CQUniversity Unit Profile
WRIT13013 Writing Project
Writing Project
All details in this unit profile for WRIT13013 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

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

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

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 2 - 2022

Online

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 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

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

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 35%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 65%

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 'Have your Say' student feeedback

Feedback

The creative freedom and ability to self-pace their writing in this project unit provides flexibility that suits the students' writing career goals.

Recommendation

Continue to allow students creative freedom in choice of writing projects and supervision that encourages autonomous learning and production of work.

Feedback from 'Have your Say' student feeedback Unit coordinator reflection

Feedback

It is important that students, as writers, are kept abreast of current trends in writing and the publishing industry. Students express appreciation of having a practicing writer on hand.

Recommendation

Include course resources such as interviews and tips from 'current' authors , and ensure lecturer/s continue keeping up to date on industry trends.

Feedback from 'Have your Say' student feeedback Unit coordinator reflection

Feedback

The critical reflection assessment performs a valuable role in developing the creative piece and students' skills, however, some students fail to see its relevance.

Recommendation

Emphasise the importance of the critical reflection assessment task in reflecting and thinking critically about the creative process.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. complete at publishable standard a writing project designated as either professional or creative writing;
  2. complete a critical reflection on their project;
  3. demonstrate knowledge of how professional and/or creative writing works;
  4. demonstrate the ability to collect, analyse, organise and present ideas and information in creative and/ or professional ways; and,
  5. demonstrate advanced writing skills.
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 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 and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

The road to somewhere: A creative writing companion

(2014)
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

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Zoom account (Free)
Referencing Style

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

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Leanne Dodd Unit Coordinator
l.dodd@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 11 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Getting Started: Project

Chapter

Week 1 unit Moodle site

Chapter 1: Becoming a Writer, pp. 7-14

Chapter 2: Creativity, pp. 15-21

in Graham, R, Newell, H, Leach, H, & Singleton, J 2013, The road to somewhere: a creative writing companion, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.

This is the essential textbook to help 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) Choose the form and genre your creative writing project will take and begin conducting research into the advanced writing techniques you will use.


Week 2 Begin Date: 18 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Proposal/Pitch for the Creative Writing/Professional Communication Writing Project

Chapter

Week 2 unit Moodle site


Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Commence drafting Assessment Item 1: The Proposal/Pitch (due Week 4). Please refer to the guidelines to help you in creating your Proposal/Pitch (see assessment item description on the unit Moodle site).

Week 3 Begin Date: 25 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Proposal/Pitch for the Creative Writing/Professional Communication Writing Project cont'

Chapter

Week 3 unit Moodle site


Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Continue drafting Assessment Item 1: The Proposal/Pitch (due Week 4). Please refer to the guidelines to help you in creating your Proposal/Pitch (see assessment item description on the unit Moodle site).

Week 4 Begin Date: 01 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Commence Writing Project/Reflective Journal

Chapter

Week 4 unit Moodle site

Chapter 3: Journals and Notebooks, in The road to somewhere, pp. 22-29.

Chapter 16: Plot: Your vehicle, in The road to somewhere, pp. 132 - 147.

Chapter 22 (if relevant): Poetry, in The road to somewhere, pp. 194 - 203.

Chapter 9, Reflection: Looking your words in the face, in The road to somewhere, pp. 67 - 79


Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Commence work on your writing project in consultation with your supervisor.

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. Check the assessment item criteria to ensure your submission will meet the item requirements.

c) Finalise and submit Assessment Item 1: The Proposal/Pitch. Double check the assessment item criteria to ensure your submission meets the item requirements.


Assessment Item I: The Proposal/Pitch Due: Week 4 Thursday (4 Aug 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 08 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Continue Writing Project/Reflective Journal

Chapter

Week 5 unit Moodle site

Work through Chapters 12-18 in the text, The road to somewhere, pp. 95 - 168 if relevant to your project.

Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Follow your week-by-week plan to work on your writing project using the text and other sources discovered through your research as support.

b) Write a critical reflection for this week.

Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 22 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Continue Writing Project/Reflective Journal

Chapter

Week 6 unit Moodle site

Work through Chapters 12-18 in the text, The road to somewhere, pp. 95 - 168 if relevant to your project.

Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Continue to work on your writing project.

b) Write a critical reflection for this week.

Week 7 Begin Date: 29 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Continue Writing Project/Reflective Journal

Chapter

Week 7 unit Moodle site

Work through Chapters 12-18 in the text, The road to somewhere, pp. 95 - 168 if relevant to your project.

Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Continue to work on your writing project.

b) Write a critical reflection for this week.

c) Consider participating in The Writers Room to obtain feedback on your work.

Week 8 Begin Date: 05 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Project

Chapter

Week 8 unit Moodle site

Work through Chapters 12-18 in the text, The road to somewhere, pp. 95 - 168 if relevant to your project.

Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Continue to work on your writing project.

b) Write a critical reflection for this week.

c) Consider participating in The Writers Room to obtain feedback on your work.

Week 9 Begin Date: 12 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Project

Chapter

Week 9 unit Moodle site

Work through Chapters 12-18 in the text, The road to somewhere, pp. 95 - 168 if relevant to your project.

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)

c) Consider participating in The Writers Room to obtain feedback on your work.

