Overview
The writing project is the final unit in the writing plan. The focus of the project will be in providing practical experience in the invention, composition and revision of a writing project designated as either professional or creative writing. You will be expected to produce work of a publishable standard, and will be encouraged to find a print or online publication outlet - journal, magazine, newspaper - and submit your project for consideration. You will be expected to reflect on your project and to demonstrate, through a weblog, knowledge of how professional and creative writing works. You will demonstrate advanced writing skills, as well as the ability to collect, analyse, organize and present ideas and information in creative and/ or professional ways.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: (WRIT11023 and WRIT12010) or (COMM11007 and JOUR12010)
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 Student Unit Evaluation Comment
The best aspects were the flexibility of the final assessment.
The UC will continue to support a degree of flexibility in the scope of the final project toward encouraging real-world assessment.
Feedback from Student Unit Evaluation Comment
Working with [my supervisor] was great, very helpful and together we tailored the project to both meet requirements and be enjoyable to produce.
The UC will continue to ensure supervisors support and encourage student learning in providing effective and collaborative guided supervision.
- complete at publishable standard a writing project designated as either professional or creative writing;
- complete a critical reflection on their project;
- demonstrate knowledge of how professional and/or creative writing works;
- demonstrate the ability to collect, analyse, organise and present ideas and information in creative and/ or professional ways; and,
- demonstrate advanced writing skills.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 0% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 65% | |||||
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 - 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 - 0% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 65% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
The road to somewhere: A creative writing companion
Edition: 2 (2005)
Authors: Graham, R., Leach, H., and Newall, H.
Palgrave Macmillan
New York New York , New York , USA
ISBN: 978-1-137-26357-5
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Students undertaking a creative writing project must purchase the prescribed text.
There is no prescribed text for students undertaking a professional communications project.
Paper copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
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.
l.dodd@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
The essential textbook for students interested in undertaking a creative writing project is:
Graham, R, Newell, H, Leach, H, & Singleton, J 2013, The road to somewhere: a creative writing companion, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.
This is a primary companion helping students acquire the literary craft and disciplines needed to develop and undertake a creative writing project in this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Ensure you have received instructor consent to commence this unit (see Assessment Item 1 for directions).
b) Commence drafting Assessment Item 1: The Proposal/Pitch (due next week). Please refer to the guidelines to help you in creating your Proposal/Pitch (see assessment item description on the unit Moodle site).
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Finalise and submit Assessment Item 1: The Proposal/Pitch (due this week). Double check the assessment item criteria to ensure your submission meets the item requirements.
Assessment Item I: The Proposal/Pitch Due: Week 2 Friday (22 Mar 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Commence work on your writing project.
b) Start your 'Reflective Journal' (your writing journal will prove a valuable source of reflection over this term and form your submission for Assessment Item 2: Reflective Journal.
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Write a critical reflection for this week.
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Write a critical reflection for this week.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Write a critical reflection for this week.
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Write a critical reflection for this week.
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Write a critical reflection for this week.
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Write a critical reflection for this week and begin polishing and finalising your Reflective Journal for submission (assessment due next week)
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue to work on your writing project.
b) Finalise and submit your Reflective Journal. Remember to match your entries against the assessment criteria to ensure your work meets the requirements for the assessment item.
Assessment Item 2: Reflective Journal Due: Week 10 Friday (24 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
a) Continue revising and fine-tuning your writing project
Module/Topic
Project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Finalise and submit Assessment 3 - Final Piece. Remember to match your submission against the assessment criteria to ensure your work meets the requirements for the assessment item.
Assessment Item 3: Final Piece Due: Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
NOTE: Students must submit Assessment Item 1: Proposal/Pitch. It is a condition of the unit that students submit this assessment item on or before the specified due date. Final submissions received WITHOUT a prior proposal/pitch being received and marked will be penalised (as Assessment Item 2 and 3 are conditional on the submission of an approved pitch/proposal as indicated in the assessment criteria for each item).
1 Written Assessment
Word Count: 500 words (the reference list will not be included in the word count)
Students are required to develop a proposal or 'pitch' for a publication of their choice (e.g. magazine, journal, literary review, etc.).
The 'pitch' will include an outline describing the basic themes, plot/story line or concept of the writing project for the Term and must be topic specific to the submission requirements of the chosen publication. The publication will dictate topic, tone, required images, word length, etc.
The aim of the pitch is twofold: a) to show how the student's chosen topic fits the publication criteria; and b) to ensure the writing piece will be developed and written in a suitable and appropriate way. Students must negotiate the topic for the "pitch" with their supervisor.
Enrolment in the unit requires instructor consent. Students must ensure they meet the prerequisites before enrolling in this unit.
- To undertake a Creative Writing project for this unit, you would have already completed WRIT11023 and WRIT12010. Creative Writing students must contact Dr. Leanne Dodd (l.dodd@cqu.edu.au) before enrolling.
