ENGL2676: Semester 2, 2024

Units ENGL2676 Semester 2 2024 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ENGL2676: Climate Fictions

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit investigates how climate change features in fictional texts and shapes how we read them. How does literature interact with scientific, cultural and political discourses around climate? Does awareness of the climate crisis impact how we read and respond to texts from the past? Engaging with a diverse archive of contemporary and historical texts, students will think critically and creatively about the aesthetics and politics of climate fiction.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	English and Writing
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level including 6 credit points from English
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Meg Brayshaw, meg.brayshaw@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Peter Minter, peter.minter@sydney.edu.au
	Sarah Gleeson-White, sarah.gleeson-white@sydney.edu.au
	Isabelle Hesse, isabelle.hesse@sydney.edu.au
	Briohny Doyle, briohny.doyle@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Comparative Essay See Canvas	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 11 Nov 2024 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Online Activities See Canvas	10%	Multiple weeks	Variable
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Online sessions: writing tasks See Canvas	20%	Multiple weeks	5x200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reading Journal See Canvas	30%	Week 07 Due date: 12 Sep 2024 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Reading Journal: This assignment will require you to produce a series of short written responses that illustrate your critical and/or creative engagement with texts and topics covered up to and including week 7.
Online Activities: Written Responses: This assignment requires you to submit 5 written reflections based on the week's content.
Comparative Essay: This assignment will require you to develop a meaningful argument through reasoned, critical analysis of texts and topics covered in this unit.
Online Activities: Participation: This assignment is a pass/fail task based on your completion of the online activities.

See Canvas for full descriptions of each assignment.

Assessment criteria

Please see Canvas for marking rubrics for each assessment task.

For more information see guide to grades.

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:

5% per calendar day late

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 climate fiction?	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	A pre-history of climate fiction: Drought stories	Lecture (1 hr)
	A pre-history of climate fiction: Drought stories	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: Drought stories	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 03	A pre-history of climate fiction: William Faulkner	Lecture (1 hr)
	A pre-history of climate fiction: William Faulkner	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: William Faulkner	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 04	Twenty-first century climate spectacle: The Day After Tomorrow	Lecture (1 hr)
	Twenty-first century climate spectacle: The Day After Tomorrow	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: The Day After Tomorrow	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 05	Beyond Derangement: Amitav Ghosh, Gun Island	Lecture (1 hr)
	Beyond Derangement: Amitav Ghosh, Gun Island	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: Gun Island	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 06	Imagining the Anthropocene: McGuire/Atwood	Lecture (1 hr)
	Imagining the Anthropocene: McGuire/Atwood	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: McGuire/Atwood	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 07	First Nations futurisms/decolonising the Anthropocene	Lecture (1 hr)
	First Nations futurisms/decolonising the Anthropocene	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: First Nations futurisms	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 08	Writing climate fiction	Lecture (1 hr)
	Writing climate fiction	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: Writing climate fiction	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 09	Petrofiction: Helon Habila, Oil on Water	Lecture (1 hr)
	Petrofiction: Helon Habila, Oil on Water	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: Oil on Water	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 10	Climate change and everyday life 1: Still Life	Lecture (1 hr)
	Climate change and everyday life 1: Still Life	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online Activity: Still Life	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 11	Climate change and everyday life 2: Jenny Offil, Weather	Lecture (1 hr)
	Climate change and everyday life 2: Jenny Offil, Weather	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: Weather	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 12	Animal fictions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Animal fictions	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Online activity: Animal fictions	Independent study (1 hr)
Week 13	Conclusions	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Conclusions	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

You are strongly encouraged to attend lectures in person.

The discipline of English & Writing expects a 90% attendance rate at tutorials. This means you can miss 1 class without cause. If your attendance falls below 90%, you will be referred to the Board of Examiners who may recommend an Absent Fail. Students who attend less than 50% (i.e. less than 6) of tutorials will receive an automatic Absent Fail. If you have to miss more than one class, a medical certificate or similar evidence is required to ensure you meet the 90% attendance threshold.

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

There are three novels you are required to read for this unit:

Amitav Ghosh, Gun Island (John Murray, 2019).
Helon Habila, Oil on Water (Penguin, 2011)
Jenny Offil, Weather (Granta, 2020)

You can purchase these books from Gleebooks, either online or in store (Gleebooks is located on Glebe Point Road). Students receive a 10% off discount. See Canvas for more information.

There are two films you are required to view:

Roland Emmerich, dir. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Jia Zhangke, dir. Still Life (2006).

The Day After Tomorrow is available to watch via Clickview on the Week 4 Canvas page. Still Life will be screened via zoom in the mid-semester break.

All other readings are available via Canvas.

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. Comprehend a range of ways in which imaginative texts, past and present, represent climate and climate change
LO2. Understand key concepts relevant to the representation of climate and climate change in literature and culture generally, applying these to both personal reflections on and close analysis of selected texts;
LO3. Combine the reasoned, critical analysis of representations of climate change with awareness of wider implications in sustained personal, imaginative and/or scholarly writing;
LO4. Engage in ethical and inclusive communication with peers both online and face-to-face.

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.

Texts have been changed in response to students' feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

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