Overview
This unit is a component of the Master of Letters course. This unit requires you to complete the preparation of a dissertation as commenced in HUMT20016: Research Dissertation Creative Writing A. The final dissertation consists of two (2) interrelated parts: a sustained piece of original creative writing (either Fiction, Poetry, Drama or any other approved mix), and; an accompanying theoretically informed critical commentary (exegesis). The Dissertation will be formatted using the Harvard (Author-Date) Referencing style and the maximum combined length of the creative work and the corresponding exegesis should be between 15 000–20 000 words.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: HUMT20016
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 1 - 2022
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 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 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.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Moodle forum
Students suggested that they would prefer weekly Zoom sessions and additional support in the development of a lit.review as many of them had never completed one previously.
Host Zooms more regularly (including some outside of traditional working hours).
Feedback from Email, Moodle forum
Students did not understand the rationale behind submitting the final two assessment pieces on the same day.
Ensure that the rationale is clearly set out in the Unit Profile as well as on the Moodle site.
- Apply knowledge of both research principles and methods to undertake a critical review of the literature specific to the literary practice, genre and form characterising the sustained creative writing project
- Produce an exegesis critically and objectively explaining the logic and implementation of the literary applications and techniques underscoring the practice, design and realisation of the sustained creative writing project ('creative artefact')
- Finalise the culmination of research in the execution and fulfilment of a completed Dissertation comprising: a) a creative writing artefact; and b) an accompanying exegesis.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
1 - Annotated bibliography - 0% | |||
2 - Critical Review - 0% | |||
3 - Thesis/Dissertation - 100% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
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 |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
All recommended readings are available on the e-unit moodle site.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom account (Free)
- Zoom app on your smart phone or access to Zoom on your laptop
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
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See unit moodle site for details.
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 5: FINESSING THE EXEGESIS - FORMATTING AND REFERENCING
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 6: CHECK YOUR PROGRESS - EXEGESIS TIP SHEET
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 7: COMBINING DOCUMENTS - THE CREATIVE ARTEFACT AND THE EXEGESIS
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 8: CREATING YOUR DISSERTATION PROPER - UNDERSTANDING DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 9: DRAFTING YOUR DISSERTATIONS PROPER - INTEGRATING ALL REQUIREMENTS INTO A SINGLE DOCUMENT
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 10: EDITING YOUR DISSERTATION - REVISE, REVISE, REVISE
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 11: MOVING TOWARD SUBMISSION: CHECK, DOUBLE-CHECK, AND RECHECK AGAIN
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See unit moodle site for details.
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WEEK 12: DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE - MAKING YOUR DISSERTATION SHINE
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See unit moodle site for details.
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Written Assessment 3 - Final Dissertation (Completed ready for submission) Due: Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
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1 Annotated bibliography
The Literature Review/Annotated Bibliography develops aims to both inform you about the existing scholarship around your topic (relating to theories of genre, techniques in writing within that genre, etc.,), and, helps you to identify the gaps in the scholarship your creative artefact seeks to address (situating your creative work within that scholarship but indicating how your creative processes have shaped an original and innovative piece).
As such, the Literature Review/Annotated Bibliography will evolve and change over the course of the unit (as you write your exegesis), so this item is not expected to be in its final form until the exegesis component of the Dissertation is completed (that is, the reference list included with the exegetical component of the Dissertation proper will represent the end result of the Literature Review/Annotated Bibliography).
So, to be clear, your reference list for your exegesis will comprise the relevant texts from your Literature Review/Annotated Bibliography; those texts from which you have drawn the theoretical and critical information used in the objective discussion of your creative writing process (the exegesis).
The Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review will be assessed base on the way the submission:
- Establishes creative writing research territory;
- Establishes significance of creative writing territory
- Establishes creative writing research niche (briefly reviews what has been found, and then identifies a gap)
- Discusses what has been found, but points out inconsistency of results;
- Motivates next part of creative writing literature review
- Further justifies the need to investigate the impact of research methodology on creative writing praxis
- Reviews the chronological development of research in creative writing (an approach that is useful at times, but not always the best)
- Discusses one key paper at a time by describing its methods and key findings, but then identifies weaknesses in the method and/or limitations in the findings
- Then discusses how the next researchers tried to address these problems;
- Presents a flawlessly prepared item including close attention to grammar and a perfected approach to Harvard style referencing.
Week 6 Wednesday (20 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit online as part of Assessment Item 3 - Final Dissertation
Week 8 Wednesday (4 May 2022)
Dissertation comprising the creative artefact and the exegesis (completed in HUMT20016 and HUMT20017) submitted via unit moodle site and sent out (by HoC) for external examination and returned. The external examination process typically takes around 6 - 8 weeks. A provisional grade (RO = Result Outstanding) will be assigned until the examination process has been completed and return grades determined upon award.
The Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review will be assessed base on the way the submission:
- Establishes creative writing research territory;
- Establishes significance of creative writing territory
- Establishes creative writing research niche (briefly reviews what has been found, and then identifies a gap)
- Discusses what has been found, but points out inconsistency of results;
- Motivates next part of creative writing literature review
- Further justifies the need to investigate the impact of research methodology on creative writing praxis
- Reviews the chronological development of research in creative writing (an approach that is useful at times, but not always the best)
- Discusses one key paper at a time by describing its methods and key findings, but then identifies weaknesses in the method and/or limitations in the findings
- Then discusses how the next researchers tried to address these problems;
- Presents a flawlessly prepared item including close attention to grammar and a perfected approach to Harvard style referencing.
- Undertake critical research to review, analyse, and independently solve complex stylistic questions in one or more areas of practice specific to the sustained creative writing project
- Demonstrate some independence in the planning and completion of a sustained creative writing project ('creative artefact') and accompanying exegesis in one or more disciplines or areas of creative writing practice
- Finalise the culmination of their research in the creation of a completed Dissertation comprising: a) a creative writing artefact; and b) an accompanying exegesis.
