Course coordinator
Dr Tom Doig
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This creative writing course studies techniques of poetic expression and develops writing skills and an appreciation of language aesthetics.
WRIT2100 Creative Writing: Poetics is an inspiring and useful part of your Writing major. By spending a semester laser-focused on "the best words in the best order" (Samuel Taylor Coleridge's definition of poetry), this course improves the language skills of writers of all genres. You'll cultivate a deep understanding and appreciation of contemporary poetic forms; become acquainted with a range of exciting poets from Australia and around the world; and gain practical insights into the publishing industry. You will have the opportunity to develop your poetry writing skills through hands-on workshop exercises, readings and discussions led by expert poets, editors and scholars.
Poetic forms covered in this course: free verse, visual poetry, prose poems, contemporary sonnets, haiku and experimental poetry.
Annual UQ prizes and scholarships associated with this course: the Ford Memorial Poetry Prize ($500) and the Kingshott Cassidy Poetry Scholarship Award ($10,000).
Teaching and Learning Modes
WRIT2100 is taught as a weekly 1-hour lecture andﾠ1.5-hour tutorial. It features weekly readings; ﾠindividual poetry-writing exercises; group workshopping activities; and in-class discussions.
Expectations and Obligations
- Attending lectures and tutorials is key to doing well in this course. Participating in the workshopping process - as writer, and as reader/editor - is the primary, non-negotiable way that students improve as poets. There is a high statistical correlation between attendance/participation rates, and overall scores in the course.
- While there is no mandatory requirement for you to attend lectures and tutorials,ﾠ 30% of the assessment (poetry-writing exercises) will be conducted in tutorials, across 5x weeks. It is not possible to complete these assessed exercises outside of tutorial time. If regular attendance of tutorials is likely to be an issue for you, consider enrolling in a different course.
- If you miss lectures and tutorials, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from another student. If you have work or other commitments that clash with lectures and tutorials, you may want to consider deferring this course until next year. Lectures will be recorded through Echo360, but please note that lecture recordings sometimes fail and teaching staff are not obliged to repeat lectures.
- Please be aware that some of the teaching staff are casual academics, and are not able to respond immediately to email contact. A reasonable expectation would be a response within 3ﾠ working days (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)ﾠ from all teaching staff in the course. Apart from wholly unexpected circumstances, it is always better to bring your questions to class; failing that, make sure to ﾠgive teaching staff plenty of time to respond.
- If you are struggling with assessment or experiencing personal difficulties, please let the course convenor ﾠknow as soon as you possibly can. We do understand that sometimes feeling overwhelmed prevents students from contacting us in a timely fashion, but you have our assurances that you will be dealt with kindly and non-judgmentally. It is always better to let us know early.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This courseﾠassumes that you have anﾠinterest in creative writing and a commitment to developing your skills in reading and writing poetry. No prior experience in poetry writingﾠis necessary, but an open mind and good written communication skills will be helpful.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
4 units of BA courses
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
WRIT1110
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
WRIT6100
Restrictions
Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Tom Doig
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Students should regularly check the course's Blackboard site, and their student email account, for updates and announcements.
While 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
Creative Writing: Poetics aims to foster critical thinking and a cultural and historical appreciation of poetry through the study and practice of creative writing.ﾠIn its application of scholarship to creative practice it aims to develop your critical and communication skills across a wide range of texts and media. By introducing you to the techniques of poetic expression, it aims to help you produce both critical and creative writings and to extend your knowledge of literature and creative writing.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Production/ Exhibition |
Poetry Experiments (in-class)
|
30% 5 poems written in-class (best of 3 marks taken) |
Free verse 20/08/2025 - 21/08/2025 Experimental / visual poem 3/09/2025 - 4/09/2025 Sonnet / fixed-form poem 24/09/2025 - 25/09/2025 Prose poem 8/10/2025 - 9/10/2025 Haiku 15/10/2025 - 16/10/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique | Review of Poetry Book | 20% 500-600 words |
7/10/2025 4:00 pm |
| Portfolio | Poetry Portfolio | 50% 10 poems, 750 - 1,250 words |
31/10/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Poetry Experiments (in-class)
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition
- Weight
- 30% 5 poems written in-class (best of 3 marks taken)
- Due date
Free verse 20/08/2025 - 21/08/2025
Experimental / visual poem 3/09/2025 - 4/09/2025
Sonnet / fixed-form poem 24/09/2025 - 25/09/2025
Prose poem 8/10/2025 - 9/10/2025
Haiku 15/10/2025 - 16/10/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03
Task description
From Week 2 to Week 11, there will be five short, handwritten poetry exercises, in-person, in your tutorial. You will be given 20 minutes to write and revise a short poem draft.
Each poem will be written in a designated form, using specific poetic techniques. These poetic techniques will be discussed in advance in the lectures.
- a free verse poem
- an experimental and/or visual poem
- a sonnet / fixed-form poem
- a prose poem
- a haiku.
Note: You are not expected to write a fully polished and "finished" poem; this is about engaging with lecture content, learning and practicing specific methods of poetic expression.
At the end of semester, the highest three marks out of five will be counted. The weighting of each mark is 10% (30% total).
If you miss 1 or 2 assessed poetry-writing exercises, this is acceptable.
If you are absent from an assessed writing session, a mark of 0 will be awarded automatically.
Conditions
As this is in internal course, you must make yourself available to undertake these exercises at the scheduled date, time and venue. Please see Exam Procedures for full information.
These are handwritten, closed-book writing sessions. No written material, electronic material or electronic devices can be used. All such items should remain in your bag or under your desk. All electronic items must be switched off or in airplane mode. Where a device emits any noise, you may be subject to allegations of misconduct and the items may be confiscated for the duration of the quiz. You will be permitted to bring suitable writing implements, water in a clear bottle, and ear plugs (not ear buds or headphones).
You must turn up to your allocated tutorial, as per Allocate+.
The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Please note that there are NO opportunities to re-take individual writing exercises, and no alternative assessment available, except in the very specific circumstances.
Alternative Assessment
If you have a Student Action Plan (SAPD) that applies to the writing exercise (and you’ve not received a reply following submission of your action plan), please contact me immediately. We can make accommodations for some of the issues documented in Student Action Plans (e.g., if you cannot handwrite).
If you have a genuine, documented reason you have been unable to attend the tutorials on three or more occasions, a make-up session will be offered later in the semester. Reasons may include: sudden/serious illness that requires a lengthy absence; or another documented reason for a lengthy absence.
There is already flexibility built into this assessment to miss up to two tutorials, so the make-up session does not apply to students who miss tutorials due short-term illness, work commitments, etc.
To be eligible for alternative assessment, you must contact me by Week 5 with your documentation. If there is an unforeseeable change to your circumstances (e.g. illness, new job) after that date, please contact me as soon as you can with documentation.
There will be one make up test session offered in which you'll complete three different writing exercises over a period of 120 minutes. It will take place in week 13, so please ensure you're available.
Submission guidelines
Submit written paper, with full name and student number, to course staff immediately after writing session.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
If you miss three or more assessed writing exercises for acceptable, documented and agreed reasons, there will be one make-up writing session offered. It will take place in the week 13 tutorial slot, so please ensure you're available. You'll complete three different writing exercises over a period of 120 minutes. You will be given a selection of five writing exercises, but will only have to complete three of them.
Review of Poetry Book
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20% 500-600 words
- Due date
7/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L05
Task description
A 500- to 600-word book review of a recently published collection of contemporary poetry.
For our purposes, "recently published" means published this year or the year before, and does not include reprints of older books or anthologies of earlier work.
Your review will include:
- Writing in a tone appropriate for a book review: informal, creative and measured, yet also critically engaged in its evaluation of the text.
- Reference to any previous works and/or achievements (e.g., prizes, awards) of this author
- Description of the general style of the poetry, its context in schools of practice and/or approaches to poetry (e.g., Imagism, prose poetry, confessional)
- Description of the cultural context of the poetry collection, including any relevant intersectional factors (e.g. race, gender, class, sexual orientation, dis/ability)
- Evaluative statements, interpretations and judgements regarding poetic techniques used in the book, citing specific examples from the text
- Evaluative statements, interpretations and judgements regarding the themes of the poetry, and/or the overarching conceptual coherence of the book, citing specific examples from the text
- Publication details: author, title, publisher, date, ISBN, retail price
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
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.
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.
Poetry Portfolio
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Portfolio
- Weight
- 50% 10 poems, 750 - 1,250 words
- Due date
31/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The Poetry Portfolio comprises:
i) a Poetry Folio: 10 original poems, totalling 750-1,250 words.
The first six poems must be in a form discussed in lectures and/or tutorials, as follows:
- a free verse poem
- an experimental poem
- a visual poem
- a poem in a traditional fixed form (sonnet, villanelle, sestina, etc.)
