Overview
This unit examines a number of contemporary theoretical issues in the context of the history of literary theory. It offers students an opportunity to explore how different critical perspectives and reading practices, such as Leavisitism, New Criticism, Marxism, Feminism, Structuralism and Poststructuralism, have contributed to the development of contemporary problematisations of theoretical issues such as representation, race, gender, discourse, narrative, metafiction, ideology, ethnicity, class and value.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Minimum of 18 credit points
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 - 2019
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 Undergraduate 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.
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 Unit Evaluation
I feel that the provision of exemplars would have helped me to understand the requirements of the assessment tasks better.
Although extensive advice is provided on how to construct each assessment, exemplars will be provided in 2019.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation
Although the lectures contain a lot of valuable information, they are a bit dated and the lecture notes no longer correspond.
The lectures and other resources will all be updated in 2019.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation
Unit was well-organised. Content and assessment tasks all worked cohesively in a way that I think helped maximise learning and understanding. A great range of relevant resources (readings) were provided.
The unit coordinator will ensure that the unit continues to interest and challenge serious students.
- Demonstrate sound historical knowledge of the key contemporary theoretical ideas and concepts relevant to literary and cultural studies, as well as an elementary understanding of contemporary theories that both affirm and contest these assumptions;
- Recognise key theorists and texts in criticism and theory;
- Identify, analyse and assess significant critical debates surrounding relevant ideas and concepts, as well as theoretical problems associated with how texts make meaning;
- Reflect on positions taken by various theorists, and to understand some of their social, ethical and political implications; and,
- Show developed research, interpretative, argumentation and communication skills.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - 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 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Beginning theory An introduction to literary and cultural theory:
- Edition: 4th (2017)
- Authors: Peter Barry
- Manchester University Press
- Manchester Manchester , UK
- ISBN: 978-1-5261-2179-0
- Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.fitzsimmons@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2019Module/Topic
Introduction
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2019Module/Topic
Humanism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2019Module/Topic
Humanism to Anti-Humanism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Structuralism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Marxist Criticism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 1 - Annotated Bibliography
Annotated Bibliography Due: Week 5 Friday (12 Apr 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Post-Structuralism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2019Module/Topic
Postmodernism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 06 May 2019Module/Topic
Psychoanalytic Criticism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 13 May 2019Module/Topic
Feminist Criticism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 3 - Essay
Essay Due: Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10
Begin Date: 20 May 2019Module/Topic
New Historicism and Cultural Materialism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 27 May 2019Module/Topic
What is Literary Theory? Take 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2019Module/Topic
Theory after Theory
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Item 2 - Notes & Queries Journal
Notes and Queries Journal Due: Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 17 Jun 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Length: No less than 1500 words
Weighting: 20%
Details
Students will prepare an Annotated Bibliography with no less than 6 references on one of the following essay topics:
- ‘Broadly applied, literary theory describes a way of thinking transformed by Saussure, shaped by (post)structuralism, and fascinated with contemporary conceptions of culture.’ Discuss.
- ‘Culture is both a means of domination, of assuring the rule of one class or group over another, and a means of resistance to such domination, a way of articulating oppositional points of view to those in dominance.’ Discuss.
- ‘Contemporary critical practice calls into question certain claims about literature and art’s ability to produce certain kinds of truths and values.’ Discuss.
- Fuery and Mansfield argue that ‘all knowledge, no matter the rigour of its empirical method, is at least mediated, if not structured, by the human conventions of communication’ (Cultural Studies and Critical Theory p. 201). Discuss.
Note that the essay topic you choose for this assignment should be the same topic you will choose for your essay for Assignment 3. However, for this assignment, you will only prepare an annotated bibliography, not actually write the essay.
An annotated bibliography is a list of references with a brief description and evaluation of each one. You will be assessed on the quality and relevance of each reference as well as on the standard of your analysis, so choosing your research sources is an important part of the assignment task.
