Skip to main content
Unit outline_

ENGL1022: Contemporary Literature

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

How do we think about contemporary writing without the historical distance and critical tradition that older texts offer? Studying contemporary literature offers a unique opportunity to analyse the way critical understanding is formed by reading literature of the moment, writing about it, and writing in response to it. Students will think critically and creatively about the cultures of the present by reading texts alongside a dynamic sense of our shared present: its controversies, assumptions, and deep relation to the literary and cultural traditions that inform writing practice.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit English and Writing
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lucas Thompson, lucas.thompson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Lucas Thompson, lucas.thompson@sydney.edu.au
Nienke Boer, nienke.boer@sydney.edu.au
Juan Wu, juan.wu1@sydney.edu.au
Rebecca Johinke, rebecca.johinke@sydney.edu.au
Jedidiah Evans, jedidiah.evans@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Juan Wu, juan.wu1@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Writing Project
A summative writing exercise.
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 07 Jun 2024 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment hurdle task Literary Review
A review of one of the required texts.
10% Ongoing
Due date: 29 Feb 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 31 Jul 2024
500wd Review
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Course Requirements and English Discipline Conventions
#earlyfeedbacktask
0% Week 02
Due date: 01 Mar 2024 at 23:59
Quiz
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Writing Portfolio
10x200wd Writing Portfolio (45%) A series of responses to the texts written
45% Week 12
Due date: 17 May 2024 at 23:59
10x200wd = 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle 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

This unit’s assessment facilitates the major’s outcomes by building and assessing student expertise particular to the discipline: historical and cultural context, flexibility in expressive style, argument, and above all attention to the detail and nuances of texts. A reading diary – consisting of a dossier of responses built over the semester - helps students demonstrate and develop timely preparation and a pace of reading suitable for English majors (who often struggle with the reading-heavy requirements of the unit). It also allows us to start to tease apart how students understand their reading as a personal as well as a social practice. The review/provocation will offer two styles of response: in the context of the unit’s interest in reviewing culture (the context in which they will find the majority of response to the texts they are reading) it will help students distinguish between critical and evaluative reading. The provocation will ask them to be more argumentative and even tendentious and will be a writing exercise for students to think through genres of critical response. Students will receive peer feedback on their review. The final writing exercise is the anchor of the unit as it is in units through the English major, a sustained critical response to the intellectual work of the unit as well as to a particular text or set of texts. As this unit brings together teachers and students from traditional English as well as creative writing, throughout the assessment stream we will offer opportunities for students to engage creatively with the generic analyses offered across the semester. 

Assessment criteria

Result Name

Mark Range

Description

High Distinction 85-100 Work of exceptional quality, as defined by grade descriptors (forthcoming). 
Distinction 75-84 Work of very high quality, as defined by grade descriptors (forthcoming). 
Credit 65-74 Work of good quality, as defined by grade descriptors (forthcoming). 
Pass 50-64 Work of acceptable quality, as defined by grade descriptors (forthcoming). 

 

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:

Standard Late Penalties apply for all assessments.

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.

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 2023 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 2023. 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

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What is Contemporary Literature? Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 02 Identity: Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Identity: Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Identity: Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Identity: Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Formal Innovation and Experimentation: Patricia Lockwood's No One Is Talking About This Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Formal Innovation and Experimentation: Patricia Lockwood's No One Is Talking About This Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Formal Innovation and Experimentation: Patricia Lockwood's No One Is Talking About This Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Formal Innovation and Experimentation: Patricia Lockwood's No One Is Talking About This Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Technology: George Saunders Short Stories Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Technology: George Saunders Short Stories Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Technology: George Saunders Short Stories Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Technology: George Saunders Short Stories Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Environment: Danielle Celermajer's Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Environment: Danielle Celermajer's Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Environment: Danielle Celermajer's Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Environment: Danielle Celermajer's Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Politics: Prison Poetry Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Politics: Prison Poetry Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Politics: Prison Poetry Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Politics: Prison Poetry Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 History: Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
History: Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 History: Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
History: Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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

Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019), 250 pp.

Patricia Lockwood, No One is Talking About This (2022), 224 pp. 

George Saunders, Selected Short Stories (provided on Canvas)

Danielle Celermajer, Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future (2021), 200 pp.

Various, Prison Poetry (provided on Canvas) 

Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing (2016), 320 pp.

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. Identify significant features of contemporary writing and articulate an historicised and rich sense of what it means for authors and writers to be "contemporary."
  • LO2. Analyse and evaluate different modes and genres of communication in primary and secondary texts.
  • LO3. Critically defend ideas and arguments derived from analysing English texts in critical and/or creative forms of communication.
  • LO4. Develop responses to literary texts and culture using a variety of genres.
  • LO5. Identify and respond with contextually appropriate understanding to a variety of contemporary issues as they are canvassed in literary texts.

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.

This is a new unit, but we look forward to refining the unit based on student 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.