Students

ENGL8090 – Special Study Unit 1: Research Preparation

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 Supervisor
Dept of English academic staff
Hsu-Ming Teo
Kavita Nandan
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
ENGX8090
Unit description Unit description

This unit offers students the opportunity to develop a research project based on specific genres of creative writing and to reflect on how this affects their own creative practice. Students will have the opportunity to read and analyse different genres and to research current scholarship and publishing trends in these genres. Working independently under guided supervision, students will hone their critical research, writing, and presentation skills. By the end of this unit, students will gain a critical understanding of the contemporary academic and professional contexts of their own writing.

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: Devise a research question relating to literature or creative writing.
  • ULO2: Locate and appropriately document scholarly research relevant to the topic.
  • ULO3: Use advanced critical thinking and writing skills to produce a finished work of critical research.
  • ULO4: Communicate the value and significance of the research.
  • ULO5: Appraise and evaluate the scholarly field and research culture within which the research is situated.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 20% No Weeks 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13
Research proposal and plan 20% No Week 7
Critical Writing 60% No Week 12

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13
Weighting: 20%

 

Reading preparation for tutorials, presentation of researched work, and feedback on other students' work.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Devise a research question relating to literature or creative writing.
  • Communicate the value and significance of the research.
  • Appraise and evaluate the scholarly field and research culture within which the research is situated.

Research proposal and plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

Research proposal and plan

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Devise a research question relating to literature or creative writing.
  • Locate and appropriately document scholarly research relevant to the topic.
  • Use advanced critical thinking and writing skills to produce a finished work of critical research.
  • Communicate the value and significance of the research.
  • Appraise and evaluate the scholarly field and research culture within which the research is situated.

Critical Writing

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 70 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 60%

 

Essay or chapter

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use advanced critical thinking and writing skills to produce a finished work of critical research.

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

This unit is primarily a reading unit: you will be given a reading list and some guidance through it, but your time will be spent reading, researching, and crafting your research project. Students will discuss their readings and research in a series of tutorials (online or in class). Guidance is given as to the kind of research and essay that is expected; rubrics are provided for all assessments.

Extensive resources are provided for students in the iLearn unit, along with guides as to the kinds of research expected for this unit. Each student's project will relate to a creative writing project underway, or being planned.

Unit Schedule

 

TUTORIALS: There are 5 one-hour tutorials to be held throughout the session. Participation in these tutorials is compulsory and will count towards the total mark for this unit. Classes will be run either on-campus or online.

The tutorials will be structured in the following way.

  1. Tutorial 1: Introduction to the unit and how it works. Overview of how to conduct research. Students asked to pick a genre and a text to read and analyse for next tutorial.
  2. Tutorial 2: Students discuss their chosen text and the academic scholarship on that particular genre, analysing strengths, weaknesses, current topics of interest in academic scholarship, and in publishing.
  3. Tutorial 3: Students discuss their project plans. FAQs about the Project Plan.

MID SESSION BREAK

  1. Tutorial 4: Students discuss their Research Project and the changes they would make to their question or research plan after feedback.
  2. Tutorial 5: Students give 5 minute PowerPoint presentations on their research projects.

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 2021.04 of the Handbook