How to choose your references
All references need to be academic (i.e. peer-reviewed journal articles and/or scholarly books) and obtained using the Library's databases and/or resources. Wiki and other non-scholarly references from the Internet will not be accepted. Relevant chapters from the set text (Barry, Beginning Theory) may be included, but they DO NOT count as part of the required 6 references. Note that articles published in the last 5-10 years are more likely to be relevant.
As the Annotated Bibliography will form the foundation of the essay you will write for Assignment 3, choose references you think will be most useful for you in developing and supporting your arguments for the essay.
How to write your annotations
For each reference, give full referencing details in Harvard (author-date) referencing style followed by a succinct paragraph (200-250 words each) that answers the following questions:
- What is the writer’s main idea/thesis/argument?
- Why is the writer making their argument?
- What reasons/evidence does the writer use to support his/her case?
- How is this source relevant for your essay?
If you feel more comfortable using these questions as headings, please do (but the words do not count as part of the word limit). Do not refer to whole books unless you are absolutely confident that the whole book is relevant and you have read it (i.e. if you reference the whole book, the assumption is that it is all relevant). You might find it beneficial to choose one or two chapters from a book rather than reference the whole thing.
Put your references in alphabetical order by author surname, as you would in an ordinary reference list, but follow each reference with an annotation.
For more information on writing an Annotated Bibliography, see the guidelines set out by The Learning Centre, University of NSW: https://student.unsw.edu.au/annotated-bibliography.
For some guidance in writing about the work of other authors, consult the ‘Referring to Sources’ section of the Academic Phrasebank at the University of Manchester: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/referring-to-sources/ See especially the sections ‘Reference to what other writers do in their text: author as subject’ and ‘Reference to another writer’s ideas or position (author as subject)’ towards the bottom of the page.
Note: Your marker will be checking every reference and will be looking for common flaws such as copying and pasting from abstracts.
Week 5 Friday (12 Apr 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (3 May 2019)
This assignment will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:
- The relevance of the sources reviewed
- Evidence of appropriate critical thinking in their analysis
- Clear, succinct and correct written expression
- The proper formatting of the references according to the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
Please Note: Marks will be deducted for poor or inconsistent referencing, and it is possible that this will lead to reduced grades (including fails). The Harvard (author-date) referencing style should be used.
- Demonstrate sound historical knowledge of the key contemporary theoretical ideas and concepts relevant to literary and cultural studies, as well as an elementary understanding of contemporary theories that both affirm and contest these assumptions;
- Recognise key theorists and texts in criticism and theory;
- Identify, analyse and assess significant critical debates surrounding relevant ideas and concepts, as well as theoretical problems associated with how texts make meaning;
- Reflect on positions taken by various theorists, and to understand some of their social, ethical and political implications; and,
- Show developed research, interpretative, argumentation and communication skills.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
2 Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%
Length: 2500-3000 words (for the six assessable entries)
Details
Students are expected to keep a ‘Notes and Queries’ journal during term. The purpose of the N&Q journal is to provide you with an intellectual space where you can explore the concepts and ideas that are surveyed in this unit. As you listen to the weekly lectures, read the readings and engage with the assignment tasks, you are encouraged to jot down notes, questions, answers, problems, and anything else that springs to mind as a way of ‘thinking out loud’ about the unit material. The journal will thus become an important learning tool.
In addition to logging your thoughts and ideas in the Notes and Queries journal, you are also required to answer the discussion question provided on the unit Moodle site each week. In the first three weeks, as you become familiar with the unit material, these questions are not assessable. However, you may want to post your responses to the relevant discussion forum to check your learning and share your ideas with others. From weeks 4-11, all discussion questions are assessable, and you are required to submit six of your answers, of 400-500 words each, in Week 12 as the assessable component of your Notes and Queries journal. You are welcome to submit your entire journal if you choose: in this case, indicate which six answers you wish to be considered for assessment (e.g. simply write ‘Assessment Piece’ at the beginning of each answer).
