Students

ENGX8010 – Creative Writing Seminar: Narrative Fundamentals

2024 – Session 1, Online-flexible

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
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWriting (OUA)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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 or novel chapter. 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 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 their learning in relation to their reading and writing of creative texts.

General Assessment Information

 

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 written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Analysis and Appraisal 30% No Ongoing, Weeks 1-12
Creative Work (minor) 20% No Week 8, 23:55pm Sunday, 14/04/2024
Creative Work (Major) 50% No Week 12, 23:55pm Sunday, 26/05/2024

Analysis and Appraisal

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Ongoing, Weeks 1-12
Weighting: 30%

 

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 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 their learning in relation to their reading and writing of creative texts.

Creative Work (minor)

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 8, 23:55pm Sunday, 14/04/2024
Weighting: 20%

 

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 short story, or novel.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of Australian and international literature and creative writing.
  • Evaluate their learning in relation to their reading and writing of creative texts.

Creative Work (Major)

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 12, 23:55pm Sunday, 26/05/2024
Weighting: 50%

 

A complete short story 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) is expected to have been developed 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 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 their learning in relation to their 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

Lectures and tutorials start in Week 1.

  • Lectures are uploaded to iLearn and accessed via ECHO360
  • On campus students: Please check the university timetable for class venues. timetables@mq.edu.au
  • Internal Students Enrolled in Zoom classes: Please access the class via link provided on iLearn sits. 
  • OUA or External Students: Please be prepared to participate in the weekly tutorials via the iLearn Discussion Forums beginning in week 1.

 

Readings

Required weekly readings for this unit will be accessed via the Leganto link in the unit iLearn website.

Only after your first login through iLearn will you be subsequently able to access the Leganto list. The list is always available via the iLearn Leganto link.

Unit Webpage and Technology required

Online units can are accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. 

PC and Internet access are required, Broadband or WiFi connection is essential. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Webcam or internal camera for Zoom classes if needed. 

Students must  be able to upload, download, and print Word documents. Word documents and PDFs are the only formats accepted for Turnitin assignments.

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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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
05/02/2024 Creative Minor Due Week 8

Unit information based on version 2024.03 of the Handbook