Key facts
UNE unit code: ENGL384
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Not offered in 2026
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information
Much of what we know about crime and criminals derives from popular fiction and non-fiction genres of crime writing.
By placing crime and its control and regulation in the context of literary representations, and by employing interdisciplinary approaches, you will examine the interaction between literature and criminology to develop your understanding of the origins, development and cultural significance of crime writing in the texts from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century.
When studying this unit, you will be offered important insights into the popular appeal of crime writing which, in entertaining vast audiences, also plays an important role in mediating our perceptions about crime, criminality and crime control.
After completing this unit you will be able to speak with authority on the subject of crime fiction and non-fiction as a literary genre.
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- distinguish the established conventions of different sub-genres of crime fiction and assess the ways in which the set texts conform to and depart from those conventions;
- methodically analyse the key literary, cultural and social concepts relevant to the study of crime fiction;
- critically evaluate the causes and consequences of crime, and of the role that crime writing plays in reflecting and challenging social attitudes and responses to crime;
- appraise the cultural and theoretical contexts that each set text speaks to and from; and
- integrate advanced reading, writing and research skills with the critical interpretation of set crime fiction texts and their contexts
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Yes | 50% | All offerings | No. Words: 2500 |
| Online Quiz | Yes | 10% | All offerings | No. Words: 500 (equivalent) |
| Take Home Examination | Yes | 40% | All offerings | No. Words: 2000 (equivalent) |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences
ISBN: 9780241956830
Capote, T., Penguin 2012
Text refers to: All offerings
The Hound of the Baskervilles
ISBN: 9780140437867
Doyle, A.C., Penguin Random House 2001
Text refers to: All offerings
Blue Gold
ISBN: 9781982189341
Cussler, C. and Kemprecos, P., Simon & Schuster 2021
Text refers to: All offerings
L.A. Confidential
ISBN: 9780099537885
Ellory, J., Picador 2011
Text refers to: All offerings
And Then There Were None
ISBN: 9780008123208
Christie, A., Harper Collins 2015
Text refers to: All offerings
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