Course Title: Produce Writings - Short Story

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2009

Course Code: COMM5403

Course Title: Produce Writings - Short Story

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Brendan Lee

Course Contact Phone: +61 399254368

Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Ania Walwicz
ania.walwicz@rmit.edu.au

Building 94, level 2, room 6
23–27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
9925 4340 (phone); 9925 4362 (fax)

Nominal Hours: 105

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

In this course you explore the art of writing in the short story form while looking at the skills and knowledge needed to write and market your own short stories. You are introduced to the works of many different short story writers and experiment with a range of approaches, techniques and modes of writing while creating your own body of work.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP552 Produce Writings - Short Story

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to develop a concept suitable for a short story into a written work.

Details of Learning Activities

Students learn through classroom-based lectures, workshopping and creative writing exercises. Students are expected to do their own research and writing off-campus.

Teaching Schedule

This competency is taught and assessed alongside three other competencies:

• Collect and organise information - PERF5045C
• Develop, define and communicate concept for own work - CUVCOR03A
• Source information on history and theory and apply to own work. - CUVCOR11A

Semester 1

Week	Topics/Elements
1	Introduction to short story writing VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory
2	Strategies and aims of the storyteller VBP552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUSRADO1A Collect relevant information
3	The classical short story  VBP552 Create the writing task CUVCOR3A Refine concept CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
4	The Australian short story VBP552  Create the writing task CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUVCOR3A Develop concept
5	The construct of the fairytale VBP552 Create the writing task CUSRADO1A Organise the information CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
6	Use of autobiography VBP552 Plan the purpuse of the writing task CUVCORO3A Refine Concept CUVCOR11A Apply the information to own area of work
7	Humour in storytelling VBP552 Create the writing task CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
8	Storytelling and the realm of the fantastic  VBP552 Plan the purpuse of the writing task CUVCORO3A Refine concept CUSRADO1A Assess the information
9	The construct of memory VBP552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUSRADO1A Communicate the information CUVCOR11A Apply the information to own area of work
10	The use of descriptive detail in storytelling VBP552 Create the writing task VBP552 Realise the writing  task CUVCORO3A Refine concept
11	The use of dialogue in short story VBP552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
12	The supended story VBP552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCORO3A Communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work
13	Magic realist tradition in short story VBP552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUSRADO1A Collect relevant information CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
14	Detective fiction CUVCORO3A Refine concept CUSRADO1A Assess the information CUVCOPR11A Collect information on history and theory
15	Science fiction VBP552 Plan the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR3A Develop concept CUVCORo3A Refine concept
16	Horror story VBP552 Create the writing task CUVCOR3A Refine concept CUSRado1A  Communicate the information
17	Best stories from the course VBP552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory

Semester 2

Week	Topic/Elements
1	The Russian short story CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUSRADO1A Collect relevant information CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work
2	The French short story CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUVCORO3A Refine concept CUVCORO3A Communicate concept
3	The German short story VBP552 Create the writing task CUSRADO1A Collect relevant information CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
4	The American short story CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUSRADO1A Organise the information CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work
5	Stream of consciousness CUVCORO3A Develop concept  CUSRADO1A Organise the information CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
6	The monologue form VBP552 Plan the purpose of the writing task CUVCORO3A Refine concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work
7	The adolescent voice VBP552 Create the writing task CUSRADO1A Communicate the information CUSRADO1A Communicate the information
8	The flashback technique CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory  CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work  CUVCORO3A Refine concept
9	The fiction/non-fiction story CuvCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRADO1A Apply information to own area of work CUVCORO3A Communicate concept
10	The magazine story CUSRADO1A Collect relevant information CUSRADO1A Organise the information VBP552 Create the writing task
11	A story in segments CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRADO1A Assess the information CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work
12	Interrelated stories in a sequence CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCORO3A Refine concept CUSRADO1A Organise the information
13	Best stories from the course CUVCORO3A Develop concept CUSRADO1A Assess the information CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work
14	Creating atmosphere in a story VBP552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUSRADO1A Assess the information CUSRADO1A Organise the information
15	Job stories VBP552 Plan the purpose of the writing task VBP552 Create the writing task CUVCORO3A Communicate concept
16	Contemporary Japanese story CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Create the writing task
17	The surrealist story and the use of dream material CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCORO3A Develop concept VBP552 Realise the writing task

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Suggested reading material will be provided in class by teacher.

    * Handouts provided in class by teacher

    * Internet access to the RMIT library

    * Published material through RMIT Library, community libraries, video libraries and other sources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.

Assessment Tasks

This competency is taught and assessed alongside three other competencies:

• Collect and organise information - PERF5045C
• Develop, define and communicate concept for own work - CUVCOR03A
• Source information on history and theory and apply to own work. - CUVCOR11A

Assessment involves:

1. A ten minute presentation discussing a short story you feel has somethng to offer you as a writer and which you feel can contribute to the development of your own writing. Date to be organised with teacher.  (10%)
2. Class exercises and workshopping (10%)
3. The completion of four short stories of 2,500 words each (a total of 10,000 words)  Each short story can comprise one long story or a series of smaller texts, 2500 words in total. The stories can use ideas explored in class or independent explorations. The student chooses the relevant content and form of the story. (80%)  
   

Due dates
Story 1 – Week beginning 30 March
Story 2 – Week beginning  11 May
Story 3 – Week beginning  17 August
Story 4 – Week beginning  28 September



Submission of work for assessment

You must keep a copy of all work submitted for assessment.
All assessment submissions require a completed School Cover Sheet. You can obtain this form from your course teacher or from the course site in the Distributed Learning System (DLS).

Late submission

If you are unable to complete your assessment project, assignment or essay by the due date, you can apply for an extension. If you are seeking an extension of up to 7 calendar days, please apply to your teacher who will let you know whether your request has been granted. Application for Extension forms are available from the Distributed Learning System (DLS) or from the Creative Media Office. The application must be submitted by email or in person, before the official due date together with supporting evidence such as a medical certificate.

If you are seeking an extension of longer than 7 calendar days, or if you are seeking an extension for a test or lab-based assessment, you will need to apply to the University for Special Consideration.

If you submit late work without an approved extension, 5% of the total marks for that piece of assessment will be deducted each week (or part of a week) it is late.

Assessment Matrix

Not applicable.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview