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Unit of study_

ENGL6122: Life Writing Workshop

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Life Writing in all its autobiographical and biographical forms is central to current practices of creative and critical writing. In this mixed genre workshop, students will explore and experiment with life writing as writers and readers. The workshop will provide a supportive peer group context within which students can develop their creative and critical skills in relation to life writing.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ENGL6122
Academic unit
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Vanessa Berry, vanessa.berry@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Life Writing Portfolio
Life Writing Porfolio
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 22 Nov 2021 at 23:59
5000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Participation Participation
Writing exercises, leading and engaging in discussion, workshopping.
10% Multiple weeks 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Workshop Draft and Presentation
Life Writing Portfolio (draft) and Presentation
30% Multiple weeks 3000 w. Draft & 1000 equiv. Presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO7 LO6 LO4 LO2
Assignment Life Writing Essay
Life Writing Essay.
20% Week 13
Due date: 10 Nov 2021 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO5

Assessment summary

A. Participation and Writing Tasks (10%): 

2 x 500 word writing exercises (1000 words total); 1 x lead discussion of a scheduled week’s set texts for this unit (group work, as scheduled), and weekly workshop feedback notes to classmates, as well as ongoing participation.

B. Presentation and Workshop Draft (30%): 

A short (5 min) oral presentation to introduce your project to the class (equivalent: 1000 words), to be delivered before your workshop.

One workshop draft to be workshopped in class immediately after your presentation (3000 words/ 8 pages poetry)

C. Life Writing Essay (20%): 

Critical reflection on a work of life writing (2000 words).

D. Life Writing Portfolio (40%):

Redrafted or new works of life writing. (5000 words/13 pages poetry).

 

Assessment criteria

High Distinction 85-100 An Exceptional Level of Achievement
Distinction 75-84 An Excellent Level of Achievement
High Credit 70-74 Highly Competent Work
Credit 65-69 Competent Work
High Pass 60-64 Work Has Considerable Merit
Medium Pass 55-59 A Satisfactory Achievement
Low Pass 50-54 Acceptable Work
Fail 0-49 Considerable Improvement Is Necessary for this work to achieve a satisfactory level
Absent Fail 0-49 Failure to submit some or all of the required assessments

 

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:

Late submissions will be penalised at 5% per day.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Themes and Forms Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7
Week 02 Memory: Experience Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 03 Memory: Object and Incident Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO7
Week 04 Voice Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 05 Attention Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Life Stages Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 The Present Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Reading Week Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Ancestry and Family Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Loss Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Auto/Biography Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Workshop Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Life Writing Practice and Publication Seminar (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings for this unit include works of memoir, fiction, essays, and poetry, as well as theoretical material relating to life writing. All are available through Reading List on Canvas. Please see Canvas for a detailed schedule of the readings.

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.

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

  • LO1. generate and develop original pieces of life writing towards a longer project
  • LO2. recognise and deploy advanced creative writing skills and techniques
  • LO3. respectfully and usefully critique their own and others’ writing, and reflect feedback to refine their creative work
  • LO4. contribute to a productive and engaged workshop environment as a form of teamwork
  • LO5. critically analyse and reflect on published life writing in relation to their own creative work
  • LO6. understand the principles of editing and re-drafting
  • LO7. engage in an ongoing writing practice, towards the production of a life writing portfolio.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

Student feedback has been taken into account in restructuring of weekly themes and readings.

Disclaimer

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