special Circumstance mode, please access the weekly Zoom tutorial links via the ENGL2036 iLearn site.
External/OUA students enrolled in ENGX2036 will participate in the weekly tutorials via the iLearn Discussion Forums beginning in week 1.
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
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