Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: COMM5405

Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children

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: Martine Murray 
Email: martine.murray@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

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

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. You also experiment with a range of approaches and techniques while creating your own body of work.
 

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	VBP552 Produce Writings - Writing for Children
Element:	1. Analyse the purpose of the writing task
Performance Criteria:	1.1 The purpose of the work is confirmed with relevant parties 1.2 The form, media and technique most appropriate to the purpose of the writing task is selected 1.3 The stylistic and cultural context of the writing task is proposed to meet the writing objective
Element:	2. Investigate the scope of the writing task
Performance Criteria:	2.1 The level and scope of the writing task is analysed to determine the length and style of the work 2.2 The level of research required to fulfil the agreed outcome to the required style and standard is analysed 2.3 The resources necessary to retrieve or generate the relevant information is determined 2.4 The type and level of information required to suit the context of the writing task is planned
Element:	3. Plan the writing task
Performance Criteria:	3.1 The writing task is planned to reflect the media, scope, structure and content of the work 3.2 Ideas are organised and developed into an ordered sequence 3.3 All resources required to deliver the writing task are organised 3.4 A timeline for the completion of the writing task that reflects the critical milestones is determined
Element:	4. Create the writing task
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Components of the information required and the form in which the writing will be developed, constructed and presented is resolved 4.2 The intention of the writing task and the characteristics of the audience are reflected in the writing 4.3 Appropriate processes and research are utilised to retrieve the necessary information 4.4 The particular characteristics of the media are analysed to inform the writing in a way that is appropriate for the purpose of the writing 4.5 Relevant information sources are employed to generate and inform the writing task 4.5 Common literary devices and the metaphoric function of language are integrated into the writing task 4.6 Writing task is produced in accordance with writing goals
Element:	5. Realise the writing task
Performance Criteria:	5.1 The writing task is appropriate for the media, the context of the brief and the style of the subject matter 5.2 The language in which the writing task is written is suitable for the intended audience 5.3 The writing task is proofed and edited to the standard required for presentation 5.4 A draft is presented, if required, to the client to confirm that the work is acceptable 5.5 Work is adjusted as required and presented in the agreed manner and timeframe

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will have gained insight into the process of writing for children. Through research and practice you will be able to develop an initial concept into a written work for children.
  

Details of Learning Activities

In this course you learn through -

In-class activities:
• lectures
• industry speakers
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements
• workshopping of students’ own projects
• analysis/critique of writings

Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study

Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.

Week Starting	Class Content	Assignments Due	Competency & Elements
Week 1 7 Feb	Introduction to the subject. Explanation of the year’s work and assessment. Initial writing exercises. Discussion of drafting and workshopping process.		VBP 552 Analyse  purpose of writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD01A Collect relevant information
Week 2 14 Feb	Looking at the elements of story. What makes a story work..... Workshopping initial ideas and concepts.		VBP 552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUSRAD01A Collect & assess information CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept
Week 3 21 Feb	Death, anxiety and pooh. Is there any material that is inappropriate. How to find material and how to treat it.		CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD01ACollect and assess information
Week 4 28 Feb	The "what it" Pushing, twisting, enlarging and idea.  Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Plan writing task CUSRAD01ACollect and assess information
Week 5 7 Mar	Writing visually. The illustrated text and picture book. Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Plan writing task CUSRAD01ACollect and assess information
Week 6 14 Mar	Rhyme, Rhythm and Repetition Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task
Week 7 21 Mar	Buddy Books............. Conversations, dialogue and friendship Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task
Week 8 28 Mar	Guest Speaker		CUVCOR11A Collect information on own area of work
Week 9 4 Apr	The everyday and the historical Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task
Week 10 Apr 11	Identity and the emergence of self Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task
Week 11 18 Apr	The character as story Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task
	Mid Semester Break
Week 12 2 May	The others as story Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Create writing task
Week 13 9 May	A world of characters Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept   VBP552 Create writing task
Week 14 16 May	Fables, fairytales and animals Workshopping		CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Create writing task
Week 15 23 May	Whole class workshopping	SUBMIT PICTURE BOOK TEXTS	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Realise writing task
Week 16 30 May	Review of semester and discussion of material covered in Semester 2		CUSRAD01A Communicate information VBP552 Realise writing task
Week 17 6 June	Assessment Week
	Semester 2
Week 1 4 July	Introduction and discussion of direction and assessment requirements in Semester 2 Looking at Junior Fiction novels and what’s involved. Developing a writing practice.	Presentations	VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 2 11 July	Characters who help you plot Real and composite characters Characters your reader can identify with	Presentations	VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 3 18 July	Creating plot – using myths and fables to develop strong story structure. Workshopping	Presentations	VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 4 25 July	Voice – studying voice in a range of children’s novels and finding your own Workshopping	Presentations	VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 5 1 Aug	Point of View – how does changing the point of view affect your story? Workshopping	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Plan writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 6 8 Aug	Dialogue – making it convincing. Workshopping	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Plan writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 7 15 Aug	Popular fiction Series fiction Workshopping	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 8 22 Aug	Guest Speaker		CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory
Week 9 29 Aug	Non-fiction for children	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop concept VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 10 5 Sep	Non-fiction for children  Submitting a proposal and writing to a brief Workshopping	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop concept VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 11 12 Sep	Short stories for children Workshopping	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 12 19 Sep	Writing from the heart – using your own and other people’s experience to create writing that means something to you and your reader Workshopping	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
	Mid Semester Break
Week 13 10 Oct	Drafting and re-drafting Writing a synopsis Pitching your idea to a publisher Workshopping	SUBMIT NON-FICTION ARTICLE Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 14 17 Oct	Workshopping and individual consultations to help with last minute problems.	Presentations	CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Realise writing task CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information
Week 15 24 Oct	Writing as a business. - Submitting your manuscript - Which publisher? - How to write a covering letter - Contracts Making a living as a writer for Children - Speaking in schools.	SUBMIT NOVEL	CUSRAD 01A Collect,assess and organise information
Week 16 31 Oct	Melbourne Cup Weekend
Week 17 7 Nov	Assessment Week

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Any prescribed material will be provided by the teacher

References

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.

Other Resources

You require access to a computer and to the internet for this course

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

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.

Semester 1.
1. Picture Book Texts.
Two texts suitable for picture books. Submissions includes a dummy for each picture book to demonstrate an understanding of the format. Actual illustrations are not required. Due 23 May (30%)

2.Book Reviews.
A review of a minimum of 15 picture books. As you read each book, post a brief response on blackboard. This works as a starting point for on-line discussion and become a shared resource for the class. (5%)

3. Non-fiction article. 
An article suitable for Comet or Explore magazines, following the guidelines put out by the publishers on their website regarding themes, word count, content etc. Due 10 Oct. (10%)

4. Book Reviews.
A review of a minimum of 3 junior novels. As you read each book, post a brief response on blackboard. This works as a starting point for on-line discussion and become a shared resource for the class. (5%)

5. Novel
 A short novel of around 4000 words suitable for younger readers. Due 24 October (30%)

6. Class Presentation
 A 10 minute class presentation on a subject of your choice. The subject should be related to children’s literature and you need to to let the teacher know the topic you have chosen at least a week before their presentation date is due. You are required to hand in the written notes from their talk with all sources acknowledged. (10%)

7. Class exercises and workshopping. (10%)

Assessment tasks in this unit are graded.
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.


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 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

Submission of assessments
Submit all assessment tasks in hard copy with a completed School of Media and Communication cover sheet. You are expected to keep a copy of all assignments submitted.

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and/or written feedback from your teacher on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy 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 on or 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