Course Title: Apply writing and presentation skills within a justice environment

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2017

Course Code: JUST5726

Course Title: Apply writing and presentation skills within a justice environment

School: 365T Global, Urban and Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4323 - Certificate IV in Justice

Course Contact: Irene Pagliarella, Program Manager

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4581

Course Contact Email: irene.pagliarella@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Linda Apostolovski

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Nil

Course Description

In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to research, analyse and evaluate, document and present information that meets organisational requirements across a range of justice environment contexts.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	VU20870 Apply writing and presentation skills within a justice environment
Element:	1. Plan for writing complex document/s for a justice environment context
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Purpose and objectives, format and specific requirements of document/s are determined 1.2 Function and suitable use of descriptive, analytical, evaluative interpretative and investigative reports is reviewed 1.3 Research information and required resources are delineated 1.4 Appropriate use of language, including grammar and syntax is examined and practised 1.5 Research referencing requirements for range of written materials is examined and practised
Element:	2. Research and develop complex document/s for a justice environment context
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Research is conducted and collated 2.2 Document/s is developed in designated format, to discipline standard and suitable for dissemination objectives 2.3 Feed back on suitability of document is obtained according to organisational requirements
Element:	3. Present information in a justice environment context
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Presentation strategies, format and delivery methods that match the requirements of the target audience location, resources and required personnel are determined and practised 3.2 Presentation is conducted according to determined strategies, format and delivery methods 3.3 Feedback is sought from key personnel and used to inform future practice

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements and the following;

• Conduct research for a report or document
• Effectively use written and oral skills, to industry standard, in the development and presentation of a researched document
• Reference sources of information through in-text referencing and bibliography according to specific citation system
• Understand the knowledge of research and presentation methods
• Understand the knowledge of privacy legislation, regulations and standards

Details of Learning Activities

Students will participate in a variety of learning activities, both in class and out of class.
In class activities will incorporate
Face to face lectures, simulated workplace scenarios, practical demonstrations and role-plays that identify with professional practice within the criminal justice system
· Individual oral and written questioning, and student-led group discussions and/or presentations, will exemplify your contextualizing of the class topics, and validate your learning for communication and writing skills required in criminal justice settings.
Out of class activities will Incorporate
· Readings, researching case studies, completing remaining in class activities, and preparing for in class group presentations/discussions

Teaching Schedule

120 min: Session One:

Welcome
Introduction to writing in criminal justice
Course guide overview and time management

-PowerPoint session One
-Time Management activity
-Essential Guide for Commencing Students

120 min. Session Two:

Learning Style Questionnaire and Guest Speaker
Difference between sources of information, primary, secondary and tertiary

-PowerPoint session Two
-Felder & Solomon
-Linda Buxton (RMIT Library)

120 min. Session Three:

Basic writing skills
Function and suitable use of descriptive, analytical, evaluative interpretative and investigative reports in justice
Introduction to APA referencing

-PowerPoint session Three
-LLN Assessment
-Justice Writing Task

120 min. Session Four:

Research Skills – how to research appropriate and required resources to support essays, reports with evidence

APA Referencing

-PowerPoint session Four
APA Practice Quiz
-In class activity

120 min. Session Five:

Forming and argument
Appropriate use of language, grammar and syntax in the context of the justice environment
APA referencing continued

-Law Institute Activity – Virtual Courtroom activity

120 min. Session: Six

Forming an argument, referencing requirements for a range of written materials
APA referencing continued

Summative assessment 1 due

-PowerPoint session Five
-Essential Guide for commencing students
-Justice Writing Task

120 min. Session: Seven
Presentation strategies, format and delivery methods that meet the requirements of justice workplaces

-PowerPoint session Six
-Activities

120 min. Session: Eight

Presentation Workshops - Formative assessment
General feedback on themes and outcomes of summative assessment 1

-PowerPoint week Seven
-Four Corners Documentary “Lethal Force”

Mid semester break

120 min. Session: Ten

Fundamental principles of writing reports in a designated format and standard for Justice settings suitable for dissemination and action.

Oral presentations commence on scheduled times

-PowerPoint session Eight
“What would you do next?” – video and writing exercise.
-Justice writing Task

120 min. Session: Eleven

Report writing continued.

120 min. Session: Twelve

Different purposes and formats of documents and reports suitable for justice settings

Assessment marking criteria

120 min Session: Thirteen

Relevant ethical standards and codes of practice for writing in justice settings

Assessment marking criteria

120 min. Session: Fourteen

Knowledge of privacy legislation, regulations and standards for written documents in justice settings

-PowerPoint session Nine
-Justice writing task
-Editing Task activity

120 min.