Assessable component of Notes and Queries journal
The assessable component of the Notes & Queries journal is as follows:
- Answer at least six of the weekly discussion questions chosen from weeks 4-11 as listed on the unit Moodle site;
- Your answers must be thoughtfully considered and demonstrate evidence of reading and research, appropriately referenced;
- Each answer should be 400-500 words long;
- All six answers should be submitted for assessment as a single Word document through the Moodle site by the Friday of Week 12. If you are submitting your entire journal, clearly identify which answers you wish to be considered as part of this assessment (e.g. simply write ‘Assessment Piece’ at the beginning of each answer).
Bonus marks
You are encouraged to post your answers each week to the relevant Moodle discussion forum, and to respond to the posts of others. Students who provide evidence of engaging with the discussion forums and the posted Notes & Queries journal entries of others will receive an automatic 5% bonus marks for their Notes & Queries journal assessment.
How to write your journal entries
This is your journal and you can write in any style that suits you. It is fine to use the first-person (i.e. to say ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my’ etc.). However, do keep in mind that what you write needs to be comprehensible to another reader (other students on the Moodle forums, as well as your marker), so use complete sentences and edit your work for typos and clarity of expression. You are expected to engage with written texts in your responses to the discussion questions (the set text, readings and any further research of your own, as well as the lectures and podcasts), and you will need to reference all sources you refer to appropriately.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Notes and Queries Journals will be marked and returned to students as soon as practicable after the end of term.
This assignment will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:
- Evidence of reflection and critical thinking;
- Use of a range of academic sources to support ideas and arguments;
- High level of engagement with the ideas and concepts explored in the unit;
- Clarity of expression and proper acknowledgement of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
- Demonstrate sound historical knowledge of the key contemporary theoretical ideas and concepts relevant to literary and cultural studies, as well as an elementary understanding of contemporary theories that both affirm and contest these assumptions;
- Recognise key theorists and texts in criticism and theory;
- Identify, analyse and assess significant critical debates surrounding relevant ideas and concepts, as well as theoretical problems associated with how texts make meaning;
- Reflect on positions taken by various theorists, and to understand some of their social, ethical and political implications; and,
- Show developed research, interpretative, argumentation and communication skills.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
Length: No less than 1500 words
Details
Students should prepare an essay on one of the following topics (i.e. the topic already selected as part of the Annotated Bibliography exercise). Students should make use of the material collected and analysed as part of the Annotated Bibliography assignment, as well as any feedback from the marker on that assignment.
- ‘Broadly applied, literary theory describes a way of thinking transformed by Saussure, shaped by (post)structuralism, and fascinated with contemporary conceptions of culture.’ Discuss.
- ‘Culture is both a means of domination, of assuring the rule of one class or group over another, and a means of resistance to such domination, a way of articulating oppositional points of view to those in dominance.’ Discuss.
- ‘Contemporary critical practice calls into question certain claims about literature and art’s ability to produce certain kinds of truths and values.’ Discuss.
- Fuery and Mansfield argue that ‘all knowledge, no matter the rigour of its empirical method, is at least mediated, if not structured, by the human conventions of communication’ (Cultural Studies and Critical Theory, p. 201). Discuss.
Your essay should put forward an argument or position in relation to the question and support it by drawing on scholarly sources, including those analysed in the Annotated Bibliography assignment.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Monday (27 May 2019)
This assignment will be evaluated using the following assessment criteria:
- Development of a convincing and coherent argument in response to the question;
- Evidence of critical analysis of a range of academic sources (minimum of 6) to support the argument;
- High level of engagement with key ideas and concepts relating to literary theory;
- Clear and correct written expression (effective use of essay structure, correct spelling and grammar);
- The proper acknowledgement of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
- Demonstrate sound historical knowledge of the key contemporary theoretical ideas and concepts relevant to literary and cultural studies, as well as an elementary understanding of contemporary theories that both affirm and contest these assumptions;
- Recognise key theorists and texts in criticism and theory;
- Identify, analyse and assess significant critical debates surrounding relevant ideas and concepts, as well as theoretical problems associated with how texts make meaning;
- Reflect on positions taken by various theorists, and to understand some of their social, ethical and political implications; and,
- Show developed research, interpretative, argumentation and communication skills.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
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?
