Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Children's and adolescent fiction is an important and integral part of the Creative Industries for both writers and those wishing to increase their knowledge of contemporary (and historical) cultural practice.

Aims

This unit aims to acquaint you with (mostly) Australian childrens and adolescent fiction within its cultural and historical contexts. By indicating the increasing diversity and plurality of this kind of fiction, it exposes you to an exciting and growing area of literacy studies.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you would be able to:
1.consider and investigate the ways in which social, cultural and political issues impinge upon the production of youth and children's writing.
2.Appreciate , reflect on and discuss some of the key genres and concepts in youth and children's writing
3. Critically evaluate representative texts drawn from youth and children's fiction of the past and present.

Content

The unit content addresses a number of key texts and literary genres in children's and adolescent fiction. The texts set for close study are discussed in terms of their social, political and cultural contexts. Emphasis is placed firstly upon the fiction produced at the time of emergent nationalisation in Australia in the 1890s but the bulk of the unit engages with the significant and contemporaneous development of the late twentieth century in Australia, England and the United States. The unit explores discourses about gender and sexuality; class; social place; power and subjectivity; race, especially in the relationship between empire and colonised; the family and home. It utilises methods of literacy theory including post-colonialism, New Historicism and feminism.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be taught via a combination of lectures and classroom discussions and workshops.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester. Weight 0%

Assessment name: Assignment
Description: Summative and formative. A major written piece based upon work covered in the unit.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Examination
Description: Summative. An examination based upon course material.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Assessment name: Tutorial Exercise
Description: Summative and formative. You are required to lead one tutorial discussion and participate in all others.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Readings for the unit will be discussed in class.

Required texts:

Eugenides, Jeffrey, (1993), The Virgin Suicides, Warner.

Gaiman, Neil (2008) The Graveyard Book. Pan Macmilan.

Gwynne, Philip, (1998), Deadly, Unna?, Penguin.

Haddon, Mark, (2003), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, David Fickling.

Hartnett, Sonya, (1995), Sleeping Dogs, Viking.

Pullman, Philip, (1997), Northern Lights, Point Fiction (Ashton Scholastic).

Rosoff, Meg, (2004), How I Live Now, Penguin.

Tan, Shaun, (2006), The Arrival, Lothian.

Turner, Ethel (1894), Seven Little Australians, Penguin.

Winton, Tim (1990), Lockie Leonard, Human Torpedo, Penguin.

Zusak, Markus (2005) The Book Thief. Picador.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 26-Mar-2013