Students

APPL8010 – Genre, Discourse and Multimodality

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Philip Chappell
12 Second Way Room 513
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MAppLing or MAppLingTESOL or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL or MAccComm
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is concerned with the study of human communication from a social-semiotic perspective. It includes the study of the philosophical and practical differences between different schools of genre in applied linguistics; context-related patterns of communication in language and other semiotic systems (such as gesture, image, and layout); and the ways in which such patterns occur across semiotic systems and are systematically related. Multimodal communication in sites of practice such as educational, media, and professional contexts is explored and analysed from a coherent theoretical perspective.

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: apply knowledge and understanding of the notions of genre, discourse, and multimodality to a consideration of communicative practices in a specific social context
  • ULO2: analyse texts by applying knowledge of commonly occurring genres in educational and other contexts
  • ULO3: analyse patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts
  • ULO4: apply knowledge of social semiotic theory to identify systematic relationships between social context and discourse
  • ULO5: analyse the semiotic systems involved in specific acts of communication
  • ULO6: explain the relations between specific acts of communication and the contexts in which they occur

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online discussions 5% No ongoing
Multimodal Analysis and Commentary 50% No 7 November
Essay 45% No 26 September

Online discussions

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 5%

Participation in scheduled online discussions


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply knowledge and understanding of the notions of genre, discourse, and multimodality to a consideration of communicative practices in a specific social context
  • analyse texts by applying knowledge of commonly occurring genres in educational and other contexts
  • analyse patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts
  • apply knowledge of social semiotic theory to identify systematic relationships between social context and discourse
  • analyse the semiotic systems involved in specific acts of communication
  • explain the relations between specific acts of communication and the contexts in which they occur

Multimodal Analysis and Commentary

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: 7 November
Weighting: 50%

Analysis a multimodal text and write a commentary, 2,500 words


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply knowledge and understanding of the notions of genre, discourse, and multimodality to a consideration of communicative practices in a specific social context
  • analyse texts by applying knowledge of commonly occurring genres in educational and other contexts
  • analyse patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts
  • apply knowledge of social semiotic theory to identify systematic relationships between social context and discourse
  • analyse the semiotic systems involved in specific acts of communication
  • explain the relations between specific acts of communication and the contexts in which they occur

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 26 September
Weighting: 45%

Essay on multimodality, genre and discourse with discussion of specific context


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply knowledge and understanding of the notions of genre, discourse, and multimodality to a consideration of communicative practices in a specific social context
  • analyse texts by applying knowledge of commonly occurring genres in educational and other contexts
  • analyse patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts
  • apply knowledge of social semiotic theory to identify systematic relationships between social context and discourse
  • analyse the semiotic systems involved in specific acts of communication
  • explain the relations between specific acts of communication and the contexts in which they occur

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

In the case of on campus classes being suspended due to COVID 19, online seminars using teleconferencing (e.g. Zoom) will run at the usual class time and day.

Unit Schedule

This unit begins with a consideration of genre. Then we turn to exploring discourse. After that, we consider multimodality. The detailed schedule is available on iLearn.

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

Requesting an extension to assignment due date

On occasion, you may be in a situation when you aren't able to submit an assessment task on time. Extensions are only given in special circumstances, by completing a Special Consideration request. For more information on Special Consideration, see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration  

Late submission of assignments

If you haven't been approved for an extension and you submit your assessment task late, penalties are applied. You should consult your unit convenor if you are in this position. Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks. Weekends and public holidays are included. `

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 2021.01R of the Handbook