Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Novel

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2011

Course Code: COMM5410

Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Novel

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Brendan Lee

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368

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


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Dr Olga Lorenzo

Telephone: 9925 4058

Email: olga.lorenza@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 85

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

Enrolment into this course at RMIT requires the completion of Develop Writing and Editing Skills. Produce Writings – Novel or Writing for YA.

The competency, Refine Writing & Editing Techniques -- Novel is taught and assessed alongside the following competencies:
CUVCOR04A - Originate concept for own work and conduct critical discourse
CUVCOR13A - Research and critically analyse history and theory to inform artistic practice
CUECOR01B - Manage own work and learning
CUSADM03A - Manage a project
CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief
CUSRAD02A - Conduct research

Through the development of these competencies, you gain the skills needed to manage your work and learning while responding to a project brief. You research the work of other writers and publishers and apply your findings to your own project through the development of a concept into a written work.

Course Description

This unit covers the knowledge and skills required to research and experiment with writing and editing techniques while working on a novel. The emphasis in this course is to extend a novel in progress, concentrating on further development of plot, themes, characterisation and dialogue. 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Novel

Element:

1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media   

Performance Criteria:

.

Element:

2. Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings

Performance Criteria:

.

Element:

3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work

Performance Criteria:

.

Element:

4. Plan the writing

Performance Criteria:

.

Element:

5. Realise writings                              

Performance Criteria:

.


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to refine the concept of a novel and revise an early draft, moving the novel towards completion. You will also be able to refine a synopsis.  


Details of Learning Activities

* out-of-class activities such as writing from life, writing and reading assignments, independent study
lectures/informal discussions of novel craft
possible guest lecturers
peer teaching and class presentations
group discussions
online and other research
work-shopping
independent project-based work
teacher directed group activities/projects
class exercises to review discussions/lectures
work-shopping of students’ own projects
reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements; student
* analysis/critique of students’ work


Teaching Schedule

Week
Class Content   Competency & Elements
Week 1 Introductions. Explanation of course structure and
assessment. Discussion of student and teacher expectations.
Writing exercise
  CUSADM03A 1,2 CUVCOR04A 1,2
VBP553 1
Week 2 Introduction to the subject, continued. Explanation of the year’s
work and assessment. Initial writing exercises.
Texts discussed
  CUVCOR04A – 1,2
CUSADM03A 1,2,3; CUECOR01B – 1,3
CUSRAD02A - 1-4
VBP553 1,2
Week 3 Novel Beginnings, reviewed
Workshopping students’ beginnings
Discussion of conventional and non-conventional beginnings
Writing exercises on beginnings
  VBP553 1,2,3;
CUSRAD02A - 1-2
CUVC CUSADM03A 1 -4; CUVCOR13A – 1,2
CUVDES05A - 1-5
CUVCOR04A – 1,2
Week 4 Voice and Point of View, reviewed
Lesson on point of view and tense in novel writing
Writing exercises experimenting with PofV
Workshopping students’ work in class
  VBP553 1,2,3;
CUVDES05A -1-5 CUSRAD02A - 1-4
CUECOR01B - 2
CUSADM03A – 1,2
Week 5 Voice and Point of View
Discussion of Point of View cont
Writing exercises
Workshopping
Notes for all 4-minute presentations on set texts DUE today VBP553 1,2,3;
Week 6 Public holiday    
Week 7 Rhythm and Pace
Elements of pace examined, including scenes, summary, stretch, ellipsis
Writing exercises experimenting with rhythm and pace
Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft
Workshopping
  VBP553 1,2,3
Week 8 Rhythm and Pace
Writing exercises experimenting with rhythm
Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft
Workshopping
  VBP553 1,2,3;
CUVCOR04A – 1,2,3
CUECOR01B - 3
Week 9 Rhythm and Pace
Writing exercises experimenting with rhythm
Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft
Workshopping
  VBP553 1,2,3;
CUVCOR04A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 1-3
Week 10 Show, don’t Tell
Discussion of “show, don’t tell” as craft
Writing exercises experimenting with “show, don’t tell”
Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft
Workshopping
  CUVCOR04A -1-2
CUVDES05A – 1-5
Week 11 Show, don’t Tell, continued
Writing exercises on “show, don’t tell” cont
Presentations by students on set texts discussing elements of craft in novel
Workshopping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUSRAD02A – 1-5CUVCOR13A – 1-3
Week 12 Show, don’t Tell, cont.
Class presentations continued
Workshopping, Writing exercises
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR04A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 1-3
Week 13 Dialogue
Examination of dialogue and character in classic novels
Writing exercises to do with dialogue
Class presentations
Workshoping
500-word synopsis and 2000-word excerpt DUE TODAY VBP 553 1-4;
CUSRAD02A - 1-4
CUVCOR04A -1-3
Week 14 Dialogue, cont
Writing from life
Workshopping
presentations
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR04A – 1,2
Week 15 Dialogue
Writing exercises to do with dialogue
Class presentations
Workshoping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR04A – 1,2
VBP553 -1 CUSADM03A - 4
Week 16 Characterisation
Examination of character and techniques for developing character
Writing exercises to do with characterisation
Class presentations
Workshoping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUSRAD02A – 1-3 CUVCOR13A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 1-3
Week 17 Assessment    
  Semester 2    
Week 1 Review of Semester 1 and introduction to Semester 2 work   VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR04A 4
CUSADM03A1-4;
CUECOR01B – 1-3
CUSRAD02A - 1-4
Week 2 Place and Atmosphere
Discussion of craft
Class presentations
Writing exercises
Workshopping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUSADM03A1-4;

