Students

ENGL2010 – The Human Story: Heart, Mind and Body in Early Literature

2022 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Stephanie Russo
stephanie.russo@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
25B Wally's Walk, Level 2
By appointment
Tutor
Sabina Rahman
sabina.rahman@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
25B Wally's Walk, Level 2
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cps at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit explores the rich and ever-changing category of 'the human' as it features in some of the most influential writings in English up to and including those by Shakespeare. It considers how these writings responded to and shaped ideas of 'the human' in their own times, while also examining how earlier literary representations of humanness relate to our modern assumptions about what it is to be human. Students will be exposed to a range of texts that offer insights into how the mind, the emotions, and the body were understood in medieval and early modern literature, and also study later texts that adapt these early ideas for modern use. The unit offers students an approach to early literature that will acquaint them with distant times and world views while also anchoring their studies of later literatures and shedding light on their understanding of the world today. This unit increases their literary-historical knowledge as well as their conceptual and technical vocabulary, to analyse and discuss literature from different periods and contexts with confidence. It also enables them to develop a sophisticated understanding of how cultures across time intersect with one another, and appreciate the vital function played by literature throughout the human story.

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:

  • ULO2: Understand and be able to describe some of the key features of a range of textual representations of mind, heart, and body from the medieval to the early modern period
  • ULO3: Undertake close reading of the primary medieval and early modern texts, and incorporate close reading as evidence into coherent analytical arguments
  • ULO4: Explain, verbally and in written assignments, the relationship between the primary texts and their historical and cultural contexts
  • ULO5: Engage in appropriate application of relevant theoretical concepts to the primary texts studied
  • ULO1: Demonstrate critical reading habits, interpretive analysis, research, and effective communication, with particular application to the field of English studies.
  • ULO6: Engage in informed critical discussion of unit content with peers and teachers, accommodate others’ points of view, and argue a critical position
  • ULO7: Apply understanding of literary techniques to literary study and beyond to other situations

General Assessment Information

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 ASSESSMENTS.

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 marks for your assignment.

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

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Media rich essay 40% No 23.59 on 5/06/2022
Participatory Task 20% No Ongoing
Reflection task 15% No 23.59 on 20/3/2022
Research Essay 25% No 23.59 on 24/4/2022

Media rich essay

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23.59 on 5/06/2022
Weighting: 40%

Research essay relating to set topics, combining written discussion with visual and/or audio components
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and be able to describe some of the key features of a range of textual representations of mind, heart, and body from the medieval to the early modern period
  • Undertake close reading of the primary medieval and early modern texts, and incorporate close reading as evidence into coherent analytical arguments
  • Explain, verbally and in written assignments, the relationship between the primary texts and their historical and cultural contexts
  • Engage in appropriate application of relevant theoretical concepts to the primary texts studied
  • Demonstrate critical reading habits, interpretive analysis, research, and effective communication, with particular application to the field of English studies.
  • Apply understanding of literary techniques to literary study and beyond to other situations

Participatory Task

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Preparation of notes for class relating to set tutorial topics and any addition research. Participation in group activities; answering questions in weekly tutorials and contributing meaningfully to in-class discussion.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain, verbally and in written assignments, the relationship between the primary texts and their historical and cultural contexts
  • Engage in informed critical discussion of unit content with peers and teachers, accommodate others’ points of view, and argue a critical position
  • Apply understanding of literary techniques to literary study and beyond to other situations

Reflection task

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23.59 on 20/3/2022
Weighting: 15%

A short written reflection on fundamental concepts in the unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain, verbally and in written assignments, the relationship between the primary texts and their historical and cultural contexts
  • Demonstrate critical reading habits, interpretive analysis, research, and effective communication, with particular application to the field of English studies.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 23.59 on 24/4/2022
Weighting: 25%

A medium length essay related to a set topic
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and be able to describe some of the key features of a range of textual representations of mind, heart, and body from the medieval to the early modern period
  • Engage in appropriate application of relevant theoretical concepts to the primary texts studied
  • Demonstrate critical reading habits, interpretive analysis, research, and effective communication, with particular application to the field of English studies.
  • Apply understanding of literary techniques to literary study and beyond to other situations

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

The unit activities consist of weekly half-hour lecture plus participatory activities responding to set questions.

Required (to buy/read)

  1. Marie Boroff, (ed), The Gawain Poet, Complete Works (Norton and Company)
  2. Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, the Winchester Manuscript, ed Helen Cooper (Oxford Worlds Classics)
  3. William Shakespeare, Othello, ed. Edward Pechter (Norton)
  4. Margaret Cavendish, Bell in Campo and The Sociable Companions, ed. Alexandra G. Barrett (Broadview Press)

Readings for some weeks will be accessible as scanned PDF files or links via the unit iLearn site

Students are advised to consult the unit Handbook / iLearn site closely  and regularly for detailed information about expected weekly readings.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 since First Published

Date Description
02/02/2022 Added staff contact details

Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook