Overview
The aim of Contemporary Australian Literature is to show how Australia as a nation is imagined through various contemporary works of literature (fiction, poetry, short stories, poetry), particularly from the immediate post-war period until now (1945 onwards). Students will explore the ways in which Australian identities are constituted, changed and challenged by these texts, through a variety of critical perspectives and contexts of reception.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: 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 2 - 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 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 Have your Say student feedback Emails with students Unit Coordinator reflection
The flexibility of being able to choose different novels for study and the different approaches in assessment tasks is appreciated by students.
Continue the refreshed model of the unit, and update material as required.
Feedback from Have your Say student feedback Unit Coordinator reflection
Microsoft Teams was embraced by some students, who engaged in valuable discussions about the novels and related issues, however, overall it was not widely utilised.
Continue offering Microsoft Teams, and investigate ways to engage more students in valuable discussions.
- Identify and analyse a range of contemporary Australian literary texts and authors, as well as the historical contexts in which these texts were written and are read;
- Identify, analyse and evaluate significant critical debates surrounding the reception of contemporary Australian literature;
- Demonstrate clear critical thinking skills in sound textual and thematic analyses; and,
- Collect, analyse and organise information and ideas about Australian literature, and to convey those ideas clearly in writing
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - 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 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
Students need to have access to the following text by Week 2 (print or electronic format):
- Johnston, G 1964, My brother Jack
And access to a choice of at least three (3) of the following texts from Week 5 (print or electronic format):
- Lawler, R 1953, Summer of the seventeenth doll
- Malouf, D 1975, Johnno
- Carey, P 1981, Bliss
- Modjeska, D 1994, The orchard
- Wright, A 2006 Carpentaria
- Tsiolkas, C 2008, The slap
- Winton, T 2012 Dirt music
Note: dates refer to year first published, later reprints are acceptable.
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.
l.dodd@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 1: Critical Theory
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section 1: Introduction
Meet & Greet Zoom session and queries (time and link available in Virtual Classes tile).
Module/Topic
My Brother Jack (Novel 1)
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 2: Textual Analysis
Read: My Brother Jack
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
My Brother Jack
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 3: Reflective Writing
Read: Close reading and analysis: My Brother Jack
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section 2 - My Brother Jack
Begin Critical Reflection - Assessment 1
Zoom Drop In - Assessment 1 queries (time and link available in Virtual Classes tile).
Module/Topic
My Brother Jack
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section 2 - My Brother Jack cont'
Complete Critical Reflection and check against
Assessment Criteria before submitting
ASSESSMENT 1 - CRITICAL REFLECTION Due: Week 4 Friday (5 Aug 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Novel 2
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 5: Introduction to Book Reviews
Read: Novel 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Novel 2
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 6
Read: Close reading and analysis: Novel 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section - Novel 2
Module/Topic
Novel 2
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 7: Writing Academic Book Reviews
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section - Novel 2 cont'
Begin Book Review - Assessment 1
Zoom Drop In - Asessment 2 queries (times and link available in Virtual Classes tile).
Module/Topic
Novel 3
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 8
Read: Novel 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Complete Book Review and check against
Assessment Criteria before submitting
ASSESSMENT 2 - BOOK REVIEW Due: Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Novel 3
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 9
Read: Close reading and analysis: Novel 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section - Novel 3
Module/Topic
Novel 4
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 10: Essay Writing
Read: Novel 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Novel 4
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 11
Read: Close reading and analysis: Novel 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Topic section - Novel 4
Begin Essay
Zoom Drop In - Assessment 3 queries (times and link available in Virtual Classes tile).
Module/Topic
Conclusion
Chapter
Read: Study Guide Wk 12: Conclusion
Events and Submissions/Topic
Do: Complete Essay and check against
Assessment Criteria before submitting
ASSESSMENT 3 - ESSAY Due: Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Length: 1000 words (+/- 10%)
This assessment task will allow you think critically about your experience of reading the text and related scholarly material. Reflective writing is different to essay writing, so please ensure that you have read the resources provided to understand what is required of you.
