Overview

This unit focuses on the acquisition of a specific set of skills that writers need before their writing is ready for publication. It achieves this by introducing students to the essential elements of the writing craft, such as plot, setting, character etc. This unit also gives learners the opportunity to develop and apply the skills of critiquing and editing in a collaborative online environment. It explores how 'critical friends' can enrich others' writing ability and further their own insights into the processes of writing.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Study Period 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
18-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
18-June-2024
Study Period 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
18-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
18-June-2024
Study Period 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
27-May-2024
25-August-2024
Last self-enrolment date
09-June-2024
Census date
17-June-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-July-2024
Results released date
17-September-2024
Study Period 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
27-May-2024
25-August-2024
Last self-enrolment date
09-June-2024
Census date
17-June-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-July-2024
Results released date
17-September-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify and critically apply the conventions, methodologies, and techniques needed for professionally critiquing pieces of writing
  • Demonstrate practical skills in evaluating and diagnosing the strengths and weaknesses in their writing and writing practice and in the work and practice of others, and be able to hypothesise solutions to these weaknesses
  • Plan, research, and produce a report/document that reflects upon and evaluates the challenges and strengths of a piece of writing

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Online Discussion ThreadsIndividual/Group 40% 1,2,3 
Written AssignmentIndividual 60% 1,2,3 

Content

  • ​What is a critical friend
  • Practical strategies for overcoming the blank page
  • The essential elements of writing, including plot, character, setting etc
  • Models of genres and forms of writing and how these work with the idea of critical friendship
  • Critical and cultural theories and using these to enrich writing
  • Developing peer feedback and self-editing skills
  • Graduate Attribute: Communication Skills - Verbal Communication
  • Graduate Attribute: Communication Skills - Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute: Teamwork Skills - Collaboration and negotiation
  • Graduate Attribute: Teamwork Skills - Teamwork roles and processes
  • Graduate Attribute: Digital Literacies  - Technical literacy
     

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.