Overview
The aim of this unit is to introduce you to the basic elements of writing poetry and/or short dramatic pieces or any approved mix/variation thereof and to provide weekly opportunities to complete practical exercises in those writing forms and to reflect on contemporary creative writing theory via the unit Moodle website. At the end of the unit you will have acquired knowledge of the characteristic elements of the following creative writing techniques – experimental poetic techniques (concrete, visual, and 'code-as-text' poetry) and shorter dramatic forms ('short-act' plays, 'skits,' creative non-fiction and 'flash' fiction) – and will be able to demonstrate the capacity to incorporate these techniques into the production of a 'creative artefact' (3500 - 4000 words) consisting of a creative work and a critical reflection (exegesis).
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: HUMT20012 Elements of Creative Writing I HUMT20013 Elements of Creative Writing II HUMT20014 Writing Short Fiction
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Produce and effect a deliberately organised project in writing poetry and/or short dramatic pieces and tackle any problems arising in its completion
- Identify and appraise published research in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces
- Locate and apply secondary data sources, and review existing academic literature, in developing a methodology for the planned creative writing project
- Create a critical reflection based on the planned writing project
- Complete practical experimental writing exercises and synthesise learned techniques in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces in the planned writing project.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 45% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 45% | ||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
There are no set texts for the dissertation. Please consult with your supervisor.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom account (Free)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.anae@cqu.edu.au
m.svendsen@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Week One: Introduction
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Week 1: Writing Poetry' discussion board (unit moodle site).
Your entry could be a critical reflection or a draft piece of creative writing
b) Start your 'Critical Reflection Journal' (your writing journal will prove a valuable source of reflection over this term and form your submission for Assessment Item 2: Critical Reflection Journal
c) Commence drafting Assessment Item 1: Proposal (due next week).
Please refer to the exemplar to help you in creating your Proposal
Module/Topic
Week Two: Writing Poetry - Forms
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Poetry - Forms' discussion board
b) Finalise your draft for Assessment Item 1: Proposal (due this week) and match your work against the assessment criteria and the exemplar to ensure your submission meets the assessment requirements.
Module/Topic
Week Three: Writing Poetry - Techniques and Applications.
Note: A voluntary Zoom session may be scheduled before the due date for Assessment Item 1: The Proposal/Pitch (depending on interest). Please check the moodle unit site (see 'Assessment' block) for details. This session will be recorded and available for download soon thereafter. If you have questions about the assessment item, but cannot attend the Zoom session, please post your questions on the Q&A Forum.
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Poetry - Techniques and Applications' discussion board
b) Comment on a fellow student's post on the discussion board
c) Commence work on your writing project. The major writing project will comprise 3500–4000 words in total - Assessment Items 2 & 3). This work needs to successfully demonstrate the capacity to incorporate creative writing techniques into the production of a 'creative artefact' (2500–3000 words in total) consisting of a creative work and a critical reflection (Critical Reflection Journal: 2500–3000 words)
Assessment Item 1: Proposal Due: Week 3 Friday (27 July 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Week Four: Writing Poetry - Critical Analysis
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Poetry - Critical Analysis' discussion board
b) Comment on a fellow student's post
c) Remember to keep your 'Experimental Writing journal' up-to-date with weekly entries
Module/Topic
Week Five: Writing Poetry - Studies in Effect.
Note: A voluntary Zoom session may be scheduled for this week for the purposes of collaborative review (depending on interest). If you wish to participate in a collaborative review session (online Creative Writing workshop) and receive feedback on your draft, please check the Week Five Topic Section on the moodle unit site for details. This session will be recorded and available for download soon thereafter. If you can't make it to the session, but would still like feedback on your draft, please check the Week Five Topic Section on the moodle unit site for details.
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Poetry - Studies in Effect' discussion board
b) Post a response to a fellow student's post
c) Continue to work on your writing project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week Six: Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Introduction
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue revising and fine-tuning your writing project
b) Continue creating your Experimental Writing Journal
c) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Introduction' discussion board
Module/Topic
Week Seven: Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Forms
Note: A voluntary Zoom session may be scheduled for this week for the purposes of collaborative review (depending on interest). If you wish to participate in a collaborative review session (online Creative Writing workshop) and receive feedback on your draft, please check the Week Five Topic Section on the moodle unit site for details. This session will be recorded and available for download soon thereafter. If you can't make it to the session, but would still like feedback on your draft, please check the Week Seven Topic Section on the moodle unit site for details.