Week 10 Begin Date: 19 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Submit your Reflective Journal/Continue with Project

Chapter

Week 10 unit Moodle site

Chapter 10, Revision: Cut it out, put it in, in The road to somewhere, pp. 80 - 88        

Chapter 29, Paragraphing and Punctuation, in The road to somewhere, pp. 263 - 268

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 Thursday (22 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 26 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Continue Writing Project

Chapter

Week 11 unit Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

a) Continue revising and fine-tuning your writing project

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Edit, finalise and submit Writing Project

Chapter

Week 12 unit Moodle site

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 Thursday (6 Oct 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Enrolment in this 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. Nicole Anae (n.anae@cqu.edu.au) to discuss their intended project 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) to discuss their intended project before enrolling.

NOTE: It is a condition of the unit that all students submit Assessment Item 1: Proposal/Pitch. This item is pass/fail only. This means that you are required to complete Assessment item 1 proposal/pitch (on which you will receive feedback), but this does not contribute to the overall grade percentage. Why? Because the final creative artefact is around 2000 words, you must first show that you have actually undertaken research to ensure it is ‘do-able’ as well as identified the publication or choice, and nominated the experimental writing technique via which the content will be written. Therefore, a proposal/pitch not only gives you the opportunity to focus your creative writing process, but is also good practice as an essential part of the creative writing process. Any subsequent assessment items submitted without first submitting Assessment Item 1 (proposal/pitch) will NOT be accepted 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.

Assessment items received after the specified due date without an approved extension request will be graded (with late penalty applied), but no feedback comments supplied.

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assessment Item I: The Proposal/Pitch

Task Description

Word Count: 500 words. The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. A -/+ 10% allowance (below/over) the specified word limit is acceptable.

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 after the due date without an approved extension will receive a grade (with late penalty applied) but no feedback.


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Thursday (4 Aug 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

See unit moodle site for details.


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Thursday (25 Aug 2022)


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass

Assessment Criteria

This assessment will be commented on with respect to the extent to which it demonstrates:

  1. The overall clarity of the proposal with respect to what it envisages for the writing project that will grow out of it.
  2. The extent to which the proposal evidences the student's research of the topic (utilising at least 8 scholarly sources) and the advanced writing techniques to be used.
  3. Overall clarity of expression including spelling and grammatical correctness.
  4. Appropriate acknowledgement and in-text citation of all scholarly (journal articles, conference proceedings, books, book chapters, etc.) and supplementary (online websites, media articles, etc.) sources consulted in the creation of the proposal using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.

Please see unit Moodle site for details and directions.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit your assessment item using the unit’s moodle platform for this item.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assessment Item 2: Reflective Journal

Task Description

Word Count: No more than 2000 words. The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. A -/+ 10% allowance (below/over) the specified word limit is acceptable.

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 must 1) complete their reflective journal weekly as a blog on the Moodle site, then 2) collate and submit as a Word document in Week 10. Students weekly reflections must account for the period Week 4 until Week 10 (submit 7 weeks in total to meet the basic requirements of the item).

Each response should be between 200-275 words in total.

Each of the seven weekly entries is worth 5 marks. At least 5 (five) journal reflections must be submitted to meet the basic pass requirements of the item,

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.

Late assignments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a grade (with late penalty applied) but no feedback.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Thursday (22 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

See unit moodle site for details.


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Thursday (6 Oct 2022)


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

This assessment will be evaluated on the extent to which it demonstrates:

  1. Critical reflection regarding the ways in which the work in progress aligns with the creative intentions set out in the proposal;
  2. Consideration of the publications standards/requirements of the nominated publication/s;
  3. 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;
  4. 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);
  5. Each critical reflection reflects flawless presentation, clarity of expression - including spelling and grammatical correctness - as well as appropriate acknowledgement of scholarly sources and in-text citation using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit your assessment item using the unit’s moodle platform for this item.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • 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.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assessment Item 3: Final Piece

Task Description

Word Count: 1250 - 2000 words. The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, [the Proposal/Pitch: Assessment Item 1], reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations. A -/+ 10% allowance (below/over) the specified word limit is acceptable.

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 - 2000 words.

This means that while the publication requirement for your chosen journal/magazine might suggest a different word count of, for example 1000 words, for Assessment Item 3: Final Piece students will be expected to submit a smaller piece, in this case 250 words, in addition to the main principle piece OR an excerpt of up to 2000 words from a larger piece. This is to ensure students will not be at a disadvantage to students submitting work to a publication calling for different word counts.

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 before the creative piece.

NOTE: Late assignments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a grade (with late penalty applied) but no feedback.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (6 Oct 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

See unit moodle site for details.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Thursday (20 Oct 2022)


Weighting
65%

Assessment Criteria

This assessment will be evaluated to the extent to which the work:

  1. Evidences a carrying-out of the points referred to in the project pitch/proposal with experimentation and innovation;
  2. Demonstrates an original piece of writing of the chosen genre and is of a standard clearly showing indicators for the chosen genre and publication;
  3. Showcases a work of a flawless, polished, and finished piece of writing at a publishable standard;
  4. Utilises overall clarity of expression including spelling and grammatical correctness as well as appropriate acknowledgement of scholarly sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style where this may be relevant.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit your assessment item using the unit’s moodle platform for this item.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • complete a critical reflection on their project;


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

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?