Students
ENGL8030 – Digital Creative Writing: Interactive Prose and Poetry
2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual
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
Catherine Fargher
Discipline Convenor
Michelle Hamadache
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
In the transition from print-based media to digital writing forms what new genres, styles, techniques, platforms and audiences emerge? This applied writing unit reflects on the dynamic relationships that exist between creative writing practice and digital cultures. Recent technological innovations not only challenge established publishing modes, but also shape 'voice' in the digital sphere. We look at voice, and the increasing breakdown of boundaries between content producer and content consumer. Students will have the opportunity to engage with web-based and other electronic media, and to develop skills that advance their digital literacy. Having collectively established a theme for the unit, an e-portfolio of individual works will be produced over the course of the session. |
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: Plan and produce short-form digital text-based creative works in two or more technologies.
- ULO2: Employ industry-appropriate vocabulary and concepts in the analysis of digital creative writing and digital cultures.
- ULO3: Appraise and evaluate the digital creative work of others in writing workshops and writing communities.
- ULO4: Evaluate how digital writing technologies shape creative writing practice.
General Assessment Information
LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS.
Please note that the University and the Faculty of Arts have launched a new assessment policy effective as of 1 July 2021. This new policy particularly affects LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS.
The Faculty policy in relation to late assessment submissions is as follows:
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc.
To be very clear:
-
- Unless you have applied for special consideration and had your application approved, for each day your assignment is late, 10 marks will be deducted. For example, if you submit your assignment 7 days late, 70 marks will be deducted, which means you will fail that assignment.
- If your assignment is more than 7 days late (including weekends), you will get 0 for your assignment.
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These are serious penalties that will substantially alter your final grade and even determine whether you pass or fail this unit. Please make every effort to submit your assignment by the due date.
If you find you cannot submit your assignment on time, please apply for Special Consideration through AskMQ. Make sure you read Macquarie University's policy regarding Special Consideration requests before you apply:
https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration
Participation brief and instructions (20%)
All students must participate in the online discussions and activities for this unit. You are expected to participate in the form of discussion posts, critical reflections and very importantly, by providing constructive feedback to other student peers on their plans and project drafts.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
This assessment is marked according to Unit Learning Outcome 3.
Digital Creative Work (Major) (35%)
Summary: Production of a major digital creative work for assessment, supported by study of narrative design and digital writing techniques.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
This assessment is marked according to Unit Learning Outcome 1, and the assignment rubic.
Digital Creative Work (Minor) (25%)
Summary: Production of a minor digital creative work and Reflective Statement for assessment.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
This assessment will be marked according to Unit Learning Outcome 1, and the assignment rubic.
REFLECTIVE ESSAY (Weighting 20%)
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
This assessment is marked according to Unit Learning Outcomes 2 and 4.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | 20% | No | Weeks 1-12 Informal teacher and peer feedback |
| Digital creative work (minor) | 25% | No | Week 7 - Sept 10, 11.55pm |
| Digital creative work (major) | 35% | No | Week 11 - Oct 22. 11.55pm |
| Reflective essay | 20% | No | Week 12 - Oct. 29th 11.55pm |
Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Weeks 1-12 Informal teacher and peer feedback
Weighting: 20%
Contribution to discussions and workshops; practical writing tasks; peer review.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Employ industry-appropriate vocabulary and concepts in the analysis of digital creative writing and digital cultures.
- Appraise and evaluate the digital creative work of others in writing workshops and writing communities.
Digital creative work (minor)
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 7 - Sept 10, 11.55pm
Weighting: 25%
Students will utilise two or more technologies in the writing and production of a minor digital creative work, and have published these works to the web.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Plan and produce short-form digital text-based creative works in two or more technologies.
Digital creative work (major)
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 44 hours
Due: Week 11 - Oct 22. 11.55pm
Weighting: 35%
Students will utilise two or more technologies in the writing and production of a major digital creative work, and have published these works to the web.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Plan and produce short-form digital text-based creative works in two or more technologies.
Reflective essay
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 12 - Oct. 29th 11.55pm
Weighting: 20%
Reflective essay
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Employ industry-appropriate vocabulary and concepts in the analysis of digital creative writing and digital cultures.
- Evaluate how digital writing technologies shape creative writing practice.
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
Resources, readings, links to help you in the unit.
In each of the three modules,
1. Workshopping and Introductory Practical Excercises 1 and 2,
2. Minor Work and workshopping
3. Major work and workshopping,
there are further specific resources that relate to that module.
Go to the home page for the unit and scroll down to find your minor and major work module areas.
Readings are also available for each week of the Unit. Please find them on Leganto
Unit Schedule
Week 1: What is digital creative writing?
Week 2: Introduction to Writing in a Network
Week 3: Generative texts: Twitter for sampling and scraping
Week 4: ‘Hands-free’ writing. Bots, memes, #
Week 5: Generative texts: bots for writing
Week 6: Interactive Fictions and Poetry
Week 7: Narrative Design: The writer’s roles - introduction to TWINE
Weeks 8 - 10: Workshop intensives
Week 11: Narrative: storyline, characterisation, world
Week 12: Digital futures for the creative writer
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 from Previous Offering
Alongside the previous Unit offering, updated content will include exploration of the adaptation of traditional forms of literary creation, such as poetry and prose and the hybrid modes emerging in the complex, emerging and at times experimental or unstable spaces of digital literary production, including the increasing breakdown of boundaries between content producer and content consumer, and emerging modes such as fan-fiction and epistolary storytelling.
Unit information based on version 2021.01 of the Handbook