Students

ENGL203 – Contemporary Literature

2018 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alys Moody
Kirstin Mills
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ENGL120
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit looks at how literature is alive in the world today, and how it responds to the new challenges and opportunities afforded to it by the twenty-first century. The premise of this unit is that literature plays an active role in the contemporary public sphere, and that writers are developing exciting and innovative ways of responding both to contemporary debates on matters including race, immigration, gender, terrorism and globalisation, and to new contexts for their work, including the Internet, new forms of literary celebrity, and the rise of creative writing programmes. You will be encouraged to see how the essays you write and the literary analysis you perform can help to create links between the so-called “real world” and the texts you read. We will reflect on how we read literature now, and how we can best write about literature to capture its presence and power in our lives.

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:

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Unit Participation 20% No Ongoing
Short Research Essay 30% No 13 April
Criticism in Public 50% No 10 June

Unit Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Contribution to the learning environment of the unit, via participation in online discussions and engagement with your partner.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Short Research Essay

Due: 13 April
Weighting: 30%

1,500 word essay, drawing on two texts and additional research. See below for questions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Criticism in Public

Due: 10 June
Weighting: 50%

Critical essay, discussing two texts on this unit, written for a general audience (1500-2000 words); plus short reflective essay explaining relationship of essay to scholarship (500-1000 words).


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Delivery and Resources

This unit has one lecture and one tutorial every week. Attendance at lectures is expected. Attendance at tutorials is required and more than two absences may result in the loss of you entire tutorial participation grade.

Students should purchase or otherwise ensure they have access to the following set texts:

  • Junot Díaz, Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah
  • Ben Lerner, Leaving the Atocha Station
  • Claudia Rankine, Citizen

Additional readings will be made available via iLearn and MultiSearch.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

Student Support

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

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and compare literary texts across a range of genres, including the novel, the essay, poetry, and hybrid genres, using a sound critical vocabulary and scholarly research
  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain key features of the contemporary literary field, including the role of literary celebrity, creative writing programmes, and digital media, and analyse how these features impact on literary texts
  • Reflect on the role of critical writing and essays in the contemporary literary field
  • Explain and analyse how literature participates in debates in the public sphere, including discussions over race, immigration, ethics, history, and the representation of disasters
  • Develop well-reasoned arguments about literary texts, and support these arguments orally and in writing

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Short Research Essay
  • Criticism in Public