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Forms discussion board
b) Continue progress on your writing project
c) Write an critical reflection in your journal for this week
Module/Topic
Week Eight: Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Techniques and Applications
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Techniques and Applications' discussion board
b) Continue progress on your writing project
c) write a journal reflection for this week
Module/Topic
Week Nine: Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Studies in Effect
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Studies in Effect' discussion board
b) Continue progress on your writing project
c) write a journal reflection for this week
Module/Topic
Week Ten: Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Critical Analysis
Note: A voluntary Zoom session is scheduled for this week for the purposes of collaborative review and to discuss Written Assessments 2 & 3 (due in Weeks 11 and 12 repectively). If you wish to participate in a collaborative review session and get feedback on your draft, please check the Week Eleven Topic Section on the moodle unit site for details. This session will be recorded and available for download soon thereafter. If you can't make it to the session, but would still like feedback on your draft, please check the Week Eleven Topic Section on the moodle unit site for details. Part of this session will be dedicated to information about Assessment Item 3: Final Creative Artefact.
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Writing Short Dramatic Pieces - Critical Analysis' discussion board
b) Continue progress on your writing project
c) write a journal reflection for this week
Module/Topic
Week Eleven: Editing for Maximum Impact
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Contribute an entry to the 'Editing for Maximum Impact' discussion board
b) Finalise your 'Experimental Writing journal' and match your entries against the assessment criteria to ensure your work meets the requirements for the item
Assessment Item 2: Critical Reflection Journal Due: Week 11 Friday (28 Sept 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Week Twelve: Conclusion
Chapter
Unit moodle site:
- Unit moodle site learning materials, writing exercises, and extra readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Finalise your 'Creative artefact' and match your submission against the assessment criteria to ensure your work meets the requirements for the item.
Assessment Item 3: Final Creative Artefact Due: Week 12 Friday (5 Oct 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Students are required to develop a 500 - 700 word 'Proposal'.
The 'Proposal' will include an outline describing the basic themes, plot/story line or concept of the writing project to be undertaken over the Term.
The type of detail included in the proposal depends on the type of artefact intended. For instance, perhaps you would like to write poems for a book of poetry, or the first few scenes of a dramatic script for a theatre production, etc. In each case, given your work for this unit will be geared toward writing your poems/script, your proposal will need to position the scenes/poems as sitting within the conceptual idea a larger body of work - a book of poems, or a script etc - while focusing the most attention on what you actually plan to achieve within this unit proper.
The aim of the Proposal is twofold: a) to show how the student has investigated and thought carefully about a chosen topic; and b) to ensure the writing piece will be developed and written in a suitable, achievable, and appropriate way and with an emphasis on genre.
Therefore, your Proposal must identify a specific genre and show evidence that:
- you have researched this genre and the techniques you intend to apply,
- understand its literary characteristics,
- and provide some description/rationale as to how you aim to apply the technique in your final creative piece.
The Proposal is therefore in-part a negotiation of the creative writing topic with your supervisor (Dr Nicole Anae).
The Proposal is worth 20% of your overall graded and it is a condition of the unit that the item must be submitted, approved and passed.
Week 3 Friday (27 July 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5 Friday (10 Aug 2018)
The Proposal/pitch will be evaluated according to the extent to which:
- the proposal evidences that it will carry-out a clearly articulated set of outcomes in reference to the genre and form of the writing project (e.g., writing a series of ten poems, writing a dramatic script, writing a children's play, etc.)
- the proposal identifies the genre and style in which the content of the creative artefact will be written
- the proposal of the creative artefact represents an original piece of writing according to the chosen genre and is of an achievable standard shown via a week-by-week timeline indicating what is to be undertaken and when in the writing process (including milestones, e.g., benchmarks achieved leading up to Assessment 2 - Critical Reflection Journal, benchmarks achieved leading up to Assessment 3 - Final Creative Artefact)
- the proposal defines key literary concepts using credible/scholarly sources
- the proposal includes; a) at least 5 scholarly/credible references identified as important in ensuring that your creative artefact is informed by the literary and stylistic conventions of your chosen genre, the specified style, and experimental writing technique/s in which the content will be written, and b), is presented in a flawless literary presentation, formatting and referencing (Harvard Author-Date system)
Note: The specified word limit for this item (500 words) does not include the reference list. Also, there is a 10%+/- allowable variance over or under the stipulated word count.
