Writing Exercises

The weekly writing workshops are the practical core of this course, so it is essential that the writing exercises be done and brought along in suitable form each week. Each week’s exercise (numbering 5 in total) must be typed (double-spaced), and you must bring 8 copies to your tutorial for workshopping in Weeks 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10. Details of weekly exercises will be handed out in Week 1. Write approximately 200 words for each exercise. The following is what you will then submit for grading to Turn It In on Friday 18 October 2019: You will submit the original drafts of 2 of the 5 exercises (of your choice); your edited drafts of these two exercises; and a 250-word reflection identifying the in-class feedback you received from peers and/or your tutor, and how, as a result of this feedback, you have sought to improve your writing.

Marking Criteria (for a full assessment rubric, please refer to iLearn):

• Demonstrated ability to write grammatically correct sentences, following accepted English syntax and punctuation.

• Demonstrated ability to write vividly without using cliches, ‘showing’ not ‘telling’, and an awareness of nuances of meaning

• Evidence of having understood the set task

Submission: Your writing exercises assessment is to be submitted via Turn-it-in by 11.59pm on Friday 18 October 2019. Students should also bring hard copies of their exercises to their tutorials in Weeks 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10.

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extensions: Extensions can only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.

Research Portfolio & Report

Task: Submit a research portfolio plus 600-word research report. Details of this assessment will be made available in Week 1.

Marking criteria (for a full assessment rubric, please refer to iLearn):

• Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth, relevant research using a variety of methodologies. Demonstrated ability to conduct an in-depth interview with one or more people involved in music and the arts (no friends or relatives). 

• Demonstrated ability to synthesise this research by focusing on one or two key themes to have emerged from it

• Demonstrated ability to reflect on the relevance of such research to your proposed creative arts article

Submission: This assignment must be submitted via Turn-It-In by 11.59pm on Friday 27 September 2019.

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extensions: Extensions will only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.

Online Test

At the end of the semester you will be required to complete an online test which will be worth 25% of your overall mark. The test will take place during the Week 11 lecture time slot (Monday 21 October at 10am). Students will answer questions based on: the lecture content for the unit, and the unit readings. The test is designed to assist you in demonstrating your knowledge of the unit content as a whole. You will be given 1 hour in which to write your responses. You are strongly advised to complete all set readings and attend all lectures.

Failure to sit the in-lecture test will result in a mark of zero (0) for that test. If you miss a test due to a medical issue, and/or if a Special Consideration request has been approved, then you will be given the opportunity to sit the test at a later date. In such cases you must supply a medical certificate.

Marking Criteria (for a full assessment rubric, please refer to iLearn):

• Demonstrated understanding of the question

• Demonstrated knowledge of lecture and reading materials

• Application of materials to set question

Submission: The test will take place online via iLearn.

Final Article

Your task it to write a 1500-word article suitable for publication in a newspaper, magazine, street press, zine, blog, website etc, or suitable to be read on a radio or television arts and culture-type program. This is not a university essay and does not require footnotes and bibliography. Further details of the essay assignment will be distributed in Week 1.

Marking Criteria (for a full assessment rubric, please refer to iLearn):

• Demonstrated ability to write vividly without using cliches, ‘showing’ not ‘telling’, and an awareness of nuances of meaning

• Evidence of intellectual investigation

• Demonstrated ability to synthesise in-depth research into a compelling, well-structured story. Demonstrated ability to showcase the interview/s conducted with one or more people in music and the arts (no friends or relatives)

• Evidence that the writer has taken creative risks, both in choice of research/writing topic, and in the writing itself

• Demonstrated ability to write grammatically correct sentences, following accepted English syntax and punctuation.

• Evidence of a ‘voice’ in the piece – a consistent, warm, trust-worthy sense of authority

Submission: Your final articles are to be submitted via Turn-It-In by 11.59pm on Wednesday 6th November 2019.

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extensions: Extensions will only be granted by the unit convenor in line with university policy.