- a prose poem
- 12 lines of short poems (haiku, aphorisms, cinquains, 'Weird Twitter' poems, etc.)
The remaining four poems can be in any of the above forms.*
ii) a brief preface to each of your 10 poems (10x prefaces, 25-50 words each) reflecting on your creative practice, literary influences and inspirations.
*For the purposes of this assessment, 12 lines of short poems counts as 1x poem. e.g., 4x 3-line haiku = 1 poem, not 4 poems.
Note: poems submitted for Assessment #1 "Poetry Experiments" cannot be re-submitted here; you must write original poems for each assessment.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
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.
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.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
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.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Scissors | 1x pair of scissors | own item needed |
| Glue stick | 1x glue stick | own item needed |
| Black felt tip or permanent marker | 1x black felt tip or permanent marker | own item needed |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
WEEK 1 - Poetry: What even is it? Overview of course and assessments. Introductory definitions of poetry, then and now. Discussion of poetry in the 21st century. Preliminary survey of a variety of poetic forms, to be unpacked in coming weeks. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 1 - Tutorial Introductions. Discussion of Weekly readings. Writing exercises. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
WEEK 2 - Guest poet Victoria Kennefick (Ireland) Special appearance by Victoria Kennefick (https://www.victoriakennefick.com/), who is Poet-in-Residence at the Queensland Writers' Centre. Victoria will read poems from her new book, Egg/Shell (https://www.carcanet.co.uk/9781800173835/eggshell/), then answer your questions. Don't miss this! Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 2 - Tutorial Discussion of Weekly readings. Writing exercises. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Not Timetabled |
(No classes in Week 3 due to EKKA public holiday) |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
WEEK 4 - The long and the short line of it: Free verse Discussion of free verse: 'free' = no fixed rhyme, no fixed form. Long lines, short lines, variable lines. Writing how you talk. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 4 - Tutorial Writing exercises. Workshopping begins. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
WEEK 5 - E=X=P=E=R=I=M=E=N=T=A=L // P=O=E=T=R=Y Discussion of major trends in experimental poetry, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries through to the present day. Dada, Surrealism, Modernism, OuLiPo, L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E Poetry, Conceptualism, Flarf, 'post-internet poetry'.
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 5 - Tutorial Writing exercises. Workshopping. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
WEEK 6 - Picture vs 1,000 words: Poetry and/as visual art Discussion of the relationship(s) between poetry and visual art, from Antiquity to the present day.
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 6 - Tutorial Writing exercises. Workshopping. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
WEEK 7 - Reviewing poetry Discussion of poetry reviewing in Australia. Key elements of reviewing: critique, quotations (evidence), accessible voice. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 7 - Tutorial Writing exercises. Workshopping. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
WEEK 8 - "Nuns fret not ...": fixed-form poetry, part 1 Discussion of rhyme and traditional fixed forms, including: sonnets, sestinas, villanelles, ghazals. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 8 - Tutorial Workshopping. Selection of poetry book(s) to be reviewed. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
WEEK 9 - "... at their convent’s narrow room": fixed-form poetry, part 2 Discussion of rhyme and traditional fixed forms, including: sonnets, sestinas, villanelles, ghazals. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 9 - Tutorial Writing exercises. Workshopping. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Lecture |
WEEK 10 - Life without line breaks: Prose poems Discussion of the prose poem. Key question: if the line break is one of the key features of poetry, what happens when you do away with it? What makes it (still) poetry? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 10 - Tutorial Writing exercises. Workshopping. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
WEEK 11 - Tiny epics: haiku, aphorisms, micropoetry Discussion of extremely short forms of poetry, from Antiquity to the present day. Aphorisms, epigrams, haiku, cinquains, micropoetry, 'weird twitter' and more. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
WEEK 12 - Rewriting and editing your poetry Special appearance by tutor and poet, Madeleine Dale (https://www.uqp.com.au/authors/madeleine-dale). Madeleine will read some of her poems, and answer all your poetry-writing-and-publishing questions! Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 12 - Tutorial Intensive whole-class workshopping session. Learning outcomes: L04 |
|
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Lecture |
WEEK 13 - No lecture |
Tutorial |
WEEK 13 - make-up writing exercises For students with approved documentation (SAPD, medical certificate), make-up writing exercises will be held in the Week 13 tutorial slot. |
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
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 ~9am 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.