CRWR 2006 - I Have a Dream: Political Writing

North Terrace Campus - Summer - 2020

Why do we write? What authors have inspired us? Many of the books and stories we admire have been conceived during extreme times. To what extent, and in what ways, is the literary imagination conditioned by its social contexts? What is political today? These and other questions form the basis of this course by challenging students to draw on their reading and life experiences to write creatively. Students will examine the work of Australian and international writers who are 'political' in different ways. In so doing, they are encouraged to 'politically' frame their work. Assessment will consist of two pieces of creative writing (which can include creative non-fiction), and an exegetical essay, that investigates the research components of their work. Texts will include speeches, poetry, short fiction, and novels, to demonstrate the range of 'political' writing that they can research.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CRWR 2006
    Course I Have a Dream: Political Writing
    Coordinating Unit English, Creative Writing, and Film
    Term Summer
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
    Course Description Why do we write? What authors have inspired us? Many of the books and stories we admire have been conceived during extreme times. To what extent, and in what ways, is the literary imagination conditioned by its social contexts? What is political today? These and other questions form the basis of this course by challenging students to draw on their reading and life experiences to write creatively. Students will examine the work of Australian and international writers who are 'political' in different ways. In so doing, they are encouraged to 'politically' frame their work. Assessment will consist of two pieces of creative writing (which can include creative non-fiction), and an exegetical essay, that investigates the research components of their work. Texts will include speeches, poetry, short fiction, and novels, to demonstrate the range of 'political' writing that they can research.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Aidan Coleman

    Dr Aidan Coleman will convene the Summer School 2020
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    After successfully completing this course students should be able to:

    1.Confidently read, understand and appreciate a range of literary texts.
    2.Have developed a capacity to investigate contemporary writing contexts (social, historical and political).
    3.Think rigorously about selected contemporary texts and the contexts of their production.
    4.Prepare and deliver polished and carefully edited examples of creative writing (through a series of exercises and drafts).
    5.Critically evaluate their own and others' written materials.
    6.Engage productively and respectfully with their peers.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4,5,6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,4,5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,2,5,6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,4,5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,2,3,5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    2,4,5,6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources


    The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

    The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born, by Ayi Kwei Armah

    “Unfinished Business: Sex, Freedom & Misogyny”, by Anna Goldsworthy


     
    Online lecture material available on MyUni
    Online Learning
    Lectures will be recorded and available on MyUni and released progressively throughout the semester. Course announcements will also will made through MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is structured around allocated readings and students are expected to read and know them thoroughly. All students will be expected to write in class, this includes during the lecture time. Seminars provide the opportunity for detailed reflection on ideas, themes and practices introduced in lectures and readings. The weekly readings will be discussed in detail: critically, analytically and in terms of writing practice. Student interaction will occur in small-group exercises, including close-reading, writing practice, editing and other tasks.




    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in
    engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    3 x 1 hour lectures per week – excl. Mon 27 Jan (x 4) 11 hours
    3 x 2 hours seminars per week – excl. Mon 27 Jan (x 4) 22 hours

    3 x 6 hours reading and writing practice per week (x 4)


    (It is expected that a portion of readings will be completed prior to the course beginning)
    72 hours
    3 x 1 hour research per week (x 4) 12 hours

    2 x 3 hours assignment preparation each week (x 4)

    24 hours
    Total = 141 hours



    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assignment 1
    Creative Piece, 500 words (or equivalent)
    Weighting 20%
    Due Date: Friday Week 2 31/1/20

    Assignment 2
    Creative Piece, 500 words (or equivalent)
    Weighting 25%
    Due Date: Monday Week 4 10/2/20

    Assignment 3
    Creative Piece or Folio, plus exegesis, 2500 words (or equivalent)
    Weighting 45%
    Due Date: Monday Week 6 25/2/20

    Seminar Participation
    Weighting 10%
    Due Date: Ongoing







    Assessment Detail

    Assignment #1

    Weighting: 20%


    Length: 500 Words (or equivalent).


    Due Date: Friday, 31st January 2020 11:59pm.


     

    This is a creative response to the course readings and to our discussions during the lectures and seminars. Students must build on one or more of the seminar exercises, expanding and altering the writing they began in class. The creative scope of potential response is broad and open, and students are encouraged to experiment widely. It is anticipated that students will work in poetry or prose, either fiction or creative non-fiction, however, submissions of equivalent creative output in alternative forms may also be considered so long as the instructor is consulted beforehand (ie. script, comics/graphic storytelling). The assignment need not be a completely self-contained story or narrative, rather, it is an exercise in putting our critical examination of writing thus far into practice.


    Assignment #2

    Weighting: 25%


    Length: 500 Words (or equivalent).


    Due Date: Monday, 10 February 11:59pm.


     

    This is the second graded creative response to the course readings and to our discussions during the lectures and seminars. The creative scope of potential response remains broad and open, and students are again encouraged to experiment widely, this time adding what they have learned from further study and from feedback on their first assignment to their practice. It is anticipated that students will work in poetry or prose, either fiction or creative non- fiction, however, submissions of equivalent creative output in alternative forms may also be considered so long as the instructor is consulted beforehand (ie. script, comics/graphic storytelling). The assignment need not be a completely self-contained story or narrative, rather, it is an exercise in putting our critical examination of writing thus far into practice. As such, it is acceptable for students to build on writing exercises presented in class (if they choose), however, as experimentation is a crucial element of this exercise, it is not acceptable for students to expand on their work for Assignment #1.


    Assignment #3

    Weighting: 45%


    Length: 2500 Words (or equivalent).


    Due Date: Friday, 26 October, 11:59pm.


     

    This final graded assignment will include a 2000-word (or equivalent) piece of creative writing, as well as a 500-word exegetical component. The creative piece should be self-contained, i.e. a short story, creative nonfiction/personal essay or a suite of poems,and can be an expansion of one of the first two assignments (though must not include both). It is anticipated that students will work in poetry or prose, either fiction or creative non-fiction, however, submissions of equivalent creative output in alternative forms may also be considered so long as the instructor is consulted beforehand (ie. script, comics/graphic storytelling). The exegetical component is a critical reflection of how elements from the course readings, lectures and seminars have led to the development of the creative piece. Please note that this is not a defence of the work, but rather an opportunity to display how aspects of the course have translated into creative practice. The writing style of the exegetical component is expected to be academic in nature, and include MLA citations along with a works cited list, however, the style need not be overly formal. Students are encouraged to think about how course readings compare, and how these might or might not have influenced their own writing, explicitly or obliquely.

     

    Seminar Participation

    Weighting:
10%

    Length: Varied.


    Due Date: Ongoing.


     

    Participation in seminars is a vital component of the course and of students’ growth as critics and writers. Seminars will involve both writing exercises and small group workshops, in which students will read their own work aloud and provide constructive feedback for their peers. At the end of each seminar, students will upload their writing exercises and notes taken during workshops to MyUni for evaluation. 1% will be awarded for each seminar in which students have participated, for a maximum total of 10% of their overall grade.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

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