Students

ENGX1021 – An Introduction to Creative 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
Marcelle Freiman
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Creative writing involves expression and skills. It also involves reading. This practical unit introduces students to different approaches and ways of thinking about creative writing. Students engage in a series of lectures and workshops, learning a range of creative writing skills and topics. Students are encouraged to be experimental and adventurous in their writing. Seminars address different creative writing topics and readings so that students can learn about various genres, methods and approaches. The workshops are interactive; they aim to increase understanding of the process of creative writing. The aim of this unit is for students to learn, achieve and realise their creativity and writing skills in their creative work, engaging with lecture and reading content and participating in writing workshops, on-course writing exercises, and doing set assignments.

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: Achieve creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
  • ULO2: Evaluate creative writing processes
  • ULO3: Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form and poetry
  • ULO4: Analyse and discuss the work of others in group discussions

General Assessment Information

NB: It is a requirement for 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 the unit cannot be presented either.

See University Academic Integrity Policy

https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/academic-integrity

 

Absence from more than two tutorials without Special Consideration approval will impact significantly on your participation mark.

 

Assessment submission

The written assessments for this unit are submitted via the Turnitin links in the unit iLearn. Feedback and marks are returned to students via Turnitin.

 

Extensions and late submission of assignments:

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.

You should also contact your tutor before the due date if you think you will not be able to submit your work on time. If you are having any problems to do with the unit and your studies, please speak to your teacher or the unit convenor as early as possible.

 

Special Consideration

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

The Disruption to Studies Notification must be completed and submitted online through https://ask.mq.edu.au/ within five (5) working days of the commencement of the disruption.

For any issues relating to university policies and processes, please note that the Student Advocacy Service and other support services are available.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online discussions and participation 25% No Ongoing
Creative Work (Minor) 25% No Week 6
Creative Work and a Reflective Essay 50% No Week 12

Online discussions and participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 25%

 

- Read assigned readings in preparation for online discussions each week. - Read class peers’ submitted creative writing and provide written feedback in online workshop discussion forums.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Achieve creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
  • Evaluate creative writing processes
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form and poetry
  • Analyse and discuss the work of others in group discussions

Creative Work (Minor)

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 25%

 

Creative writing: narrative prose or poetry. Scaffolded task.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Achieve creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
  • Evaluate creative writing processes
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form and poetry

Creative Work and a Reflective Essay

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 50%

 

Creative writing consisting of prose, or poetry, and a reflective essay

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Achieve creative writing and reading skills in relation to concepts, topics, craft, technique and voice
  • Evaluate creative writing processes
  • Identify, engage with and apply concepts of narrative form and poetry
  • Analyse and discuss the work of others in group discussions

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 and classes

Lectures and tutorial discussions start in Week 1.

Students are expected to listen to all recorded lectures before participating in online discussions each week.

Readings

Required weekly readings for this unit must be accessed via the Leganto link in the unit iLearn website.

The readings must be accessed via the Leganto link in iLearn. Only after your first login through iLearn will you be subsequently able to access the Leganto list. The list is always available via the iLearn Leganto link.

Unit Webpage and Technology 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. Webcam or internal camera for Zoom classes if needed.

Students must  be able to upload, download, and print Word documents. Word documents are the only format accepted for Turnitin assignments.

Your iLearn unit is used for access to recorded lectures (Echo), for online discussion forums and quizzes, for submission of workshop writing and workshop activity, for Turnitin assignments, and for communication and access to all unit materials via the library or directly in iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - Introduction to Creative Writing

Week 2 - Prompt to draft: process and reflection

Week 3 - Approaches to writing 1

Week 4 - Approaches to writing 2

Week 5 - Story and narrative

Week 6 - Time in narrative

Week 7 - Focalisation

Week 8 - Language - dialogue and register

Week 9 - Workshop week

Week 10 - Writing place, writing culture

Week 11 - Memory

Week 12 - Creativity and Writing, reflecting on the unit.

 

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:

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.


Unit information based on version 2021.01 of the Handbook