Students

ENGX8050 – Word, Image, Form: Language-Based Strategies in Poetry and Prose

2026 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jimmy Van
jimmy.van@mq.edu.au
Willo Drummond
willo.drummond@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrWrit
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
ENGL8050
Unit description Unit description
This unit trains students in poetics and language-usage as applicable to poetry and prose. The unit focuses on experimentation in craft and technique with particular attention to language, including poetic tropes, traditional and contemporary approaches to form as well as strategies for sequencing poetry and short-form prose works.
In addition to writing workshops, students undertake close reading and analysis of published Australian and international poetry and prose and explore theoretical texts that investigate questions of form and the relationship of the reader to the text. Activities are structured so that students can make productive links between theoretical concepts and their own writing. At the outcome of the unit students will have produced major and minor works of creative writing and extended their skills in practical analysis of poetry and language-focused prose. 

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, analyse and apply literary tropes as applicable to poetry and literary writing.
  • ULO2: Understand and apply approaches to form and the relationship between form and content.
  • ULO3: Identify, analyse and create written works that engage with relevant social, cultural, global and ethical issues.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate the capacity to think creatively, critically and imaginatively to evaluate and present complex ideas, concepts, problems and processes through creative writing.
  • ULO5: Analyse and appraise the work of others in writing communities.

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 Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Creative Work (Minor) 30% No 06/09/2026 Individual Yes Open
Portfolio 30% No 25/10/2026 Individual Yes Open
Creative Work (Major) 40% No 01/11/2026 Individual Yes Open

Creative Work (Minor)

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 06/09/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Creative work incorporating concepts and practices from the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, analyse and apply literary tropes as applicable to poetry and literary writing.
  • Understand and apply approaches to form and the relationship between form and content.
  • Identify, analyse and create written works that engage with relevant social, cultural, global and ethical issues.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to think creatively, critically and imaginatively to evaluate and present complex ideas, concepts, problems and processes through creative writing.

Portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 25/10/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Writing exercises, workshopping, discussion and analysis activities
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, analyse and apply literary tropes as applicable to poetry and literary writing.
  • Understand and apply approaches to form and the relationship between form and content.
  • Identify, analyse and create written works that engage with relevant social, cultural, global and ethical issues.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to think creatively, critically and imaginatively to evaluate and present complex ideas, concepts, problems and processes through creative writing.
  • Analyse and appraise the work of others in writing communities.

Creative Work (Major)

Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: 01/11/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Creative work incorporating concepts and practices from the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, analyse and apply literary tropes as applicable to poetry and literary writing.
  • Understand and apply approaches to form and the relationship between form and content.
  • Identify, analyse and create written works that engage with relevant social, cultural, global and ethical issues.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to think creatively, critically and imaginatively to evaluate and present complex ideas, concepts, problems and processes through creative writing.

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures

Lectures begin in Week 1. Please consult the ENGL/ENGX8050 iLearn site to access the lecture link. 

Listening to the lectures is expected before participating in the weekly tutorial. Missing lectures will reduce your opportunities for learning and probably result in poor marks across the unit.

Tutorials

Depending on your mode of enrolment, you will either participate in weekly face-to-face tutorials or participate asynchronously via iLearn Discussion Forums. All students will be required to complete a portfolio of weekly learning activities, submitted at the end of the unit. Tutorials and learning activities will commence in Week 1.

Readings

Readings for this Unit are available via the iLearn site for ENGL/ENGX8050. You will find a Link on the unit homepage taking you directly to the 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 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 https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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 2026.01 of the Handbook