- Produce and effect a deliberately organised project in writing poetry and/or short dramatic pieces and tackle any problems arising in its completion
- Identify and appraise published research in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces
- Locate and apply secondary data sources, and review existing academic literature, in developing a methodology for the planned creative writing project
- Create a critical reflection based on the planned writing project
- Complete practical experimental writing exercises and synthesise learned techniques in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces in the planned writing project.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Written Assessment
Students are required to reflect weekly on their writing progress with specific reference to their experiences throughout the creative writing process.
The Critical Reflection journal must discuss in a critical way how the final written piece (the creative artefact) is being/has been shaped by the various factors effecting the process of literary creation. Entries can be written in the experimental writing technique under weekly discussion.
Weighting: This item is worth 35% of your final mark for the unit.
NOTE: Students can complete their Experimental Writing journal as a blog if desired (using the weekly topic forums on the unit moodle site) or submit as a word document. If completing as a blog (either via the weekly moodle platforms or using an external blog platform), simply upload a completed Critical Reflection Journal - Blog Submissions form as your submission for this item.
Students weekly reflections must account for the period Week 2 until Week 11 (10 weeks in total).
Each weekly reflection response is worth 3.5 marks.
Word limit: Each response should be between 200-275 words in total (references are not included in the word count).
Week 11 Friday (28 Sept 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Friday (12 Oct 2018)
This assessment will be evaluated on the extent to which it demonstrates:
- Critical reflection regarding the ways in which the work in progress aligns with the creative intentions set out in the proposal;
- Critical reflection regarding the ways in which the work in progress is a demonstration of the critical engagement with the writing techniques identified in the proposal;
- A deliberate and concerted enterprise in seriously considering the factors which have shaped and determined the process of literary creation including;
- A justification of literary techniques used, a justification of chosen genre and form, a justification of how each step of the writing process as gone beyond simply sitting and writing, but offers insight into how you have critically examined your creative product in the light of contemporary theory and practice (insights each supported by critical/scholarly readings and material);
- Flawless presentation and clarity of expression in each critical reflection - including spelling and grammatical correctness and appropriate acknowledgment of all sources and in-text citation using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
- Produce and effect a deliberately organised project in writing poetry and/or short dramatic pieces and tackle any problems arising in its completion
- Identify and appraise published research in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces
- Locate and apply secondary data sources, and review existing academic literature, in developing a methodology for the planned creative writing project
- Create a critical reflection based on the planned writing project
- Complete practical experimental writing exercises and synthesise learned techniques in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces in the planned writing project.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Written Assessment
The final piece must be completed according to the topic proposed in Assessment One (The Proposal), as negotiated with their supervisor.
The word count is between 2500–3000 words in total.
While it is acceptable in this unit to allow of a 10% variation (either above or below) the word count, students are strongly advised to accord with word count (taking into account variation limits, e.g., +/-10%).
Weighting: This assessment item is worth 45% of the overall grade.
Note: A copy of the Proposal (Assessment Item 1) must be included with this assessment item (placed either at the very beginning, or on the final page/s of the Creative Artefact). The Proposal will not be included in the final word count.
Week 12 Friday (5 Oct 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (19 Oct 2018)
This assessment will be evaluated to the extent to which the work:
-
Evidences a carrying-out of the points referred to in the project pitch/proposal with experimentation and innovation;
-
Demonstrates an original piece of writing in the nominated writing technique and of the chosen genre, and is of a standard clearly showing indicators for the chosen genre and style;
-
Showcases a work of a flawless, polished, and finished piece of writing at a publishable standard;
-
Evidences the sustained use of recommended theoretical concepts in supporting work, whether a creative or critical component as regards experimental writing;
-
Utilises overall clarity of expression including spelling and grammatical correctness as well as appropriate acknowledgment of sources using the Harvard(author-date) referencing style.
- Produce and effect a deliberately organised project in writing poetry and/or short dramatic pieces and tackle any problems arising in its completion
- Identify and appraise published research in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces
- Locate and apply secondary data sources, and review existing academic literature, in developing a methodology for the planned creative writing project
- Create a critical reflection based on the planned writing project
- Complete practical experimental writing exercises and synthesise learned techniques in writing poetry and short dramatic pieces in the planned writing project.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