CUVCOR04A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 1-3;
Week 3 Outline and synopsis
Writing exercises
Workshopping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUSADM03A1-4;
Week 4 Politics and the Novel
Discussion of craft
Class presentations
Writing exercises
Workshopping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR13A – 1-3
Week 5 Presentations on set text
Class presentations
Workshopping
Writing exercises
Notes for all 4-minute presentations on set texts DUE in class this week VBP 553 1-4;
CUSRAD02A – 1-2 CUVCOR13A – 1-3
Week 6 Presentations on set text
Class presentations
Workshopping
Writing exercises
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR04A -1-4
CUECOR01B -3; CUVDES05A – 1-5

Week 7 Realism, post-modernism
Discussion of craft
Class presentations
Workshopping
Writing exercises
  CUSADM03A 1,2,3;
VBP 553 1-4;

Week 8 Presentations on set text
Form and structure
Workshopping
Writing exercises
  CUSRAD02A – 1-4 CUVCOR13A – 1-3
VBP 553 1-4;
Week 9 Presentations on set text
Class presentations
Workshopping
Writing exercises
  CUVCOR13A – 1-3
VBP 553 1-4;
Week 10 Metaphor, symbolism , discussion
Class presentations
Workshopping
Writing exercises
  CUSADM03A 1-4
VBP 553 1-4;
Week 11 Metaphor, symbolism
Class presentations
Workshopping
Writing exercises
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR13A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 1-3
CUSADM03A 1,2,3;
Week 12 Characterisation
Writing exercises to do with characterisation
Class presentations
Workshoping
  VBP 553 1-4;
CUVCOR13A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 1-3
CUSADM03A 1,2,3;
Week 13

Endings; Overview of structure
Workshopping
Writing exercises
500-word synopsis and 1,500-word excerpt DUE today VBP 553 1-4;
CUSADM03A 4
CUVCOR04A 3,4
Week 14 The publishing industry   VBP553 3
CUSADM03A 2;
CUVCOR04A 3,4
Week 15
Agents and the publishing industry
Writing in the cold – Ted Solotaroff handout
  CUVCOR13A – 1-3
CUECOR01B – 2,3
VBP553 3
CUVCOR04A 3,4
Week 16 Holiday    
Week 17 Assessment    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

For Olga Lorenzo:
Semester 1:
Robinson, M., Housekeeping, Faber and Faber
Franzen, J. Freedom

Semester 2:
Winton, T., Dirt Music, Picador
Hatnett, S., Butterfly.


References

George, E. 2004. Write Away

9780060560423


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, workshopping, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing project.


Assessment Tasks

Semester 1

1. Workshopping: Workshop 1,500-word novel extract .

Roster will follow roll

Photocopies of work to be workshopped need to be arranged or brought to class.

DUE DATE: as rostered by teacher (10%)



2. Presentation: A 4-minute presentation on one of the texts set for Semester 1 on a single aspect of craft or a single writing convention.

Students will hand in presentation notes by the due date and must be ready to do the presentation any time after this as per the teacher’s request. Complying with time limit and responding to brief is a vital part of the assessment

DUE DATE: Mon March 7 (10%)

3. Synopsis and Novel Excerpt:  A maximum 500-word synopsis and a 2000-word excerpt of novel edited to publishable standard.

Presentation as per industry requirements:
Single-sided printing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               11/2 or double spacing
12-pt type
Numbered pages
Wide margins
Synopsis as per industry requirement 

Exact word count to be included

DUE DATE: Mon May 9 (30%)

 

Semester 2

4. Workshopping:  Workshop 1,500-word novel extract Photocopies of work to be workshopped need to be arranged or brought to class.

Roster will follow roll

Photocopies of work to be workshopped need to be arranged or brought to class.

DUE DATE: as rostered by teacher (10%)



5. Presentation: A 4-minute presentation on one of the texts set for Semester 2 on a single aspect of craft or a single writing convention.

Students will hand in presentation notes by the due date and must be ready to do the presentation any time after this as per the teacher’s request. Complying with time limit and responding to brief is a vital part of the assessment

DUE DATE: Mon August 1 (10%)


6. Synopsis and Novel Excerpt: A maximum 500-word synopsis and a 2000-word excerpt of novel edited to publishable standard.
Presentation as per industry requirements:
Single-sided printing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               11/2 or double spacing
12-pt type
Numbered pages
Wide margins
Synopsis as per industry requirement 

Exact word count to be included

DUE DATE: Mon October 10 (30%)


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.

For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.

Grades used in this unit are as follows:

Grades which apply to curriculum-based courses:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail


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:
You will receive spoken and/or written feedback by 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 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