Session: Fifteen

Revision of Academic referencing for final summative assessment

120 min. Session Sixteen

Summative assessment 3

-PowerPoint session Ten
-In class activity

End of subject lesson & semester

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessments may incorporate a variety of methods including role-plays, observations, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, reports, group/individual training workshops, and audio-visual presentations.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

A student charter http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/studentcharter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=c15i3ciaq8ca

Assessment Tasks

Formative Assessments

There will be in class individual and group formative assessments related to communication and writing skills to support the development of knowledge and skills consistent with the required skills and knowledge of the unit and linked to summative assessment tasks 1 and 2 and 3.

Summative Assessments:

There are three summative tasks to prove competency in this course. The assessable tasks are as follows:
Task 1: PART A and PART B

This task involves the submission of a written assessment on a selected topic from a prescribed list (Part A), followed by an oral presentation on the topic (Part B)

Part A involves a written argumentative essay of 1000 words that demonstrates the student’s ability to defend their position on the selected topic using evidence to support their viewpoint. Students are required to gather and evaluate information and resources from scholarly sources including textbooks and journal articles to assess, defend, use several different arguments and clearly write on the topic selected. Part A will be due in week 6.

Summative Assessment 2

This involves writing a report and narrative on a simulated scenario. The report needs to incorporate, factual information of the presenting issues and outcomes that flow from the report. Summative assessment 2 will contribute to 40% of the final grade

Summative Assessment 3

Once the written assessment has been graded and feedback provided to the students, Part B involves a 3 minute oral presentation commencing in week 10. Students will be provided scheduled times to present their oral presentation. The combination of Part A will contribute to 40% of the final grade and Part B will contribute to 20% of the final grade.

Assessment Matrix

Graded Results
Are summative assessments and will be recorded as either:
CHD (Competent High Distinction)
CDI (Competent with Distinction)
CC (Competent with Credit)
CAG (Competency Achieved-Graded)
NYC (Not Yet Competent) or
DNS (Did Not Submit for Assessment)

Other Information

Program inherent requirements

Inherent requirements refer to the abilities, knowledge and skills you must demonstrate to:
achieve program learning outcomes
work effectively as part of a team in classroom and work-integrated learning (WIL) settings
perform effectively in classroom and WIL settings without undue risk to your own or others' health, safety and welfare.
Depending on your program of study, inherent requirements may include:
verbal and non-verbal communication skills
reading, writing and number skills
concentration, memory and problem solving
mental wellness and behavioural stability
vision, hearing, touch and smell
physical skills, such as gross and fine motor skills.

If you have any injury, illness, disability, impairment, condition or incapacity that may affect your ability to perform the inherent requirements of your program of study, we encourage you to discuss this with the Program manager to enable RMIT University to identify whether there are any reasonable adjustments that would enable you to perform program requirements. RMIT University wants to place you in the best possible position to use your knowledge, skills and attributes effectively in your program of study.

Include the following text:

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students

Cover Sheet for Submissions

You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of work submitted in hardcopy. For every piece of work submitted online you will complete an e-Declaration. The signed cover sheet or e-Declaration acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Applying for Special Consideration

If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration

Assessment Appeals

If you believe your assessment result or final result is wrong please contact the course coordinator and provide the reason why you think your result is incorrect. Valid reasons for seeking a review of results include:

a) You believe an error has occurred in the calculation of the grade; or,
b) You believe the assessment did not comply with criteria published in the Course Guide; or,
c) You believe the assessment did not comply with University Policies on Assessment (i.e. an error in process has occurred).

Full details of the procedure (including appeals procedure) can be located at this RMIT site: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#assessment

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.

If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity

The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing

Plagiarism and Collusion

Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Plagiarism is not acceptable.

Examples of plagiarism include:

Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
Copying a whole or any part of another student's work; and
Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.

For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy – http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 (unresolved) – and the RMIT Student Conduct Regulations – http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=r7a7an6qug93

Plagiarism Software

The originality verification software Turnitin may be used in this course. For details, see: http://www.turnitin.com

Complaints Procedure:

RMIT University is committed to providing a harmonious study and work environment for all students and staff. The University recognises your right to raise concerns about academic, administrative or support services without recrimination and has policies and procedures to assist in the resolution of complaints.

Most issues are resolved at the local level and you are encouraged to take steps to resolve your issue locally. The student complaint procedure details steps to take if your problem is not resolved or you believe the response you received is unreasonable.

Student Complaints Policy: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/studentcomplaintspolicy

Student complaints Procedure: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=i1lexipvjt22

Student Complaints Form: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/v4ujvmyojugxz.pdf

Working with Children Check – This course requires a Working with Children Check

Police Check – This course requires a satisfactory police check

Course Overview: Access Course Overview