Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for young adults
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COMM5413
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for young adults
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Mr Brendan Lee
Course Contact Phone: 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Ms Cath Crowley
Email: catherine.crowley@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
At RMIT, Refine Writing and Editing –Writing for YA is delivered and assessed along with 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 course covers the knowledge and skills required to write for young adults. You analyse and discuss a broad range of fiction and non-fiction writing for this audience while developing a concept for your own project. You also experiment with writing and editing techniques in order to write a work that meets the particular needs of a young adult readership.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for young adults |
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 course, you will be able to develop a concept into a written work for young adult readership
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you learn through-
1. 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 of students’ choice
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
Date | Class Content |
Assessment Due | Elements |
Wk1 Feb 10 |
Introduction to the course. Explanation of the year’s work and assessment. | CUSADM03A - Determine scope of projects VBP553 Determine and organise resource requirements for work CUVCOR04A – Interpret the brief CUSRAD02A - Clarify and confirm purpose of research CUVDES05A - Liaise with others over the brief CUVCOR 13A - Research history and theory |
|
Wk 2 Feb 17 |
The concept of Young Adulthood - reality or marketing myth. Initial writing exercises. What skills do you need to develop to succeed as a writer? |
CUVCOR04A – Interpret the brief CUSADM03A - Determine scope of projects CUVDES05A - Liaise with others over the brief CUECOR01B - Personal time management skills CUSRAD02A - Clarify and confirm purpose of research VBP553 Determine and organise resource requirements for work CUVCOR 13A - Research history and theory |
|
Wk 3 Feb 24 |
Who writes, Why do they write, What do they write about? What interests teenagers - researching your market. Beginning! – Developing your concept. |
VBP 553 – Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings CUVCOR 13A - Research history and theory CUVDES05A - Liaise with others over the brief CUVCOR04A - Research concept ideas |
|
Wk 4 Mar 3 |
Characters - where do they come from? |
Student presentation | VBP553 - Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings / Plan the writing |
Wk 5 Mar 10 |
Plotting your novel. Preparing an outline. Looking at the difference between a synopsis and a chapter outline. Plotting exercises. |
Student presentation | CUSADM03A - Develop a plan for the limited project VBP 553 - Plan the writing VBP553 - Determine and organise resource requirements for work CUECOR01B - Develop personal time management skills |
Wk 6 Mar 17 |
Who’s telling your story? Exploration of voice and viewpoint | Student presentation | VBP553 - Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings |
Wk 7 Mar 24 |
Whole Class Workshopping | All students to bring an extract to workshop | VBP553 - Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings CUVCOR04A - Conduct critical discourse CUECOR01B - Receive and act constructively on personal feedback |
Wk 8 Mar 31 |
The plot thickens.... Old story - new design. Exploring different design techniques. |
Student presentation | CUVCOR04A - Research concept ideas Provide information in appropriate format CUECOR01B - Develop personal time management skills |
Wk 9 Apr 7 |
Mood, Emotion, Atmosphere. Guiding the reader’s feelings and responses. |
Student presentation | CUVCOR 13A Researc history and theory CUVCOR 13A – Link research to artistic practice VBP553 - Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings |
Wk 10 Apr 14 |
Structure - yes you do need it. | Student presentation | UVCOR04A - Adjust and refine concept VBP553 - Plan the writing CUSADM03A - monitor project |
Mid Semester Break April 21 - 27 (inclusive) |
|||
Wk 11 Apr 28 |
Character development Secondary characters - what are they doing? |
Student presentation | VBP553 - Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings VBP553 - Plan the writing |
Wk 12 May 5 |
Sex and violence – are there any rules? | Student presentation | VBP553 - Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Wk 13 May 12 |
Writing a synopsis - what is your novel really about? | Student presentation | CUVCOR04A - Adjust and refine concept VBP553 - Plan the writing CUVCOR04A – Interpret the brief |
Wk 14 May 19 |
Whole class workshopping | All students to bring an extract to workshop | CUVCOR04A - Conduct critical discourse CUECOR01B - Receive and act constructively on personal feedback |
Wk 15 May 26 |
Keeping it real - or not? Using our own and other people’s experience. | 5,000 words of YA novel due | VBP553 - Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Wk 16 June 2 |
Industry Speaker | Student presentation | CUVCOR13A - Update and maintain knowledge of trends within own area of artistic practice CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information |
Wk 17 June 9 |
Assessment Week | ||
SEMESTER 2 | |||
Wk 1 Jul 7 |
Stuck in the middle? Recapturing early excitement and fulfilling promise Conflict, opposition and suspense. |
Student presentation | CUSADM03A - monitor project CUECOR01B - Manage own learning VBP553 - Realise writings |
Wk 2 Jul 14 |
Managing interior monologues | Student presentation | VBP553 - Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Wk 3 Jul 21 |
YA genre fiction - what’s around? The popularity of speculative fiction |
Student presentation | CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information CUVCOR13A - Link research to artistic practice |
Wk 4 Jul 28 |
Reviewing YA fiction | Student presentation | Week 4 CUVCOR04A - Conduct critical discourse CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief CUVDES05A - Liaise with client |
Wk 5 Aug 4 |
Whole class workshopping | Student presentation | CUVCOR04A - Conduct critical discourse CUECOR01B - Receive and act constructively on personal feedback CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief |
Wk 6 Aug11 |
Show don’t tell or Show and tell? | Student presentation | CUVCOR13A - Link research to artistic practice VBP553 Realise writings |
Wk 7 Aug18 |
Non-fiction for YA | Student presentation | CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information CUVCOR13A - Link research to artistic practice CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief CUECOR01B - Manage own learning |
Wk 8 Aug 25 |
Mainstream v series fiction – How popular do you want to be? | Student presentation Article due | CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information CUVCOR13A - Link research to artistic practice VBP553 - Realise writings |
Wk 9 Sep 1 |
Writing for television | Student presentation | CUVCOR13A - Update and maintain knowledge of trends within own area of artistic practice CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information VBP553 - Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Wk 10 Sep 8 |
Descriptive writing – Can your readers cope? | Student presentation | CUVCOR13A - Update and maintain knowledge of trends within own area of artistic practice CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information VBP553 - Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media CUVCOR04A - Conduct critical discourse CUECOR01B - Receive and act constructively on personal feedback CUECOR01B - Manage own learning |
Wk 11 Sep15 |
Short stories / Picture books / Graphic Novels for Young Adults | Student presentation | CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information CUVCOR13A - Link research to artistic practice VBP 553 - Plan the writing |
Wk 12 Sep 22 |
Whole class workshopping | All students to bring an extract to workshop | CUVCOR04A - Conduct critical discourse CUECOR01B - Receive and act constructively on personal feedback CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief |
Mid Semester Break Sep 26 to Oct 7 (inclusive) |
|||
Wk 13 Oct 13 |
The drafting process • How many drafts? • Editing and polishing - When is enough really enough? Chapter outlines – do they help? |
Student presentation | CUSADM03A - Review project against plan VBP553 - Realise writings |
Wk 14 Oct 20 |
Submitting your manuscript  Which publisher?  How to write a covering letter Contracts Workshopping and individual consultations to help with last minute problems |
Student presentation | CUVDES05A - Complete the production of the work VBP553 - Realise writings CUVCOR13A - Update and maintain knowledge of trends within own area of artistic practice |
Wk 15 Oct 27 |
Guest Publisher | 5,000 words of YA novel due | CUVCOR13A - Update and maintain knowledge of trends within own area of artistic practice CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information |
Wk 16 Nov 3 |
Guest Publisher | Student presentation | CUVCOR13A - Update and maintain knowledge of trends within own area of artistic practice CUSRAD02A - Identify and access sources of information |
Wk 17 Nov 10 |
Assessment Week |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed reading material is provided in class |
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.
1. Novel Manuscript
10,000 words of a novel suitable for a Young Adult readership
- 5,000 words and a synopsis of a YA novel. Due May 26.
- A further 5000 words of the YA novel and a chapter outline Due Oct 27. (70%)
2. Oral Presentation
Choose a YA novel that has informed your own writing in some way and give a 10 minute presentation on this. To be given on an agreed week. (5%)
3. Book Review
Review a minimum of 8 YA novels this year. As you read each book, post a brief response to it on blackboard. This works as a starting point for on-line discussion and become a shared resource for the class. (5%)
4. Article for Viewpoint
Choose an aspect of YA writing that interests you and write an article suitable for submitting to Viewpoint, The Hornbook or other publication specialising in YA writing.
The article should reflect the requirements of the journal and its readership. Due August 25. (10%)
5. Class exercises and workshopping throughout the year. (10%)
Grades used in this course 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 details on these assessment tasks and 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
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 Submission
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 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