Students

APPL8010 – Genre, Discourse and Multimodality

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Melissa Reed
Maria Herke
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MAppLingTESOL and completion of 40cp at 8000 level including APPL8001 and APPL8200 and APPL8250.
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit, you will develop your understanding of theories of genre, discourse and multimodality and how they are applied in communication, and more specifically to English language teaching and learning. You will consider how different spaces affect teaching and learning. You will also learn to analyse how and why multimodal choices and combinations are made in different contexts and develop your understanding of multimodal English language resources and their pedagogical aims.

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: Explain the concept of multimodality and how it can be understood in relation to established approaches to genre and discourse in Applied Linguistics.
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate the uses of genre, discourse and multimodality to English language teaching and learning, including learning materials and spaces.  
  • ULO3: Apply knowledge of social semiotic theory through analysis of patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts.
  • ULO4: Communicate key concepts related to genre, discourse and multimodality to a professional audience using audiovisual presentation technology.

General Assessment Information

All assessment tasks must be submitted in order to be eligible to pass this unit.

Requesting an extension to assignment due date

On occasion, you may be in a situation when you aren't able to submit an assessment task on time. Extensions are only given in special circumstances, by completing a Special Consideration request. For more information on Special Consideration, see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration  

Late submission of assignments

If you haven't been approved for an extension and you submit your assessment task late, penalties are applied. You should consult your unit convenor if you are in this position. Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks. Weekends and public holidays are included. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Multimodality and its relation to genre and discourse 20% No 31/8/25
Classroom space and language teaching and learning 40% No 21/9/25
Multimodal analysis of an ELT course book 40% No 9/11/25

Multimodality and its relation to genre and discourse

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 31/8/25
Weighting: 20%

 

In this assessment task, you will critically evaluate theories of genre and discourse and explain the relation between your working definitions of these concepts and a social semiotic theory of multimodality. You will also examine the potential implications for English language teaching and learning.

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the concept of multimodality and how it can be understood in relation to established approaches to genre and discourse in Applied Linguistics.
  • Apply knowledge of social semiotic theory through analysis of patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts.
  • Communicate key concepts related to genre, discourse and multimodality to a professional audience using audiovisual presentation technology.

Classroom space and language teaching and learning

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 21/9/25
Weighting: 40%

 

In this assessment task, you will create an audio-visual presentation describing a physical teaching space, explaining how space is used in the teaching and learning activity that takes place, and explaining the affordances and constraints on teaching and learning of the physical space.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate the uses of genre, discourse and multimodality to English language teaching and learning, including learning materials and spaces.  
  • Apply knowledge of social semiotic theory through analysis of patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts.
  • Communicate key concepts related to genre, discourse and multimodality to a professional audience using audiovisual presentation technology.

Multimodal analysis of an ELT course book

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 9/11/25
Weighting: 40%

 

In this assessment task, you will present a critical analysis of a unit of work from an English Language Teaching (ELT) coursebook, explaining how the multimodal elements support teaching and learning.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the concept of multimodality and how it can be understood in relation to established approaches to genre and discourse in Applied Linguistics.
  • Critically evaluate the uses of genre, discourse and multimodality to English language teaching and learning, including learning materials and spaces.  
  • Apply knowledge of social semiotic theory through analysis of patterns of meaning across different semiotic systems (e.g. language, image, layout) in specific communicative contexts.
  • Communicate key concepts related to genre, discourse and multimodality to a professional audience using audiovisual presentation technology.

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 is delivered face-to-face for internal students, with one weekly seminar. See timetables.mq.edu.au for more information. All resources are online. For external students, seminars are recorded and there are weekly learning tasks including mini-lectures, learning activities, and online forum discussions to be completed.

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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.

Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.  

Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.  

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face seminars), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session. 

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know. 


Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook