Outline

ENGL3703: Semester 2, 2026

Units ENGL3703 Semester 2 2026 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ENGL3703: Australian Literary Ecologies

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

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 English
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

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Portfolio or journal	Critical/Creative Portfolio A portfolio of writings representing your creative and critical responses to the unit	35%	Formal exam period Due date: 16 Nov 2026 at 00:00	2500wd	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Research analysis	Research Essay Research Essay	30%	Mid-semester break Due date: 02 Oct 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 27 Nov 2026	2000wd	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Carpentaria Reading Task In class reading task	20%	Week 05	1 hr	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Interactive oral	Viva Voce: Research essay Interactive oral based on research essay	15%	Week 12	10 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the听Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the听Current Students website听for more information on AI in assessments, including听details on how to acknowledge its use.

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 University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website听provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the听Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM)听which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the听Current Students website听for more information on AI in assessments, including听details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

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听simple extension.鈥� 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鈥檛 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听special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students,听听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听reflects the University鈥檚 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. 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

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: Australia?	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Introduction	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Ocean: Carpentaria 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Introduction: Australia?	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Ocean: Carpentaria 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Ocean: Carpentaria 1	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Suburb: Patrick White	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Ocean: Carpentaria 2	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Suburb: Michelle de Kretser	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	In-class assessment: Carpentaria	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	City: Seven Poor Men of Sydney 1	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Suburb: White & de Kretser	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	City: Seven Poor Men of Sydney 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	City: Seven Poor Men of Sydney 1	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Road: The Cars that Ate Paris	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	City: Seven Poor Men of Sydney 2	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Road: Samuel Wagan Watson	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Road: The Cars that Ate Paris	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Bush: Barbara Baynton and Tracey Moffatt	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Road: Samuel Wagan Watson	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Quarry: Langton and Harper	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Bush: Baynton and Moffatt	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Interactive Oral Assessments	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Quarry: Langton and Harper	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Interactive Oral Assessments	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Interactive Oral Assessments	Tutorial (2 hr)

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鈥檚 Board. The Examiner鈥檚 Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

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

Please see Canvas for full details of readings.

听

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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 爆料王 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鈥檚 personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit has been updated to include lectures, as requested by the previous cohort. Students also requested that the unit begins rather than ends with Carpentaria.

Disclaimer

Important: the 爆料王 regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an .

爆料王

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links