ENGL6986: Semester 2, 2026

Units ENGL6986 Semester 2 2026 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ENGL6986: Writing Workshop 2: Experiments in Form

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

Overview

In this mixed genre workshop unit students will explore developments in poetry and prose that focus on experiments in form, the relationship between structure, voice and content, and practical approaches to finding a form to best convey your creative intentions. Writing craft skills will be developed through exercises and workshopping in a supportive peer group as well as reading, analysis and critical reflection. Areas covered may include the contemporary lyric, hybrid forms, documentary and activist poetics, word and image, erasure and other forms of 'writing through', sound and performance, and processual writing.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	English and Writing
Credit points	12
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Toby Fitch, toby.fitch@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
Presentation	B. Presentation and Workshop Draft Short Presentation (1000 word equivalent), alongside Workshop Draft (3000 word equivalent)	30%	Multiple weeks	4000 word equivalent	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	A. Participation and Writing Tasks Writing exercises, leading and engaging in discussion, constructive feedback in workshops.	10%	Week 08 Due date: 24 Sep 2026 at 23:59	2000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	C. Final Portfolio and Critical Reflection Redrafted and expanded Workshop Draft or new Creative Work applying feedback from your workshop and tutor, plus exegesis.	60%	Week 13 Due date: 08 Nov 2026 at 23:59	6000 words or equivalent	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

More information can be found in Canvas

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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.

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: Form and Experiment	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Introduction: Form and Experiment	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Prose: Sentences	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Prose: Sentences	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Prose: The Short Story	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Prose: The Short Story	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Prose: The Fragmented Novel	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Prose: The Fragmented Novel	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Poetry: Amassing Fragments	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Poetry: Amassing Fragments	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Poetry: Collage	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Poetry: Collage	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Poetry: Ekphrasis	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Poetry: Ekphrasis	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Poetry: Other Experiments	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Poetry: Other Experiments	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Workshopping	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Workshopping	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Workshopping	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Workshopping	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Workshopping	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Workshopping	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Workshopping	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Workshopping	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Workshopping and Conclusion	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Workshopping and Conclusion	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students enrolled in ENGL6993 cannot also be enrolled in ENGL6986. Only one or the other will be counted towards your degree.

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.

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 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. All are available through Reading List on Canvas. Please see Canvas for a detailed schedule of the readings.

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. generate and develop original pieces of creative writing
LO2. recognise and deploy creative writing skills and techniques
LO3. respectfully and usefully critique your own and others’ writing, and reflect feedback to refine your creative work
LO4. contribute to a productive and engaged workshop environment as a form of teamwork
LO5. critically analyse and reflect on published creative writing in relation to your own creative work
LO6. understand the principles of editing and re-drafting
LO7. engage in an ongoing writing practice, towards the production of a creative writing portfolio.
LO8. apply knowledge of literary forms to your writing practice

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.

'Experiments in Form' in 2026 is running for the fourth time (first time 2022).

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Do refer to the following university links:

'Staying Safe on Campus': https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/student-life/student-news/2023/03/20/staying-safe-on-campus.html

'Student Responsibilities' (which includes the Student Charter): https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/student-responsibilities.html

See Canvas for 'A Guide to Workshopping'.

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

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

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links