This assessment is designed to teach students that different cognitive modes (that inform processes of writing and editing) are required during different 'design stages' of an overall writing project. For example, students are encouraged to initially refrain from any heavy editing and instead be creative and generative in their writing. With this pedagogical approach in mind, students are required to produce a short, written piece that draws on narrative techniques to effectively communicate a position on a topic of personal or academic interest. Students choose the topic, medium, and intended audience in negotiation with course staff and are marked on their ability to persuasively present a position on that topic or issue in a way that is appropriate to the specific audience. This assessment sees students submit a proposal, which receives rich qualitative feedback from staff; Students then submit a draft to an online platform (in the case of WRIT1200 this is done via Cirrus) that is able to be viewed by both staff and peers. Students must then provide considered, constructive feedback to several of their peers. This task is designed to encourage critical reading and to provide opportunities for collaborative learning a draft that is submitted. Finally, student must submit a finished copy of their written piece.
Details
- CLASS SIZE
- 100-500
- CLASS LEVEL
- First year
- ASSESSMENT SECURITY
- Medium security
- TIME REQUIREMENTS
- Medium time
- GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
- Effective communication skills, Independence and creativity, Critical judgement
- CONDITIONS
- Peer-assessed, Sequence
- FEATURES
- Authentic, Online
- TAGS
- scaffolded, feedback-rich, staged, creative, creative writing
Advantages
This assessment caters to student diversity by encouraging students to write for any medium on a topic of their choice. This assessment develops foundational written communication skills that are highly valued in a wide range of professional contexts. This assessment is particularly applicable to first year HaSS courses as it teaches foundational (theoretical and practical) writing skills.
How it supports academic integrity
The scaffolded nature of this assessment reduces possibilities to outsource work and for plagiarism.
Dr Natalie Collie
n.collie@uq.edu.au
Natalie has a background in the study of literature, culture, writing and the media, with a research focus on questions of space, identity, and communication. She was awarded her PhD in 2012. The practice-led research examined the relationship between cities, subjectivity, and narrative in speculative fiction. Her current research includes a study of gothic images of the future of cities in science fiction and other forms of media and culture. She is also interested in the impact of digital technologies on contemporary culture, the public sphere, and the interaction between physical and virtual forms of space and identity.
Research Interests:
speculative fiction, cities, the future, the public sphere, digital media platforms, embodiment and identity, narrative and representation Find out more