Assessment Task
- describes the key ideas you have learnt about your chosen theme, supported by evidence from the text
-
analyses how the text has challenged or reinforced your thinking about Australian ideologies and/or identity
-
evaluates at least two (2) scholarly views/debates surrounding the text
Week 4 Friday (5 Aug 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 6 Friday (26 Aug 2022)
This assignment will be evaluated on your ability to:
- Develop a coherent critical reflection in response to the topic question, drawing in your experience of the text and related materials;
- Analyse the chosen novel, supported by direct textual analysis (paraphrases, quotations and descriptions);
- Effectively use of a range of academic sources (minimum of 2 scholarly sources) to support both reflection and analysis;
- Express yourself clearly and effectively, writing with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation;
- Appropriately acknowledge of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style
- Identify and analyse a range of contemporary Australian literary texts and authors, as well as the historical contexts in which these texts were written and are read;
- Identify, analyse and evaluate significant critical debates surrounding the reception of contemporary Australian literature;
- Demonstrate clear critical thinking skills in sound textual and thematic analyses; and,
- Collect, analyse and organise information and ideas about Australian literature, and to convey those ideas clearly in writing
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Length: 1250 words (+/- 10%) - Book Review 1000 words, Pitch up to 250 words
You may select any one (1) novel from the Text List for this assessment. Note: The novel you select for this assessment cannot be those used for Assessments 1 or 3.
Writing and publishing book reviews can enhance your professional profile, and may be an item you could add to your professional portfolio or CV.
Assessment Task
You should model your review on the kind of book reviews you find in your selected literary newspaper or journal. DO NOT model your review on the kinds of reviews you might find on the GoodReads or Amazon.com websites. These reviews tend to be solely focused on whether the book is enjoyable to read or not; in your review, you will be thinking much more broadly about the strengths and weaknesses of the book and its contribution to literary culture.
Some examples of appropriate publications include (but are not limited to):
-
Review section of the Weekend Australian,
- Weekend supplements to The Age or the Sydney Morning Herald
- Australian Book Review
- Sydney Review of Books
- TEXT Journal
- A brief pitch to the publication outlining how/why it fits their review section (no more than 250 words, included before Book Review)
-
Your own thesis about the novel's themes and significance, supported throughout by evidence from the text and 2-3 scholarly sources
-
A concise summary of the content/plot - do not just retell the story
-
A brief discussion of the historical and/or social context - how did this impact on the novel?
-
An analysis of the main themes - what was the author trying to convey?
- An evaluation of the significance or contribution to Australian literature/identity - was the author successful?
Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022)
This assessment will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Identification and analysis of the novel’s main themes
-
Understanding of the novel’s historical and/or social context
-
Cogent evaluation of the work’s significance to Australian literature/identity
- Inclusion of evidence from the text and 2-3 scholarly sources, with appropriate acknowledgement of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) style
- Clear and effective writing, with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
- Identify and analyse a range of contemporary Australian literary texts and authors, as well as the historical contexts in which these texts were written and are read;
- Identify, analyse and evaluate significant critical debates surrounding the reception of contemporary Australian literature;
- Demonstrate clear critical thinking skills in sound textual and thematic analyses; and,
- Collect, analyse and organise information and ideas about Australian literature, and to convey those ideas clearly in writing
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Length: 2500 words (+/- 10%)
You may select any two (2) novels from the Text List for this assessment. Note: The novels you select for this assessment cannot be those used for Assessments 1 or 2.
This assessment will allow you to pull together all the skills you have learned this term in exploring a topic of interest to you in relation to Contemporary Australian Literature.
Assessment Task
-
Simon Frith proposes that ‘Identity is mobile: a process not a thing; a becoming, not a being’. Discuss the ways in which your two chosen texts support or challenge this statement in relation to Australian identity.
-
Judith Wright suggests that Australian landscape often functions as an 'outer equivalent of an inner reality'. Explore the ways in which landscape is used in Australian literature as a metaphor for the psychic and emotional states of its characters in your two chosen texts.
-
J. Hillis Miller proposes that ‘we see the world through the literature we read, then act in the real world on the basis of that seeing’. Explore the implications of seeing Australian literature, and its views of Australian history, as a national cultural form in your two chosen texts.
-
Students may consult with the lecturer to create your own analytical topic in relation to contemporary Australian literature, and discuss with reference to your two selected texts. Please email me at l.dodd@cqu.edu.au for approval of your topic. Topics must be approved at least one week before the due date for this option.
The essay must include in-depth textual analyses of your chosen texts as well as references to a range of scholarly sources (minimum of 5).
Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (21 Oct 2022)
- Development of a convincing and coherent argument in response to the question
- Engagement with key concepts relating to contemporary Australian literature, as relevant to the chosen essay question
- The relevance, insight and depth of textual analysis of the chosen novels, supported by paraphrases and quotations from the text
- Effective use of a range of academic sources (minimum of 5) to support both argument and analysis, with appropriate acknowledgement of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
- Clear and effective writing, with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
- Identify and analyse a range of contemporary Australian literary texts and authors, as well as the historical contexts in which these texts were written and are read;
- Identify, analyse and evaluate significant critical debates surrounding the reception of contemporary Australian literature;
- Demonstrate clear critical thinking skills in sound textual and thematic analyses; and,
- Collect, analyse and organise information and ideas about Australian literature, and to convey those ideas clearly in writing
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- 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?
