Students
ENGL8010 – Creative Writing Seminar: Narrative Fundamentals
2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances
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
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor and Teacher
Michelle Hamadache
25B Wally's Walk
By appointment, please email.
Michelle Hamadache
Hsu-Ming Teo
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
In this unit students develop their creative writing practice across one or more writing genres, drafting new creative work in the genres of the short story, novel, or poetry. Students extend their skills both in the crafting and the analysis of the craft of writing, and practice close reading skills. New approaches to craft and technique or genre are explored, and students reflect upon and interrogate their writing and writing process. Analysis and evaluation of published creative works and contemporary narrative studies inform and enlarge students’ writing skills and technical vocabularies. At the end of the unit students will have drafted, workshopped and written a new creative work in their chosen genre. |
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: Develop and demonstrate creative writing and close reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
- ULO2: Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, or novel.
- ULO3: Analyse and evaluate the work of others in writing communities.
- ULO4: Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international literature and creative writing.
- ULO5: Evaluate your learning in relation to your reading and writing of creative texts.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis and Appraisal | 20% | No | Participation Weeks 1-12 |
| Creative Work (minor) | 15% | No | Weeks 3, 7, 9 |
| Quizzes | 15% | No | Weeks 4, 12 |
| Creative Work (Major) | 50% | No | Week 12 |
Analysis and Appraisal
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Participation Weeks 1-12
Weighting: 20%
Written or verbal analysis and appraisal of lecture topics, set readings, and work in progress by student peers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop and demonstrate creative writing and close reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, or novel.
- Analyse and evaluate the work of others in writing communities.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international literature and creative writing.
Creative Work (minor)
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weeks 3, 7, 9
Weighting: 15%
Three writing exercises are completed in order that students practice specific elements of writing craft and technique.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop and demonstrate creative writing and close reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, or novel.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international literature and creative writing.
- Evaluate your learning in relation to your reading and writing of creative texts.
Quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 12
Weighting: 15%
Two online quizzes enable students to review and consolidate the concepts, topics, and content of the readings and lectures.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop and demonstrate creative writing and close reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
- Analyse and evaluate the work of others in writing communities.
Creative Work (Major)
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 50%
A complete short story, series of poems or novel section. The work will develop upon one or both of the workshop drafts submitted for workshop; and may also have developed upon one or more of the Writing Exercises. The Creative Work (Major) must have been workshopped, and students are expected to have developed their work substantially following the workshop.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Develop and demonstrate creative writing and close reading skills in relation to concepts, craft and technique.
- Plan, write, edit and rewrite creative works in the genres of poetry, short story, or novel.
- Analyse and evaluate the work of others in writing communities.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international literature and creative writing.
- Evaluate your learning in relation to your reading and writing of creative texts.
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
Seminar structure
The unit is delivered online, and in blended mode (face-to-face and online) for campus students. Online students work in groups of 6-8 students in a discussion group and a workshop group.
The weekly seminars are made up of six weeks of discussion that focus on the readings, topics, themes and lectures; and six weeks of workshop intensive classes, complemented with writing exercises.
Resources
Most of the essential and recommended readings for this unit are available via the unit's Leganto link to the Macquarie Library's online resources for the unit. Some books will need to be borrowed or purchased. Your lecturer recommends that you source these from Australian suppliers in order to support your peers ( i.e. Australian writers, booksellers and publishers) such as Booktopia.com; independent booksellers such as Gleebooks; your local library; and Australian re-sellers of used books such as through Abebooks.com are all excellent supply sources.
Unit Schedule
Week 1 Narration – ways of telling
Week 2 Text and Character
Week 3 Speech and Dialogue in literary texts
Week 4 Workshop
Week 5 Workshop
Week 6 Workshop
Week 7 Focalisation – expressing perspective
Week 8 Structure, scene, plot
Week 9 Workshop
Week 10 Workshop
Week 11 Workshop
Week 12 Choreography and Time
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
Violent and Sexually Violent Content in creative writing workshop and assessment submissions
Material that might seriously disturb or distress other students or the teacher is not suitable for the University writing workshop environment. The aim of our workshops is to provide a safe place for students to share their work in progress. We are all required to read and discuss work that is presented in the workshop, and so for this reason you must consider the impact on others if you are planning to write potentially distressing content.
Students presenting work that includes detailed descriptions of violence including sexual violence, especially material that involves rape, or harm to animals must contact the Unit Convenor before submitting the work for workshop or as work for assessment. They must discuss their work with the convenor at least 2 weeks before the scheduled workshop or assessment due date. Permission may be withheld, in which case the student will be required to submit a new work by the due date.
You should also be aware of the Student Code of Conduct and in particular clauses in the sections Safety and Breach of Rights http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/student_conduct/conduct.html
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