Fundamentals of Academic Writing (WRIT1005)

Course overview

This course covers the fundamentals of reading, writing and critiquing as an academic.

Hello, writers, and welcome to Fundamentals of Academic Writing!

Writing is a critical skill for navigating the world and participating in our communities, but far too often, it's one we're expected to just pick up along the way. As students and researchers, you'll produce writing for assessment activities; in your employment, you'll be expected to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of readers. This is much more complex than simply producing grammatically-standard sentences -- to write effectively, you must be able to analyse and synthesise complex information, organise ideas in a way that is usable, and tailor your language and style to fit your readers' needs.

WRIT1005 sets you up for success in your university writing, focussing on hands-on, practical strategies to enhance the substance, structure and style of your academic writing, and help you understand your role as an emerging expert in your discipline.

The material presented in lectures and practiced in tutorials will enhance your ability to research, write and edit. You'll learn about finding and evaluating research, developing persuasive arguments, and the ethics of research. In tutorials, you'll work as a community of writers, actively developing your writing skills through interactive writing and workshopping tasks. Over the course of the semester, you'll complete short writing tasks that build towards your own academic argument, and we'll talk about how you can apply these skills in other classes. Overall, by taking this course, you'll develop the competence and confidence to reflect on your own work and continue developing as a writer throughout your studies, and your career.

Welcome, writers. We're looking forward to working with you.

Advice from previous students

I asked students who completed WRIT1005 what they wish they'd known before starting the class, and what advice they have for future students. Some of their advice is below:

• "I wish I had known that while this course would not be content-heavy, everything was designed to help me excel in the class."
• "I wish I had known that it's OK if you think your writing is bad because everyone's going through the same thing. And if you need help, just ask!"
• "Don't go into this course thinking you'll be alone and totally lost. It's structured so that you get regular targetted feedback -- you won't be left in the dark!"
• "I wish I had known that academic writing can be creative and inventive; it isn't just about plugging information into a set structure."ﾠ
• "Everything you will learn is worthwhile and important for future classes, even if you aren't majoring in writing - it's relevant for all disciplines."

Course requirements

Assumed background

You will need to read and analyse scholarly articles to strengthen both your critical reading and writing skills. You should also be prepared to share and discuss your own writing with your peers in your tutorial.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

WRIT1000, WRIT1001

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

The full WRIT1005 timetable—which includes details about weekly topics, readingsﾠand exercises—is available on the WRIT1005 Blackboard site. You should read this profile in conjunction with the full timetable.

The WRIT1005 Blackboard site is available for student access. Go to https://learn.uq.edu.au/webapps/login and sign in with your UQ username and password.

Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with: 

• Your name 
• Your student ID 
• The course code 
• A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference) 
• Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP 

Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team. 

Aims and outcomes

The course introduces students to the crucial role of reading and writing in the academy. It addresses the purpose, design and structure of the argumentative essay, from developing research questions and carrying out research to organising your ideas and writing in a clear, compelling style.

The course is designed to develop your ability to:

• Read and write as an academic
• Summarise and critique arguments in academic writing
• Present your understanding of an argument
• Develop research questions of interest to your discipline
• Articulate an argument as an academic
• Be attuned to disciplinary differences and overlaps
• Entertain discussion in an academic context

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Short writing tasks

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection

Weight

40%

Due date

Essay proposal 23/03/2026 4:00 pm

Mini literature review 7/04/2026 4:00 pm

Peer review workshop for rhetorical analysis - in your assigned tutorial meeting 20/04/2026

Rhetorical analysis & development plan 27/04/2026 4:00 pm

Other conditions

Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Extensions are not typically available for these tasks, as they are designed to build on each other and delays in submitting one will impact your capacity to complete the next task. We may be able to accommodate additional time of up to 48 hours under some circumstances. If you anticipate not being able to submit this work on time, contact your tutor and cc the course coordinator as soon as possible to discuss your planned submission time.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

In addition to the late penalty listed above, please keep in mind that we have a very short turnaround to review and provide feedback on these tasks (approximately 4 days), so late submission will typically mean that you do not receive feedback in time to apply it to the next task.

Final essay

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique, Reflection

Weight

40%

Due date

25/05/2026 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit final draft via Turnitin on Blackboard. The submitted assignment must include a completed peer review worksheet and a copy of your original draft.

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Feedback, revision and development reflection

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique, Reflection

Weight

20%

Due date

8/06/2026 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

• Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%. 
• Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. 
• Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator. 
• Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request. 
• Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university. 
• Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released. 

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Writing support and consultations

As a student writer -- especially, but not only, as a student taking a writing class -- you can benefit from the excellent academic writing support offered by the Peer Writing Project and UQ's Academic Skills Advisors. Drop in for free, one-on-one consultations with trained writing mentors who can assist you at any stage of the writing process for any written assignment, from understanding your task and planning your response, to drafting, to proofreading and polishing for submission.

• Peer Writing Project: Meet with a Student Writing Leader to learn and apply effective writing strategies, and get a reader's understanding of your work. Search 'peer writing support' on StudentHub for session times and locations (direct link to search results; login required).
• Drop-in Writing Support: Meet with an Academic Skills Advisor to get help with writing strategies and other academic skills. Search 'drop-in writing support' on StudentHub for session times and locations (direct link to search results; login required).

You can also access the schedules for both options by searching 'bring your draft' on StudentHub (direct link to search results; login required).

Expectations and obligations

You need to be familiar with the set readings and to actively investigate the WRIT1005 Blackboard site (log in at https://learn.uq.edu.au/webapps/login/), which you will gain access to when you enrol. You may need to be able to download, print off, and read portable document format (.pdf), document format (.doc), and rich-text format (.rtf) files from the WRIT1005 Blackboard site in advance of the weekly lectures and tutorials. You are also expected to upload assessment items to the Blackboard site. You must ensure that you have reliable access to email, and you will need to check for messages regularly.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Additional learning activity information

As a writing course, this class has substantial practical work which you'll undertake both in your tutorial meetings and in your own time as you draft and revise your various assignments. All tutorial activities directly connect to the skills you'll be assessed on in your assignments -- in other words, your tutorial meetings are your opportunity to practice doing what you'll do in your next assessment. Consistently attending and actively engaging in tutorial meetings allows you to practice those skills and benefit from formative feedback so that you can perform better in assignments.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
• AI for Assessment Guide
• Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

Communication Expectations 

While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.  

• Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.  
• You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.   
• You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.  
• You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).  
• Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.