Course Title: Write complex documents
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2016
Course Code: OFFC5310C
Course Title: Write complex documents
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4358 - Certificate IV in Business Administration
Course Contact: Sylvia Baroutis
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5469
Course Contact Email: sylvia.baroutis@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Course Teacher:
Seymour Jacobson
+61 3 9925 1563
Nominal Hours: 50
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
None
Course Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to plan documents, draft text, prepare final text and produce documents of some complexity.
It applies to individuals who work in a range of business environments and are skilled in the creation of reports, information and general promotion documents that are more complex than basic correspondence, memos or forms and that require review and analysis of a range of information sources.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBWRT401 Write complex documents |
Element: |
1. Plan documents |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Determine the purposes of documents |
Element: |
2. Draft text |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Review and organise available data, information and knowledge according to proposed structure and content |
Element: |
3. Prepare final text |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Review draft text to ensure document objectives are achieved and requirements are met |
Element: |
4. Produce document |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Choose basic design elements for documents appropriate to audience and purpose |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to plan documents, draft text, prepare final text and produce documents of some complexity
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced classroom based writing activities using the prescribed textbook. The self-paced activities will be delivered through various technology platforms and methods to provide students with the opportunity to build a portfolio of assessment evidence of their work documents at each stage of the writing process developed over the course of the semester. We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities and actively seek regular feedback from your teacher regarding your progress.
Teaching Schedule
Induction Session
Prior to training commencement a program level induction session will be conducted that comprises the following:
- Program overview and requirements
- myRMIT/Blackboard
- Overview of assessment requirements
- Pre-Training Review including:
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfers
- Assessment of current skills and knowledge
- Competency/Grading Criteria
- Plagiarism
- Appeals
- Extensions
- Feedback
- Privacy
- Submission requirements
- Resubmission policy
- Where to get support
- Student responsibilities
Course Delivery:
Week | Week Commencing | Topics | Assessment |
1 | 4 July | Introduction to the course including:
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2 | 11 July | Business writing - Chapter 15 The three-step writing process The seven components of writing style |
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3 | 18 July | Business writing - Chapter 15 An organisation’s signature Evaluate and revise The advantages of writing in Plain English |
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4 | 25 July | Writing business letters - Chapter 16 Applying the three-step writing process to business letters Formatting a business letter |
Assessment 1 - in-class assessment - Part A Business writing |
5 | 1 Aug | Writing business letters - Chapter 16 Writing good-news or neutral letters |
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6 | 8 August | Writing business letters - Chapter 16 |
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7 | 15 August | Writing business letters - Chapter 16 Writing persuasive letters |
Assessment 2 - in-class assessment - Part B Letters |
8 | 22 Aug | Writing business letters - Chapter 16 Replying to a letter of complaint |
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29 Aug-4 Sept | Mid-semester break | Mid-semester break | |
9 | 5 Sept | Writing email, memos and short reports - Chapter 17 The three-step writing process Electronic mail (email) |
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10 | 12 Sept | Writing email, memos and short reports - Chapter 17 The memo format |
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11 | 19 Sept | Writing email, memos and short reports - Chapter 17 Short report writing Short report formats Four types of short reports |
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12 | 26 Sept | Writing long reports - Chapter 18 |
Assessment 3 - in-class assessment - Part C emails, memos, short reports |
13 | 3 Oct | Writing technical documents - Chapter 19 The purpose of technical writing A technical writing style Format correctly |
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14 | 10 Oct | Writing technical documents - Chapter 19 Different types of technical documents Technical proposals Review and edit |
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15 | 17 Oct | Communicating visually through graphics - Chapter 20 Effective visual communication Major types of graphics used in visual communication Presenting graphics |
Assessment 4 - in-class online assessment - Part D Long reports and technical writing |
16 | 24 Oct | Feedback and review | |
17 | 31 Oct | Resubmit/Resit as appropriate | Resubmissions/Resits as appropriate |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Dwyer, Judith, The business communication handbook, 10th edn, Pearson Australia, 2016 |
9780170354172 |
References
Other Resources
RMIT library
Blackboard (myRMIT)
RMIT online resources
Overview of Assessment
In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to:
- plan, draft and finalise complex documents that require review and analysis of a range of information sources
- use business technology to apply formatting, and incorporate graphics
- edit the draft text to ensure accuracy and clarity of information, obtain feedback on the draft and revise the draft
- apply the enterprise style guide/house style.
Knowledge Evidence
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, you must:
- identify the enterprise style guide/house style
- outline formatting styles and their impact on formatting, readability and appearance of documents
- explain rules and conventions for written English, as defined by general and specialist sources.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the communication – writing field of work and include access to:
- office equipment and resources
- organisational policies and procedures
- organisational style guides
You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Feedback
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.
You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.
Assessment Tasks
Overview There are 4 assessments for OFFC5310C Write Complex Documents. You must demonstrate competency in each assessment to be successful in this course
Assessment Task
Part A Business writing
An in-class assessment will take place in Week 4. You will be assessed on aspects of Business Writing with questions on English Grammar and Business Writing principles, (reference Dwyer Chapter 15 Pages 462-491)
Part B Letters
An in-class assessment will take place in Week 7. You will be assessed on your ability to write Business Letters and identify Business Writing strategies, (reference Dwyer Chapter 16 Pages 492-531)
Part C Emails, memos and short reports
An in-class assessment will take place in Week 12. You will be assessed on Email principles and policies, Business email writing, Memoranda writing and Short Reports, (reference Dwyer Chapter 17 Pages 532-570)
Part D Long reports and technical writing
An in-class, online assessment will take place in Week 15. You will be assessed on your competency in relationship to the contents of a Long Report, writing Purpose Statements, preparing Outlines, Body of Reports and Appendices, (reference Dwyer Chapter 18 & 19 Pages 571-633)
- Submission Requirements
You should:
- Ensure that you submit assessments on the due date.
- Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
- When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of each assessment task is available on blackboard.
- Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10 unless instructed otherwise in the Assessment Record and Cover Sheet instructions.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates even when work is submitted progressively in the form of a weekly journal/learning activities.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website: More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
Marking Guide (Competency):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:
Final Grades table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview