Introduction to Creative Writing (8304.4)

Required texts

Required reading: 

Required readings will be supplied via the unit's Canvas page. Students are advised to look ahead at the schedule, and to complete the required readings in time for the lecture and their tutorial of the following week. 

Recommended reading:

It is highly recommended that students read broadly and independently in the genres they are attempting for their assessment submissions. Please consult your tutors and lecturers for recommendations if you need them. 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assignments must be set out according to the prescribed, professional format and must:

• Be typewritten or word processed
• Be 12 point size typeface
• Show page numbers
• Show word count
• Have 1.5 line spacing

Refencing requirements:

Where appropriate, students in this unit are expected to use a standard academic form for all referencing and annotating. MLA is the preferred form. Students not familiar with this should contact Study Skills at the Library or on Canvas.

Handing in assessment:

Assessment items will be submitted online via the unit's Canvas site. It is the student's responsibility to upload assignments in either .doc, .docx, or .pdf formats only. You should also closely monitor your student email account in the period following assignment submission in case your file has failed to open or is corrupt. In this case it is your responsibility to get a valid file or hardcopy to your tutor within twenty-four hours of an advice email being sent to your student email address. In case of lost or missing assignments, ensure that you always retain a hard copy of any assignment submitted.

Extensions:

Extensions will be authorised only by the convenor and only for a valid reason, such as illness. A medical certificate or other appropriate documentation must accompany requests for extensions. Lack of personal organisation or pressure of work are not considered valid reasons for an extension. Unless the unit convenor has given you an extension, you must submit each piece of assessable work by the due date. 

Late submissions: 

Students submitting work late will receive a reduction in available marks of 5% per day (e.g. if an assessment was submitted three days late a mark of 70% would be reduced to 55%, or put another way, if a student was awarded 21 out of 30 and submitted three days late their mark would be reduced to 16.5 out of 30), up to a maximum of seven days at which time the assignment will no longer be accepted, unless there are approved extenuating circumstances.  Detailed information is found in section 9.12 of the Assessment Policy and Procedures. Late submissions may result in reduced feedback being provided to students. 

Returning assessment:

As all written assessments in this unit use online submission through the unit Moodle site, feedback will be similarly be made available through Moodle once all assignments have been marked and moderation is completed. Insofar as assignments are the property of students, the University/Faculty is not required to retain assignments.

Special assessment requirements

There are no special assessment requirements for this unit.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Ethical Issues

Writers have great freedom in their work, but also clear constraints on what they may write and present to others. Consequently, while writing students may write any story that engages them, in the voice, from the perspective, and using the characterisation that they choose, they must also comply with the University of Canberra's Regulation of Student Conduct rules (which requires that students not engage in a course of behaviour offensive to a university authority, board or committee, to an officer or employee of the university, or to another student). Students and their work must also comply with Australian law, specifically the Office of Film and Literature Classification Code. This code prohibits the publication/dissemination of material that 'appears to purposefully debase or abuse for the enjoyment of readers/viewers, and which lacks moral, artistic or other values to the extent that they offend against generally accepted standards of morality, decency and propriety'.

Learner engagement

Attendance requirements

This is an Intensive unit. It is anticipated that, in order to be able to most effectively pass this unit, all students will need to attend at least 80% of the workshops and listen to all lectures. Students attending less than this amount are likely to have difficulty passing this unit.

Lectures are digitally recorded and available online through the unit Canvas site.

Participation requirements

In order to be able to effectively pass this intensive unit, students should attend the workshops, listen to lectures, complete readings, and complete their assessment to the best of their ability. Attendance at workshops is a requirement since the peer-to-peer interaction and critique is a requisite for completion of assesment item #2, an integral part of the unit's learning outcomes, and an efficient way to garner the feedback necessary for producing good writing. It is incumbent on all students to ensure they receive appropriate feedback. Students who choose to not attend workshops cannot rely on tutors to provide this support outside of class. 

Required IT skills

Students participating in this unit will need the ability to use word processing software, email, as well as Internet access and the ability to use the University's LearnOnline (Canvas) and e-reserve systems.

In-unit costs

Students will be encouraged to purchase a writing journal for use during the duration of this unit.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit has no placement requirements.

Additional information

This unit will be co-taught with unit 8305, Introduction to Creative Writing – G.

To pass the unit:

• All assessment requirements must be submitted on or by the due date, unless an extension has been granted.
• All work must be your own.
• Assignments that have been assessed in another unit can not be presented for assessment again.

• Winter Term, 2018, Intensive, UC - Canberra, Bruce (177631)
• Semester 1, 2018, Flexible, UC - Canberra, Bruce (176345)
• Winter Term, 2017, Intensive, UC - Canberra, Bruce (164754)
• Semester 1, 2017, Flexible, UC - Canberra, Bruce (165302)
• Winter Term, 2016, Intensive, UC - Canberra, Bruce (161127)