- To complete a professional communication project, you would have already completed COMM11007 and JOUR12010. Professional communications students must contact Dr. Celeste Lawson (c.lawson@cqu.edu.au) before enrolling.
The Pitch/Proposal is non-graded but it is a condition of the unit that the item must be submitted and approved.
NOTE: Late assignments submitted without an approved extension will receive a grade (with late penalty applied) but no feedback.
Week 2 Friday (22 Mar 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 4 Friday (5 Apr 2019)
This assessment will be commented on with respect to the extent to which it demonstrates:
- The overall clarity of the proposal with respect to what it envisages for the writing project that will grow out of it.
- The extent to which the proposal evidences the student's research of the topic and the advanced writing techniques to be used.
- Overall clarity of expression including spelling and grammatical correctness.
- Appropriate acknowledgement and in-text citation of all sources consulted in the creation of the proposal using the Harvard( author-date) referencing style.
Please see unit Moodle site for details and directions.
- complete at publishable standard a writing project designated as either professional or creative writing;
- demonstrate knowledge of how professional and/or creative writing works;
- demonstrate the ability to collect, analyse, organise and present ideas and information in creative and/ or professional ways; and,
- demonstrate advanced writing skills.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Word Count: 1400 - 1750 words (the reference list will not be included in the word count)
Students are required to reflect weekly on their progress through the writing process with specific reference to the submission guidelines of the selected publication. The Reflective Journal must discuss in a critical way not only how the written piece meets the submission guidelines and the journalistic/creative standards of the selected publication, but on the various factors effecting the process of literary creation. Students can complete their reflective journal as a blog if desired. Students weekly reflections must account for the period Week 3 until Week 10 (submit 7 weeks in total).
Each response should be between 200-250 words in total.
Each of the seven weekly entries is worth 5 marks.
NOTE: For submission of the assessment item, you will combine your 7 weekly entries into a single Word document and submit to Moodle using the unit’s submission platform for this assessment item
Week 10 Friday (24 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019)
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;
- Consideration of the publications standards/requirements of the nominated publication/s;
- Critical reflection regarding the ways in which the work in progress is a demonstration of the critical engagement with the advanced writing techniques alluded to in the proposal;
- A deliberate and concerted weekly 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);
- Each critical reflection reflects flawless presentation, clarity of expression - including spelling and grammatical correctness - as well as appropriate acknowledgement of sources and in-text citation using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
Note: The specified word limit for this item (1400 - 1750 words) does not include the reference list. Also, there is a 10%+/- allowable variance over or under the stipulated word count.
- complete at publishable standard a writing project designated as either professional or creative writing;
- demonstrate knowledge of how professional and/or creative writing works;
- demonstrate the ability to collect, analyse, organise and present ideas and information in creative and/ or professional ways; and,
- demonstrate advanced writing skills.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Word Count: 1250 words (any reference list or Proposal/Pitch will not be included in the word count)
Students are required to complete at least one piece of writing of a publishable standard.
The publishable piece must be completed according to the topic proposed in Assessment One ('The Pitch'/Proposal), as negotiated with their supervisor.
The word count of the piece is negotiable depending on the genre of the writing and the publication requirements of the chosen publication. Please note however, that the word count expected for submission for Assessment Item 3 will be 1250 words.
This means that while the publication requirement for your chosen journal/magazine might suggest a word count of 1000 words, and this piece will comprise your publication submission as well as your submission for Assessment Item 3: Final Piece, for this unit (WRIT13013) students will be expected to submit a smaller piece (e.g. 250 words) in addition to the main principle piece (e.g. 1000 words) for their Assessment Item 3: Final Piece submission.
This is to ensure students choosing a publication with a word limit of 500 - 750 words will not be at an advantage over students submitting work to a publication calling for 1000 words, or students choosing a publication with a word limit of 1250 words will not be at a disadvantage to students submitting work to a publication calling for 1000 words.
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 the chosen publication requirements as regards word counts and limits. Students will be encouraged to formally submit their written piece to the chosen publication for consideration. Students will also be encouraged to submit smaller pieces to an alternative publication for consideration if they so choose.
Please include a copy of your Proposal/Pitch with the final writing piece/s positioned either before or after the artefact proper.
NOTE: Late assignments submitted without an approved extension will receive a grade (with late penalty applied) but no feedback.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (21 June 2019)
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 of the chosen genre and is of a standard clearly showing indicators for the chosen genre and publication;
- Showcases a work of a flawless, polished, and finished piece of writing at a publishable standard;
- Utilises overall clarity of expression including spelling and grammatical correctness as well as appropriate acknowledgement of sources using the Harvard( author-date) referencing style where this may be relevant.
NOTE: The specified word limit for this item (1250 words) does not include any reference list or Proposal/Pitch.
- complete a critical reflection on their project;
- 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?
