CQUniversity Unit Profile
HUMT20017 Research Dissertation Creative Writing B
Research Dissertation Creative Writing B
All details in this unit profile for HUMT20017 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

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

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 12
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.25

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

No offerings for HUMT20017

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Annotated bibliography
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Critical Review
Weighting: Pass/Fail
3. Thesis/Dissertation
Weighting: 100%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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

Feedback

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.

Recommendation

Host Zooms more regularly (including some outside of traditional working hours).

Feedback from Email, Moodle forum

Feedback

Students did not understand the rationale behind submitting the final two assessment pieces on the same day.

Recommendation

Ensure that the rationale is clearly set out in the Unit Profile as well as on the Moodle site.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. 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
  2. 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')
  3. 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 Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

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 and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

All recommended readings are available on the e-unit moodle site.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following 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
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Nicole Anae Unit Coordinator
n.anae@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 1: GETTING STARTED WITH A LITERATURE REVIEW

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 2: HARNESSING YOUR CRITICAL REFLECTION IN THE CREATION OF THE EXEGESIS

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 3: CRAFTING THE EXEGESIS

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 4: POLISHING THE EXEGESIS - YOUR THEORETICAL FRAME

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 5: FINESSING THE EXEGESIS - FORMATTING AND REFERENCING

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 6: CHECK YOUR PROGRESS - EXEGESIS TIP SHEET

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review Due: Week 6 Wednesday (20 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 7: COMBINING DOCUMENTS - THE CREATIVE ARTEFACT AND THE EXEGESIS

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 8: CREATING YOUR DISSERTATION PROPER - UNDERSTANDING DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 9: DRAFTING YOUR DISSERTATIONS PROPER - INTEGRATING ALL REQUIREMENTS INTO A SINGLE DOCUMENT

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 10: EDITING YOUR DISSERTATION - REVISE, REVISE, REVISE

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 11: MOVING TOWARD SUBMISSION: CHECK, DOUBLE-CHECK, AND RECHECK AGAIN

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

WEEK 12: DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE - MAKING YOUR DISSERTATION SHINE

Chapter

See unit moodle site for details.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment 2 - Exegesis Due: Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Written Assessment 3 - Final Dissertation (Completed ready for submission) Due: Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Annotated bibliography

Assessment Title
Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review

Task Description

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:

  1. Establishes creative writing research territory;
  2. Establishes significance of creative writing territory
  3. Establishes creative writing research niche (briefly reviews what has been found, and then identifies a gap)
  4. Discusses what has been found, but points out inconsistency of results;
  5. Motivates next part of creative writing literature review
  6. Further justifies the need to investigate the impact of research methodology on creative writing praxis
  7. Reviews the chronological development of research in creative writing (an approach that is useful at times, but not always the best)
  8. 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
  9. Then discusses how the next researchers tried to address these problems;
  10. Presents a flawlessly prepared item including close attention to grammar and a perfected approach to Harvard style referencing.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Wednesday (20 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit online as part of Assessment Item 3 - Final Dissertation


Return Date to Students

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.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

The Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review will be assessed base on the way the submission:

  1. Establishes creative writing research territory;
  2. Establishes significance of creative writing territory
  3. Establishes creative writing research niche (briefly reviews what has been found, and then identifies a gap)
  4. Discusses what has been found, but points out inconsistency of results;
  5. Motivates next part of creative writing literature review
  6. Further justifies the need to investigate the impact of research methodology on creative writing praxis
  7. Reviews the chronological development of research in creative writing (an approach that is useful at times, but not always the best)
  8. 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
  9. Then discusses how the next researchers tried to address these problems;
  10. Presents a flawlessly prepared item including close attention to grammar and a perfected approach to Harvard style referencing.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Research

2 Critical Review

Assessment Title
Written Assessment 2 - Exegesis

Task Description

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.



Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit online via moodle unit site


Return Date to Students

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.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

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


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

3 Thesis/Dissertation

Assessment Title
Written Assessment 3 - Final Dissertation (Completed ready for submission)

Task Description

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.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

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.


Weighting
100%

Assessment Criteria

Please see the unit moodle page for details.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

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?