Students

ENGL8075 – Professional Contexts of Literary and Feature Writing

2023 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Michelle Hamadache
michelle.hamadache@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit focuses on developing work for magazines that publish different genres of creative writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, and creative non-fiction periodicals that publish writing on lifestyle and entertainment topics such as food and travel. Students learn to identify markets and publication outlets. They analyse specific readerships, styles, and topical content before developing their own publication-ready projects targeting a specific market and learning how to pitch to these magazines.

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: Identify and analyse magazines that publish different genres of creative writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, and creative non-fiction periodicals that publish writing on lifestyle and entertainment.
  • ULO2: Analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of different genres of writing.
  • ULO3: Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge within a sustained major work appropriate to specific readerships or community contexts.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate ethical conduct in relation to the production and publication processes of professional writing.
  • ULO5: Work collaboratively in groups to identify and analyse the features of different writing markets.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 10% No Ongoing, Wks 1-12
Report 15% No Week 12, 23:55 Sunday 29/10/2023
Creative work 50% No Week 10, 23:55 Sunday 15/10/2023
Proposal/Project Plan 20% No Week 7, 23:55 Sunday 10/09/2023
Story pitch 5% No Week 4, 23:55 Sunday 20/07/2023

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing, Wks 1-12
Weighting: 10%

 

Preparation and participation in scheduled online tutorial discussions.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of different genres of writing.
  • Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge within a sustained major work appropriate to specific readerships or community contexts.
  • Work collaboratively in groups to identify and analyse the features of different writing markets.

Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 12, 23:55 Sunday 29/10/2023
Weighting: 15%

 

Students analyse and report on the subjects, readership and requirements of a particular writing market.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and analyse magazines that publish different genres of creative writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, and creative non-fiction periodicals that publish writing on lifestyle and entertainment.
  • Analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of different genres of writing.
  • Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge within a sustained major work appropriate to specific readerships or community contexts.

Creative work

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Week 10, 23:55 Sunday 15/10/2023
Weighting: 50%

 

Students produce a publication-ready creative work targeting a specific literary market.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and analyse magazines that publish different genres of creative writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, and creative non-fiction periodicals that publish writing on lifestyle and entertainment.
  • Analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of different genres of writing.
  • Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge within a sustained major work appropriate to specific readerships or community contexts.
  • Demonstrate ethical conduct in relation to the production and publication processes of professional writing.

Proposal/Project Plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 7, 23:55 Sunday 10/09/2023
Weighting: 20%

 

Students design and draft a plan identifying the market and outlining the aims, scope, relevant research process, and time line for your creative work.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and analyse magazines that publish different genres of creative writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, and creative non-fiction periodicals that publish writing on lifestyle and entertainment.
  • Analyse and critique key issues raised in the production of different genres of writing.
  • Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge within a sustained major work appropriate to specific readerships or community contexts.
  • Demonstrate ethical conduct in relation to the production and publication processes of professional writing.

Story pitch

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 4, 23:55 Sunday 20/07/2023
Weighting: 5%

 

In-class or online presentation of a story pitch for a magazine.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and analyse magazines that publish different genres of creative writing: literary fiction, genre fiction, and creative non-fiction periodicals that publish writing on lifestyle and entertainment.
  • Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge within a sustained major work appropriate to specific readerships or community contexts.

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

Lectures and Zoom Classes/Online Forums start Week 1.

8 x Lectures

8 x Zoom Classes/Online Forums

Readings accessed via Leganto Link on Homepage of iLearn Unit.

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.

Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook