Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Advanced Novel

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: COMM5414

Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Advanced Novel

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Professional Writing and Editing Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368

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


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Dr Olga Lorenzo
Building 94, level 2, room 6
23–27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
9925 4058 (phone); 9925 4362 (fax)
olga.lorenzo@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

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

Students should have completed  Produce Writings – Novel  (VBP552)    and either have completed or be in the process of completing Refine writing and editing techniques – Novel (VBP553)                                           

Course Description

 This course covers the knowledge and skills required to research and experiment with writing and editing techniques and media to generate writings. The emphasis in this course is on completing a manuscript to publishable standard and preparing to show the work to publishers and agents. 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Advanced Novel

Element:

1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media   

Performance Criteria:

1.1 The potential for new approaches to writing based on the capabilities of techniques already used are evaluated
1.2 New techniques are selected, adapted and introduced for the achievement of different effects
1.3 The capabilities of writing techniques are extended through experimentation to inform practice
1.4 Relevant ideas and approaches from other practitioners are researched, adapted and used with consideration of intellectual property, moral rights and copyright requirements

Element:

2. Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings

Performance Criteria:

2.1 A conceptual vision for writings are developed based on a knowledge and understanding of different writing techniques
2.2 The criteria for selecting techniques are considered based on results of experimentation
2.4 The approach to work which meets established criteria is selected
2.5 The conceptual vision is refined based on on-going experimentation and analysis of writing techniques

Element:

3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work

Performance Criteria:

3.1 The specific resource requirements which arise from the use of techniques and experimental approaches are assessed
3.2 Potential sources of supply of writing resources are researched and accessed
3.3 Constraints that may impact on the development of work are evaluated

Element:

4. Plan the writing

Performance Criteria:

4.1 The writing task is planned to reflect the media, scope, structure and content of the work and to meet agreed timelines
4.2 Ideas are organised and developed into an ordered sequence of scenes
4.3 All resources required to deliver the writing task are organised
4.4 A timeline for the completion of the writing task that reflects the critical milestones is determined

Element:

5. Realise writings                              

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Writings are realised using techniques and media selected from research and experimentation to meet the conceptual vision
5.2 The potential for changes in the use of techniques are evaluated and responded to
5.3 The conceptual vision is refined  based on on-going experiences with the production of writings
5.4 Issues of design and presentation of writings are considered and appropriate actions taken

Learning Outcomes


Not applicable


Details of Learning Activities

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


Teaching Schedule

Semester 1

Week Topic
1 Orientation Week
2 Introduction
3 Workshopping of novels, review of beginnings
4 Workshopping of novels, review of beginnings, continued
5 Workshopping, review of place
6 Workshopping, review of pace
7 Workshopping, overview of publishing industry
8 Presentations on elements of craft, workshopping
9 Presentations on elements of craft, workshopping
10 Presentations on elements of craft, workshopping
11 Workshopping, place and atmoshpere
12 Workshopping, metaphor
13 Workshopping, middles of novels
14 Workshopping, middles of novels
15 Workshopping, middles continued
16 Publishing
17 Publishing continued, semester overview
18 Semester review by appointment


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Recommended: Elizabeth George, Write Away, Harper Collins


Overview of Assessment

5000 word manuscript                            


Assessment Tasks

A 5,000-word excerpt from novel edited to publishable standard, including:

  •  exact word count
  • (maximum) 800-word synposis
  • 2500 word section of manuscript clearly identified for close assessment
Due Date

Percentage weight
100%


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Students are expected to participate in class discussions, consistently workshop manuscripts, respond to feedback, provide a positive contribution to the work-in-progress of other students, contribute to an analysis and discussion of set texts, and participate in writing and discussion of class exercises.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview