Skip to main content
Unit outline_

ENGL3703: Australian Literary Ecologies

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

This unit explores how literature has produced, reflected and challenged the idea of Australia. Examining a diverse range of historical and contemporary texts including work by First Nations and diasporic writers, students will engage critically and creatively with Australian literature as a complex ecology of ideas that influences how we interact with and understand concepts such as place, environment, nature, community, and nation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit English and Writing
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in ENGL
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ASLT2620
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Meg Brayshaw, meg.brayshaw@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research Essay
Research Essay
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 09 Jun 2024 at 23:59
3000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Reading Journal
Reading Journal
40% Mid-semester break
Due date: 07 Apr 2024 at 23:59
2500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research Essay Proposal
Research Essay Proposal
10% Week 11
Due date: 12 May 2024 at 23:59
500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Please see Canvas for detailed guides to assessment tasks.

Assessment criteria

Please see Canvas for detailed rubrics.

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:

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences requires a 5% penalty per calendar late.

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 Introduction Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 City (1) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 City (2) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 City (3) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Suburb Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Road (1) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Road (2) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Littoral Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Bush Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Ocean (1) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Ocean (2) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Ocean (3) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Conclusion Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

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.

  • Lecture recording: Seminars in this unit are not recorded.

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

There are three full-length texts set for study on this unit which you may like to purchase in hardcopy or ebook form. All are available through Booktopia (see Canvas for direct links). Secondhand copies of Seven Poor Men of Sydney and Carpentaria are relatively easy to source. If possible, buying or borrowing the editions specified here will make it easier to follow in-class materials and activities; however, this is not imperative.

Stead, Christina. Seven Poor Men of Sydney [1934]. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 2015. *available as an ebook via Fisher

Kinsella, John. Cellnight. Melbourne: Transit Lounge, 2022.

Wright, Alexis. Carpentaria [2006]. Artarmon: Giramondo, 2023. *available as an ebook via Fisher

All other readings are available digitally via Canvas.

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. Describe key scholarly debates and cultural conversations about historical and contemporary literary representations of Australian place, environment, community and non-human natures
  • LO2. Evaluate theoretical, historical and cultural approaches to Australian literature, including regional, national, transnational and decolonial frameworks
  • LO3. Argue a critically-informed position on key concepts related to the study of Australian literature
  • LO4. Analyse the formal, aesthetic and ethical implications of literary representations of place, environment, community and non-human natures
  • LO5. Synthesise ideas using literary studies skills including close reading, critical analysis and contextual analysis

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 the first time this unit has been offered.

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.