- Knowledge
- Research
2 Critical Review
The exegesis should be constituted by a piece of critical writing focused on the processes of creating the creative artefact. Typically, an exegesis is no more than 25-33% of the dissertation proper. The exegesis will be the result of extensive research into the various aspects of the creative writing project: the characteristics of the genre, the theoretical and literary influence of the context and the shaping elements in a literary work of art.
To satisfy the requirements of the degree the exegesis must demonstrate substantial conceptualisation of the characteristics of the genre, the influence of the context and the shaping elements in a creative work.
The exegesis will be assessed as a contextualisation of the research undertaken in the form of critical writing, and not as a separate research paper. In other words, the creative writing component constitutes the research outcome and the exegesis is intended to comment on that research as it was applied to the student's creative process.
There are a number of possible foci for the exegesis (these may become key headings for the actual exegesis):
- A clear conceptualisation of the project/ dissertation including a rationale (i.e. the exegesis, while it does include a number of components, should focus on the artefact in question - it is not a separate essay that focuses on other things);
- A description of the 'publishable standard' to which the work aspires as measured by industry indicators for the chosen genre and negotiated at the project's outset;
- An outline of the original contribution to knowledge that the artefact and exegesis will make (this is a key examination requirement for a PhD);
- Characteristics of the chosen genre and how the artefact contributes, reworks, experiments with and/or affirms these and why;
- Any theoretical and/or contextual shaping elements (for example, if using a ficto-critical writing approach, this would need to be explained including some rationale for the choice);
- Some idea of the method to be used in producing the artefact (i.e. beyond just sitting and writing - what research is needed, how will this influence what is written, timelines, etc);
- Flawless presentation including grammatical correctness and Harvard style referencing.
Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit online via moodle unit site
Dissertation comprising the creative artefact and the exegesis (completed in HUMT20016 and HUMT20017) submitted via unit moodle site and sent out (by HoC) for external examination and returned. The external examination process typically takes around 6 - 8 weeks. A provisional grade (RO = Result Outstanding) will be assigned until the examination process has been completed and return grades determined upon award.
External examination of the Exegesis (completed in HUMT20017) will be based on the extent to which the Exegesis:
Contribution to knowledge and creativity
- Characteristics of the corresponding interrelated creative exegesis demonstrating a substantial and original contribution to the knowledge/s of the discipline/s.
- The exegesis represents a theoretically informed critical commentary of the enterprise of literary creativity.
Indicators of significance and potential impact
- Significance of exegesis in making a contribution to knowledge in the area with which it deals (including original and new knowledge within the genre discipline/s)
- Proficiency of the exegesis in its analysis of the chosen medium and/or genre, and the extent to which it affords evidence of originality in conception, inquiry, and/or execution
- Potential significance and impact of the exegesis in relation to informing creative literature and/or literary practice
Indicators of quality research
- Discussion of research findings in relation to the creative component using theoretical and/or reflexive discourse
- Scope of literature consulted, synthesised and interpreted
- Use of selected theories/concepts
- Analysis and interpretation of findings
- Use of primary and secondary sources
- Choice, accuracy and rigor of methodology
Indicators of presentation
- Clarity and cohesion of writing and argumentation
- Quality of English expression and grammar
- Quality of editing and proofreading
- Quality of layout, presentation
- Quality of referencing using the Harvard (author-date) style
- Undertake critical research to review, analyse, and independently solve complex stylistic questions in one or more areas of practice specific to the sustained creative writing project
- Demonstrate some independence in the planning and completion of a sustained creative writing project ('creative artefact') and accompanying exegesis in one or more disciplines or areas of creative writing practice
- Finalise the culmination of their research in the creation of a completed Dissertation comprising: a) a creative writing artefact; and b) an accompanying exegesis.
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 Thesis/Dissertation
Students are required to submit for assessment a Dissertation comprising a major piece of creative writing (or a body of work) together with an exegesis, as well as associated information specific to the arrangement of the Dissertation document (e.g., Outside front cover, Title page, Signed declaration, Abstract, Table of contents, etc). Both the Creative Work (the creative artefact) and the Exegesis must be produced during candidature and under supervision. Typically, the word length of the dissertation proper will be no fewer than 15 000 words, and no more than 20 000 words. With the exegesis portion of the document (completed in HUMT20017 Research Dissertation Creative Writing B) accounting for around 25% - 33% of the total word count, the word length of the creative artefact will typically range between 10 500 - 14 000 words.
To satisfy the requirements of the degree, the Dissertation must make a significant contribution to knowledge concerning literature, creative literary expression, and display mastery of the field.
The Dissertation represents the end result of extensive research into the various aspects of the creative writing project, including, but not limited to, the theoretical and literary influence of the context and the shaping elements constituting the literary work of art.
Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Dissertation comprising the creative artefact and the exegesis (completed in HUMT20016 and HUMT20017) submitted via unit moodle site and sent out (by HoC) for external examination and returned. The external examination process typically takes around 6 - 8 weeks. A provisional grade (RO = Result Outstanding) will be assigned until the examination process has been completed and return grades determined upon award.
Please see the unit moodle page for details.
- Undertake critical research to review, analyse, and independently solve complex stylistic questions in one or more areas of practice specific to the sustained creative writing project
- Demonstrate some independence in the planning and completion of a sustained creative writing project ('creative artefact') and accompanying exegesis in one or more disciplines or areas of creative writing practice
- Finalise the culmination of their research in the creation of a completed Dissertation comprising: a) a creative writing artefact; and b) an accompanying exegesis.
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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.