ATS3310 - Writing in Australia - 2018

What is the relationship between writing and belonging? Do poems, short stories, novels and works of creative non-fiction produced in Australia affirm or challenge what we see as a uniquely Australian identity? This unit, with both Creative Writing and Literatures in English assessment options, is concerned with the contribution of literature to forming and interrogating the notions of identity, ideology, gender, ethnicity and sexuality in an Australian context. There will be an emphasis on contemporary writing, and the texts studies will include a range of literary genres. Through both critical and creative engagements, students will be invited to explore and, if interested, produce their own works of Australian writing.

On successful completion of the unit students will have:

1. A practical understanding of the major themes and styles of writing in modern and contemporary Australian literatures;
2. An informed understanding of some key critical and theoretical approaches to the study and analysis of literature;
3. Solid advanced undergraduate-level competence in the reading and interpretation of literary texts.

   For Creative Writing Stream students:

4. An advanced ability to produce a new work, in either poetry, fiction or literary non-fiction.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Literary studies