Unit Outline

This unit explores how different worlds are imagined in speculative fiction, film, and critical theory. Taking an historical approach, the unit traces the trajectory of utopian/dystopian texts and theories through the last five hundred years, concentrating on the dystopian visions prevalent in the twentieth century and the new millennium. The unit examines the relationship between the historical/political moment of the text's production, and the speculative re-imagining of the world that the text offers. Through a selection of texts, students will be asked to consider utopian and dystopian representations of science and technology, political discourses such as Marxism and Feminism, and the environment (including the built environment).

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Analyse selected texts demonstrating knowledge of: a. the texts and topics introduced in this unit b. relevant theoretical issues as introduced in this unit c. the political dimensions of representation
2	Construct an argument supported by: a. evidence from your chosen text(s) b. reference to secondary material
3	identify and analyse connections between texts considered in the unit.
4	communicate effectively through written english in a variety of settings.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any faculty

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Units in English are regularly updated in line with changing University policy and best-practice pedagogy. This unit's assessment structure has been amended to give greater weighting to participation and to reduce the weighting on the final essay.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Research proposal	Week 6	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Research project	Week 14	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Tutorial participation	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Research proposal

Task Description:

You are required to compile a 500-word abstract, three research questions and a list of ten academic sources on a topic of your own devising. Although you must engage substantially with the set texts and topics in this unit, the scope of your project is largely up to you. This task is designed as preparation for the Assessment Task 2: Research Project in this unit. Further information and resources relevant to this assessment task are available on MyLO.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and explain the aims and objectives of your research project.	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Communicate effectively in written form using; A logical and appropriate structure; Accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling; Referencing that conforms to MLA style	LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Research project

Task Description:

You are required to undertake research on a topic of your own devising and to construct an argument in relation to that topic in the form of a written essay. Further information and resources relevant to this assessment task are available on MyLO.

Task Length:

3000 words (excluding Works Cited list)

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Construct an argument in response to the question, supported by: evidence from your chosen text(s); reference to secondary sources.	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Communicate ideas in the form of a written essay that: uses an essay structure that meets the question requirements; adheres to conventions of written English (word choice, grammar, punctuation and spelling); conforms to MLA style for presentation an	LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Tutorial participation

Task Description:

From Weeks 1–13 you will be required to attend a tutorial each week and participate in discussion and activities about the texts and topics in this unit.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Regular attendance and preparation for seminars.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Quality of contribution to class discussion and activities.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3	Interaction with peers throughout the semester.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

You will need to access the following literary texts. It does not matter what edition you use.

H. G. Wells, The Time Machine (1895) Evelyn Waugh, A Handful of Dust (1934) C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake (2003) Cormac McCarthy, The Road (2005) Ellen van Neerven, “Water” from Heat and Light (2014), Ling Ma, Severance (2018)

You will also need to access the following films:

Victor Fleming, The Wizard of Oz (1939) Neil Blomkamp, District 9 (2009) Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster (2015)