Overview
In this unit, you will be introduced to the study of literature by learning how to read, analyse and write about the different genres of literature such as novels, short stories, poems, and dramas. You will learn how to develop independent and critical thinking skills through the imaginative engagement with the process of reading and analysing complex literary and non-literary texts.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2024
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 SUTE: Unit Evaluations
Students have asked for direct links to relevant items on the eReading list.
Include hyperlinks to recommended eReadings in the Moodle Weekly Study Guide.
Feedback from SUTE: Unit evaluations
A problem with the organization of materials in the unit anthology has been identified.
Review organisation of materials in the unit anthology.
Feedback from SUTE: Teacher Evaluations
Students have requested a more explicit connection between learning materials and how they relate to assessment items.
Allocate more time to explaining how key literary concepts and skills embedded in the learning materials can be employed in the assessment items.
- Demonstrate skills in textual analysis
- develop your own informed interpretations of literary texts
- Articulate how literary texts function as sites of contestation for the meanings, values and ideologies represented within them.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online discussion forum - 20% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 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 - Online discussion forum - 20% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
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.
s.butler@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
What is Literature?
Chapter
The Edinburgh introduction to studying English literature, 'Chapter 1 'What is Literature?' (pp. 3-15)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Making Meaning
Chapter
Read Chapter 5 'Critical Attitudes' of
Doing English (Eaglestone 2017, pp. 47-53)
The Edinburgh introduction to studying English literature Read Chapter 22 "Reading"', (pp. 223-227)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Poetry 1 - Sonnets and Free Verse
Chapter
The Edinburgh introduction to studying English literature 'Chapter 4 Poetry: An Introduction' (pp. 37-46)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Prose 1 - The Novel
Chapter
The English Novel: An Introduction, Chapter 1 'What is a novel?' (pp. 1-21)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Drama 1 - The Play as Text
Chapter
The Edinburgh introduction to studying English literature, Chapter 16 'Introducing Drama' (pp. 161-170)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Poetry 2 - Rhythm and Rhyme
Chapter
Rose, P 2001, 'Getting and spending - Nostalgia for the old way of reading poetry', American Scholar, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 79-86.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Prose 2 - The Short Story
Chapter
The Edinburgh introduction to studying English literature, Chapter 10: 'Genre and Form: The Short Story', (pp. 101-109)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Drama 2 - Stage and Screen
Chapter
Hornbrook, D 1998, On the subject of Drama, Chapter 9 (pp. 151-168)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
The Novel, Film & TV
Chapter
The Edinburgh introduction to studying English literature, Chapter 11 'Narrative Language' by Kevin Hughes (pp. 110-119)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
Literature & Popular Culture
Chapter
See Moodle for eReadings & other learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
Literary Theory & Nonfiction
Chapter
Barry, P 2017, Beginning theory : an introduction to literary and cultural theory (pp. 34-38).
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
See Moodle for eReadings & other learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online discussion forum
Each week select one literary text and explain its extrinsic significance (themes, historical context, contemporary social relevance, etc.) using an idea or quotation from the eReadings to guide or support your interpretation. You are required to write 250-300 words each week, then in Week 5, collate your five (5) pieces (1250-1500 words) into a Word doc. and upload through the Moodle Assessment system. You are encouraged to post your weekly response to the Discussion Forum. You may choose literary texts from any weekly section of the Unit Anthology
More information on this Assessment item can be found on Moodle under the Assessment tile.
Important information about Word Count:
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.
Week 5 Friday (5 Apr 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (26 Apr 2024)
Assessments will be marked and returned ASAP
This assignment will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:
- Ability to explain the text's themes and meanings
- Ability to relate the text to other literary and popular texts and social contexts
- Ability to incorporate ideas and critical concepts from a secondary source.
- Ability to write clearly and reference properly (in Harvard style)
- develop your own informed interpretations of literary texts
- Articulate how literary texts function as sites of contestation for the meanings, values and ideologies represented within them.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Choose five [5] of the Activity Journal topics and write 400 words in response to each. The Activity Journal pieces should provide a detailed intrinsic analysis (close reading) of a specific literary text using practical techniques and skills as modelled in lectures, exemplars and eReadings. This assignment requires that you "show your workings" (so to speak), annotating the literary text, highlighting key phrases, identifying devices and techniques, commenting in the margins, and finally, summarizing your findings in a brief thesis statement. You are required to write 400 words per topic, then in Week 9, collate your five (5) pieces into a Word doc. and upload through the Moodle Assessment system. More information on this Assessment item (including exemplars) can be found on Moodle under the Assessment tile.
Word Count: 2000 words (max.)
Important information about Word Count:
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.
Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (24 May 2024)
Assessments will be marked and returned ASAP
- Evidence of close reading (intrinsic analysis) of the literary text;
- Effective use of analytical techniques as modeled in eReadings and other unit resources;
- Development of an argument expressed in a provisional thesis statement;
- Clear and effective writing, with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation;
- Appropriate acknowledgement of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
- develop your own informed interpretations of literary texts
- Articulate how literary texts function as sites of contestation for the meanings, values and ideologies represented within them.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
Choose from one of the topics below and write an essay using at least five set eReadings as secondary sources to support your argument.
- According to John Stephens (1992, p. 64), ‘If our discussions of a work are to be anything more than expressions of mere personal response, they must be based in an identifiable critical practice able to describe the textual strategies of particular works and relate them to those of other works.’ Use this statement to discuss the significance of five chosen literary texts.
- For Kusch (2016, p. 3): ‘Literature is a set of texts ... whose purpose includes, but extends beyond, communication, in which the language itself is as much a part of the end product as is the content'. Discuss how this view is exemplified in your selection of five literary texts, while interpreting their various themes and meanings.
- Although a literary text is limited by genre conventions, it is by no means limited in the scope of its perception. With reference to your five chosen literary texts discuss this idea, examining the formal devices with which writers communicate complex ideas, themes and social issues.
- Issues around class, race, gender and sexuality are often explored in literary texts in ways that both challenge and/or reinforce ideological norms. Discuss this using a selection of literary texts to exemplify your argument.
- For Wallace Stevens (cited in Thompson 2014, p. 14) literature is ‘the imagination pressing back against the pressure of reality.’ However, literature is part of reality, and moreover, bound by ‘sets of overlapping conventions or expectations’. In other words, it seems that formal constraints of genre enable freedom of thought. Discuss the implications of this using a selection of literary texts to exemplify your position.
- While Thompson (2014, p. 14) admits it is impossible to provide a simple definition of literature, he does identify three main areas of interest for the critical scholar:
- Exploring the blurry line between fact and fiction;
- Analyzing the formal properties and style of a text;
- Recognizing the validity of multiple interpretations and reading positions.
Discuss the significance of five literary texts in relation to these ideas.
Word Count: 1500-2000 words (max.)
Important information about Word Count:
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.
More information on this Assessment item can be found on Moodle under the Assessment tile.
Week 12 Friday (31 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
Assessments will be marked and returned ASAP
- The ability to explain the texts' themes and meanings;
- The extent to which identification of genre elements is used to explain the significance of the literary texts;
- Evidence of close reading and effective use of secondary sources to support argument;
- Clear and effective writing, with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation;
- Appropriate acknowledgement of all sources using the Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
- Demonstrate skills in textual analysis
- develop your own informed interpretations of literary texts
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- 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?
