Outline

Overview

Global Literatures examines how literary and visual works from different periods from across the world engage with Empire, slavery, and their legacies. This unit introduces students to the complexities of race, class, gender, and their representations in a variety of expressive forms.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	English and Writing
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	ENGL1016
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Nienke Boer, nienke.boer@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final Exam In-person final exam during exam period	30%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Participation Attendance, preparation, and in-class participation	5%	Ongoing	n/a	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task Online Quiz	0%	Week 03 Due date: 21 Aug 2026 at 23:59	10 mins	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Close Reading Essay Essay	25%	Week 06 Due date: 11 Sep 2026 at 23:59	1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Analytical Essay Research Essay	40%	Week 09 Due date: 09 Oct 2026 at 23:59	2000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assignment can be found on Canvas.

In order to pass this unit, all assignments need to be completed.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grade

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submissions will incur a penalty of 5% per calendar submitted late.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: What is Global Literature?	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Introduction: What is Global Literature?	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Empire: _The History of Mary Prince_	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Empire: _The History of Mary Prince_	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	19th Century US Slave Narratives	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	19th Century US Slave Narratives	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Nella Larsen, _Quicksand_	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Nella Larsen, _Quicksand_	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Nella Larsen, _Quicksand_	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Nella Larsen, _Quicksand_	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Drama: Wole Soyinka, _Death and the King's Horseman_	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Drama: Wole Soyinka, _Death and the King's Horseman_	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Global Genres: Magic Realism	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Global Genres: Magic Realism	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Rewriting History in Graphic Narrative Form	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Rewriting History in Graphic Narrative Form	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Speculative Australias	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Speculative Australias	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Global Ecologies: Henrietta Rose-Innes, _Green Lion_	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Global Ecologies: Henrietta Rose-Innes, _Green Lion_	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Global Ecologies: Henrietta Rose-Innes, _Green Lion_	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Global Ecologies: Henrietta Rose-Innes, _Green Lion_	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience. Tutorials will not be recorded, and you are expected to attend in person.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Books to procure:

1. Larsen, Nella. Quicksand. Penguin Classics, 2002 (ISBN: 9780141181271) OR 2024 (ISBN: 9780241652657) [suggested that you find one of these editions, though other editions are fine; note that currently there is a limit to how many people can access the Library ebook at one time.]

2. Prince, Mary. The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave, Penguin: 2000 (ISBN: 978-0140437492) [suggested that you find this edition, but if not, any other edition or the ebook version from the Library is fine.]

3. Rose-Innes, Henrietta. Green Lion, Gallic Books/Aardvark Bureau, 2017. (ISBN: 9781910709252) [Order early! You will need to read this text for the final exam.].

4. Soyinka, Wole. Death and the King's Horseman, Methuen Drama: 2006. (ISBN:‎ 978-0413333605). [Other editions fine too.]

These books have been put on order at Gleebooks in Glebe, though you are of course welcome to source them elsewhere/second-hand/as e-books/from your local library, etc. Check Gleebooks website first for availability.

All other readings will be available on Canvas. Check the Reading List as well as the weekly modules.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. develop an understanding of the concept of global literatures in English and their production and circulation across different periods and regions
LO2. engage with a variety of cultural responses to empire-building and its legacies
LO3. develop an understanding of the plurality of literatures in English, which may include cultural works from Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Latin America
LO4. familiarise themselves with key terminology and critical concepts of global literary and postcolonial studies and their relevance today
LO5. critically engage with and discuss (both orally and in writing) empire and its aftermath in different geopolitical contexts and across different periods
LO6. develop their ability to make connections between texts from different regions, times, and genres while taking into account the specific cultural, historical and cultural context in which each 'text' is produced and circulated

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

--Close reading assignment will focus on a novel this year. --More time allocated to discussion of final text and exam preparation.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

ENGL1013: Global Literatures

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links