CWRI10001 Contemporary Poetry and Fiction
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is CWRI10001 hard?
CWRI10001: Harder. Makes it easier: No final exam, First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews).
What you learn
Writing your own poetry and fiction, from first idea to edited draft, with class workshops and lots of contemporary reading.
After it you can
- Write poems and short fiction in varied forms
- Give and use feedback in writing workshops
- Edit drafts into finished pieces
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Assignments 90%, Participation 10%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2017–2022)
- The biggest theme from 2017 to 2022 is marking: it is seen as subjective and dependent on your tutor's taste, with no cross-marking, so it is not an easy H1.
- Lectures bring in guest writers across fiction, poetry and non-fiction; some found them interesting, others said they gave little practical writing advice.
- Workshops and tutor feedback were the most useful part for many, but your experience depends heavily on the tutor; expect your work to be read and discussed in class.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate CWRI10001
Quick answers
- When is CWRI10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking CWRI10001?
- No prerequisites.
- Does CWRI10001 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Assignments 90%, Participation 10%.
- Is CWRI10001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: The biggest theme from 2017 to 2022 is marking: it is seen as subjective and dependent on your tutor's taste, with no cross-marking, so it is not an easy H1.
- What do students say about CWRI10001?
- The biggest theme from 2017 to 2022 is marking: it is seen as subjective and dependent on your tutor's taste, with no cross-marking, so it is not an easy H1. Lectures bring in guest writers across fiction, poetry and non-fiction; some found them interesting, others said they gave little practical writing advice. Workshops and tutor feedback were the most useful part for many, but your experience depends heavily on the tutor; expect your work to be read and discussed in class.
- How many class hours a week does CWRI10001 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take CWRI10001 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after CWRI10001?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example CWRI30004.
- Can I rate CWRI10001?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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