Outline

Overview

This unit explores how the practice of comparative literary studies is related to language and culture. With the shrinking of distances due to travel and technology in the modern age, what makes different literary traditions across the world similar or different? This unit reflects on these issues by looking at a range of exemplary literary works translated into English from Asian, European or Middle Eastern languages, and examines them in the context of translation studies, national literatures, and different cultural and narrative traditions.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	International Comparative Literature and Translation Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Benjamin Nickl, benjamin.nickl@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
In-person written or creative task	In-class test, written in-class quiz	25%	Multiple weeks	2x750 words	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	In-class oral presentation student presentation, in class	15%	Multiple weeks	1500 words, plus upload of written plan	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task #earlyfeedbacktask short online quiz based on the first three weeks' learning materials	0%	Week 03	multiple-choice quiz	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Essay outline written submission in preparation for the final essay, students receive feedback for this plan of their final essay, the essay's main argument, and suggested secondary sources to be used for the comparative analysis of an essay question	10%	Week 09 Due date: 01 May 2026 at 23:59	500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Final essay written, long-form essay that is intended for students to demonstrate learning in the modules and comparatively across them, including analysis of the main/primary texts of different modules and the use of secondary/academic resources	40%	Week 13 Due date: 29 May 2026 at 23:59	2500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Continuous participation regular, active and weekly student participation that students can demonstrate through contributions in class or online via the Canvas discussion board	10%	Weekly	semester	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = 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

Expectations regarding the use of AI in this unit and the assessment items:

For all assessment items that permit AI use, students must acknowledge their use of AI tools, and ensure their final work is original, and not copied directly from a generative AI tool. All software or tool usage must be acknowledged, and all sources referenced.
Students should keep records of how they use generative AI in their assignments and keep copies of generative AI outputs as evidence of their research and writing process.

Where the use of AI is permitted (Essay outline and Final essay):

You are permitted to use generative AI to help you 1) generate ideas for the assessment 2) suggest a structure or outline 3) refine your grammar and language - this use must be acknowledged.
For example, it may be helpful to use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and other generative AI to brainstorm initial ideas and approaches for completing the essay outline and the final essay, or Google Gemini to help you draft an outline for your work.
For revising and editing, it may be helpful to use AI tools such as Grammarly to directly suggest readability improvements to your text in terms of grammar and expression.
However, you must develop or edit those ideas to a substantial degree to ensure your submission is your own, original work.

How to acknowledge your use of AI:

Use of generative artificial intelligence must be appropriately acknowledged. You can do this by inserting a note at the top or end of your submission where you need to list and describe the AI tool(s) that you used, what you used it/them to do, what prompt(s) you provided, and how the output of the artificial intelligence was used or adapted by you. This additional description does not add to your word count.
An example of such an acknowledgement that you may provide might look like this: I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to refine the academic language of my own work. On I submitted my entire essay () with the prompt to<“Improve the academic tone and accuracy of language, including grammatical structures, punctuation and vocabulary”>. The output () was then modified further to better represent my own tone and style of writing.

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 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 penalties for assessments follow the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences late policy for undergraduate study, typically a standard deduction/percentage of the awarded mark per calendar day.

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: Unit structure, contents, and relevant details	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Introduction: Unit structure, contents, and relevant details	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Module 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Module 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Module 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Module 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Module 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Module 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Module 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Module 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Module 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Module 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Module 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Module 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Module 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Module 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Module 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Module 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Module 3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Module 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Module 3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Module 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Module 3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Module 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Module 3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Module 3	Tutorial (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.

Lectures: There will be no lecture recordings, as this unit is taught as an integrated class block and students are expected to arrive at the beginning of the first hour of class.

Preparation: Students should commit to spending 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

Readings/materials will be available via Canvas/Leganto Reading List. Content advice.

Please note that some of the primary reading content may contain sensitive material depicting among other things explicit sexual behaviour and explicit language. For more details, you can check the Canvas site module descriptions before progressing to the main texts and/or consult the relevant module lecturer or contact the unit coordinator for details.

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. understand the way in which literary representation is informed by, and informs in turn, international relations and cross-cultural negotiations
LO2. comparatively analyse via examination the different articulations of literary themes and ideas in different national contexts
LO3. demonstrate familiarity with the foundations of the disciplines of comparative literature and issues of literary translation
LO4. communicate effectively and ethically in oral, written, and digital form

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.

Changes have been made to this unit for an online learning context and based on student feedback received from previous versions of the course.

Additional information

Additional costs

no additional costs

Site visit guidelines

no site visits planned

Work, health and safety

Early Feedback Task information is provided on Canvas. Please note, this task is an online, multiple-choice task and weighted 0%.

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

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

ICLS1001: World Literatures in Translation

Semester 1, 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

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links