Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: COMM5405

Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Program Administration Brendan Lee

Course Contact Phone: Brendan Lee 9925 4368

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


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Sally Rippin

Building 94, level 2, room 6
23–27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
9925 4815 (phone); 9925 4362 (fax)

E-mail address: sally.rippin@rmit.edu.au

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

Produce Writings –Writing for Children supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required to write and market material for young children.
You are introduced to the works of various children’s writers and examine the techniques used in writing picture storybooks, junior novels and other forms of fiction and non-fiction materials for children.

Produce Writings – Writing for Children is delivered and assessed alongside the following competencies:
CUVCOR03A: Develop, refine and communicate concept for own work
CUVCOR11A: Source information on history and theory and apply to own work
CUSRAD01A: collect and organise information


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP552 Produce Writings - Writing for Children


Learning Outcomes



  On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a concept into a variety of written works for children.


Details of Learning Activities

Students learn through a variety of methods. Classes are, in general, a mixture of discussion, practical exercises, group work and peer tutoring. Students also workshop their writing and provide oral critique of others’ work. Industry practitioners also give guest lectures. Students are responsible for managing their learning and undertaking an appropriate amount of out-of-class independent study and research.


Teaching Schedule

Week Content
1  Orientation Week            
2  Introduction to the subject and explanation of the semester’s work.
3  Begin at the beginning – ideas and inspiration
Discussion of drafting and workshopping process.
4  Introduction to picture books – discussion of format.
Stages and development of 3-5 year old children in relation to the content of pre-school picture book
5  Stages and development of early school aged children. Comparison between pre-school and primary picture books.
6  Beginnings, Middles and Ends.
7 Creating characters in 400 words    
8  Picture book settings. “Where’ is important.
9  Making a dummy.
10   Listening to your text
11  Relationship between text and illustration
12  Picture books for older readers – a growing market
13  Drafting process – What to look out for
14  Rhyming picture books – why children love them and publishers don’t
15  Guest Speaker
16  Whole class workshopping
17  Rhyme, rhythm and song – poetry for younger children
18  Review of semester 1
  Semester Break
19  Junior fiction - What’s involved?
Bridging novels, early chapter books, picture books for older readers, longer novels
20  Characters who help you plot.
21  The importance of plot
22  Who is telling your story?
Looking at the pros and cons of different points of view
23  Look who’s talking - Writing convincing dialogue
24  Non-Fiction for middle/upper primary
25  The education market
26  Short stories for children
27  Issue Books – Is there a place for them?
28  Fairy tales, the hero’s journey and Harry Potter - Are we re-telling the same stories?
29  Whole class workshopping
30  Using our own our own and other people’s experience
31  Revisiting  structure
32  Writing Reviews
33  Whole class workshopping
34  Writing as a business
35  Guest Speaker
36  Reviewing the year


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


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

Assessment Tasks
1.  Picture Book Texts
Students are required to write two texts suitable for picture books for younger readers. They are also required to make a dummy for each picture book to demonstrate an understanding of the format. Illustrations are not required.
The two texts are to be submitted at the end of Semester 1. (35%)

2. Reading List
Students should read and record the details of at least 15 picture books in Semester 1. The reading list to be submitted at the end of Semester 1 should include:    
- A brief description of the book including your response (100 words is plenty)
- Publishing details. (5%)

3. Novel
Students are to write a short novel of around 4000 words suitable for younger readers. This is to be submitted at the end of Semester 2. (30%)

4. Non-fiction article
Students are to write an article suitable for Comet or Explore magazines. You will be given a list of the 2007/8 themes for these magazines and you must follow the guidelines put out by the publishers on their website regarding word count, content etc. This will be due towards the end of Semester 2. (10%)

5. Book Review
Oral review of a children’s novel to be given a date chosen by the student in Semester 2. (5%)

6. Class Paper
Students are required to give a 15 minute class paper on a subject of their choice. The subject should be related to Children’s Literature and students are asked to let the lecturer know the topic they have chosen at least a week before the presentation is due. Students are required to hand in the written notes from their talk with all sources acknowledged. Students will give their papers throughout the year on a date to be chosen early in Semester 1 (10%)

7. Workshopping and Class Exercises
 (5%)


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview