Course Title: Develop writing and editing skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2011
Course Code: COMM5397
Course Title: Develop writing and editing skills
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Ms Penny Johnson
Phone: 9925 4383
Email: penny.johnson@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Ms Stephanie Holt
Phone: 9925 4951
Email: stephanie.holt@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 120
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 course develops your writing and editing skills in a professional context. It introduces you to the publishing process and emphasises the roles, responsibilities and relationships of authors and editors. The course contains a detailed study of English spelling, vocabulary, grammar and syntax, and of paragraphs. You also analyse and assess writing from a range of styles and for different audiences.
The course also focuses on punctuation and style issues, as well as copyediting and proofreading. You learn editing and proofreading mark-up and technique, and handle proofs with numerous design features.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP551 Develop writing and editing skills |
Element: |
1. Ensure the clarity of language |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The principles of clear language are applied to writings |
Element: |
2. Apply the appropriate voice and tone |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 The type of authorial voice/s appropriate to the publication are determined and applied to writings |
Element: |
3. Apply the accepted conventions of grammar and usage to a range of written contexts |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 The conventions of grammar and syntax in written English are analysed |
Element: |
4. Use correct spelling and punctuation |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Australian spelling and punctuation conventions are demonstrated in writings |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
• understand the book publishing process and the role of the editor
• apply the fundamentals of English grammar, spelling and vocabulary to a range of written contexts
• use reference tools with confidence, including style manuals and dictionaries
• critique short pieces of fiction and non-fiction according to principles of genre, audience, style and clarity
• communicate effectively in editorial report writing and in author–editor relationships
• apply punctuation correctly and for effect
• use the publishing industry’s technical language and its copyediting and proofreading marks
• edit short pieces of fiction and non-fiction according to principles of genre, audience, style and clarity
• edit and communicate research through delivery of a class talk.
Details of Learning Activities
Classes are a mixture of lectures, discussion, practical exercises and group work.
You learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• lectures
• industry speakers
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• individual and collaborative projects
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• analysis/critique of students’ work
2. Out-of-class activities:
• practical exercises
• reading articles and excerpts
• preparing for discussion
• editorial report writing
• project work
• independent research
• revision for tests.
The Editing 1 website on Blackboard provides information, resources, activities and web links to support your studies. You are expected to manage your learning and undertake an appropriate amount of out-of-class independent study and research.
Teaching Schedule
| Semester 1 | |||
| Week starting | Class content | Assessment due dates | Elements |
| Week 1 7 Feb |
Outline course and requirements Class talk: Introduction Role of the editor |
1, 3 | |
| Week 2 14 Feb |
Class talk: Organise time slots Language: Spelling and tautologies The book production process |
2, 4 | |
| Week 3 21 Feb |
Class talk: Research and presentation tips Language: Word confusions Readership/markets |
1, 2 | |
| Week 4 28 Feb |
Grammar: Introduction and nouns Text analysis (non-fiction) |
2, 3 | |
| Week 5 7 March |
Grammar: Possession Text analysis (fiction) |
2, 3 | |
| Week 6 14 March |
Grammar: Test revision Effective communication |
1, 2 | |
| Week 7 21 March |
Test Editorial report writing |
Editing and grammar test | 1, 2, 3 |
| Week 8 28 March |
Grammar: Sentence grammar—subjects, objects and complements Editorial report writing |
2, 3 | |
| Week 9 4 April |
Grammar: Finite verbs Paragraphs |
1, 3 | |
| Week 10 11 April |
Grammar: Non-finite verbs Paragraphs |
1, 3 | |
| Week 11 18 April |
Grammar: Pronouns | Editorial report | 1, 3 |
| Mid-semester break (Thursday 21 April – Wednesday 27 April) | |||
| Week 12 2 May |
Grammar: Agreement, adjectives, adverbs, determiners | 3 | |
| Week 13 9 May |
Grammar: Prepositions and conjunctions | 1, 3 | |
| Week 14 16 May |
Grammar: Clauses and phrases | 1, 3 | |
| Week 15 23 May |
Grammar: Misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers Grammar revision and practice test |
1, 3 | |
| Week 16 30 May |
Test Introduction to Major Editing Project |
Paragraphing and grammar test | 1, 3 |
| Week 17 6 May |
Assessment week | ||
| Semester break (Monday 13 June – Friday 1 July) | |||
| Semester 2 | |||
| Week 1 4 July |
Guest speakers Style: Introduction to house style and capitals |
1, 2, 4 | |
| Week 2 11 July |
Style: Capitals, italics and titles | 3, 4 | |
| Week 3 18 July |
Punctuation: Commas, semi-colons and colons |
1, 4 | |
| Week 4 25 July |
Punctuation: Hyphens, ens and ems | Writing for Major Project | 3, 4 |
| Week 5 1 Aug |
Punctuation: Quotation marks—fiction and non-fiction conventions | 3, 4 | |
| Week 6 8 Aug |
Punctuation: Lists, shortened forms and remaining punctuation issues Test Revision: Punctuation |
4 | |
| Week 7 15 Aug |
Test Editing symbols and mark-up technique for text and structure |
Punctuation test | 1, 3, 4 |
| Week 8 22 Aug |
Editing fiction Major Project: Project requirements |
||
| Week 9 29 Aug |
Editing non-fiction Major Project: Author queries |
1, 2 | |
| Week 10 5 Sept |
Style: Numbers Major Project: Style sheets |
3 | |
| Week 11 12 Sept |
Major Project: Revision and in-class editing | 1 | |
| Week 12 19 Sept |
Major Project: First author–editor meetings Proofreading: Proofreading symbols and mark-up technique |
1 | |
| Mid-semester break (26 September – 7 October) | |||
| Week 13 10 Oct |
Proofreading: Proofreading technique Major Project: Second author–editor meetings |
1 | |
| Week 14 17 Oct |
Proofreading: Typography and page proofing terminology Major Project: Author–editor sign-off |
Major project | 3, 4 |
| Week 15 24 Oct |
Proofreading: Illustrations and figures Test Revision: Proofreading |
3 | |
| Week 16 31 Oct |
Test (No class on Cup Day, Tuesday 1 Nov) | Proofreading test | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Week 17 7 Nov |
Assessment week (Test for Tuesday class) |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Editing 1 Grammar Handbook 2011 (available from the RMIT Bookshop) |
References
You are advised to look at the course blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment includes a written report, an editing project, in-class tests and an oral presentation.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.
1. Class presentation (15%)
A 10-minute presentation on an aspect of editing, publishing, writing or the English language. Your presentation relates to a publishing context, and to you and your classmates as people who will be working as editors or writers being edited.
Due date
In either Semester 1 or 2, on a date negotiated with your teacher.
2. Editing and grammar test (7.5%)
A 45-minute closed-book test on spelling, tautologies, word confusions, plurals and the apostrophe.
Due date
Semester 1, Week 7 (week beginning 21 March)
3. Editorial report (15%)
A 1000-word editorial report on an unpublished manuscript.
Due date
Semester 1, Week 11 (week beginning 18 April)
4. Grammar and paragraphing test (20%)
A 1.5-hour test on all grammar and paragraphing work covered in Semester 1.
Due date
Semester 1, Week 16 (week beginning 30 May)
5. Punctuation test (12.5%)
A 1 hour open-book test where you add punctuation to an unpunctuated paragraph and correct punctuation problems in a series of sentences, checking parallel structure and compound words as appropriate. You work with the style provided.
Due date
Semester 2, Week 7 (week beginning 15 August)
6. Major editing project (20%)
You edit another student’s piece of writing submitted for a simulated anthology. To participate in the project, you submit a 1000–1200 word piece of writing according to a brief. As the editor, you complete an electronic clean up of your author’s piece and then do a hard-copy edit. You edit the piece according to the brief, the demands of the piece and market needs. A one-page reflection on the project as both editor and author details your experience and learning.
Due date
Writing – Semester 2, Week 4 (week beginning 25 July)
Editing Project – Semester 2, Week 14 (week beginning 17 Oct)
7. Proofreading test (10%)
A one-hour open-book test, where you proofread page proofs according to the brief and style provided. You are marked on your proofreading mark-up as well as your ability to find and correct errors.
Due date
Week 16/17 (Thursday 3 November, Friday 4 November or Tuesday 8 November)
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail
For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are
available through the course contact in Program administration.
Other Information
Feedback
Students receive verbal and written feedback from the teacher on their work. Where relevant, this feedback also includes suggestions on how students can proceed to the next stage of developing their projects.
Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions and plagiarism
Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece
of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
Course Overview: Access Course Overview