Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for Older Children

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: COMM5441

Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for Older Children

School: 345T Media and Communication

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

Teacher: Ms Judith Rossell

Email: judith.rossell@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 Older Children 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

Course Description

This course covers the knowledge and skills required to write for middle and late primary aged children. You analyse and discuss a broad range of fiction and non-fiction writing for this audience while developing concepts for your own projects. You also experiment with writing and editing techniques in order to write a work that meets the particular needs of a young readership.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for Older Children

Learning Outcomes

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

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 8	Introduction to the course. Explanation of the year’s work and assessment - timelines etc. Initial writing exercises. Discussion of drafting and workshopping process. <!--EndFragment-->		VBP553 - 3 CUVDES05A  - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A -1 CUSADM03A - 1 CUECOR01B -1 <o:p></o:p> <!--EndFragment-->
Wk 2 Feb 15	Looking at picture books – discussion of format. Looking at differences between picture books for younger and older children – themes, text, design etc. Initial ideas and concepts		VBP553 - 2 CUVDES05A  - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2 CUSADM03A - 2 CUECOR01B -1
Wk 3 Feb 22	Begin workshopping Where do our stories come from Exploring ideas, triggers, memory.		VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSRAD02A - 2 CUSADM03A - 1/2
Wk 4 Mar 1	Writing visually. Studying the relationship between text and illustration and learning to write from pictures and for pictures.		VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSRAD02A - 2/3
Wk 5 Mar 8	Beginnings, Middles and Ends. Creating a storyline – plotting in picture books	Student presentation	VBP553 - 4 CUVDES05A  - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2/3 CUSADM03A - 2 CUECOR01B -2
Wk 6 Mar 15	Who are you writing for? Finding the child reader	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A  - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUSRAD02A -1 CUSADM03A - 1
Wk 7 Mar 22	Exploring the language of picture books and comparing with other forms of fiction Workshopping	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A -3
Wk 8 Mar 29	Characters who drive stories. Looking at strong characters in picture books and creating characters that readers will care about. Workshopping	Student presentation	VBP553 - 2/4 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2 CUSADM03A - 3
Wk 9  Apr 5	Setting as character	Student presentation	VBP553 - 2/4 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2 CUSADM03A - 3
Wk 10  Apr 12	<!--EndFragment--> Making a dummy	Student presentation	VBP553 - 4 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4 <!--EndFragment-->
Wk 11  Apr 19	Whole class workshopping	All students to bring an extract to workshop	CUVCOR04A - 4/5 CUECOR01B - 3
	Mid Semester Break April 21 - 27 (inclusive)
Wk 12   May3	Themes and content– are there any rules in picture books for older children?	Student presentation	VBP553 - 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSADM03A - 3
Wk 13   May 10	What is it about rhyme that children love and publishers are wary of?	Student presentation	VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2
Wk 14  May 17	Non-fiction and pictures	Student presentation	VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2 <!--EndFragment-->
Wk 15  May 24	Writing for the Education market	Picture Book Texts Due	VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2
Wk 16 May 31	All Class Workshopping	Non-fiction article due	CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 17 June7	Assessment Week
	SEMESTER 2
Wk 1 Jul 5	Introduction and discussion of direction and assessment requirements in Semester 2 Looking at Junior fiction and what’s involved. Developing a writing practice.	Student presentation	VBP553 - 2 CUVDES05A  - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2 CUSADM03A - 2 CUECOR01B -1
Wk 2 Jul 12	Characters who help you plot Real and composite characters Characters your reader can identify with	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1/4 CUVCOR13A - 2 CUSADM03A - 3
Wk 3 Jul 19	Creating plot – using myths and fables to develop strong story structure.	Student presentation	VBP553 - 4 CUVDES05A  - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2/3
Wk 4 Jul 26	Writing from the heart – using your own and other people’s experience to create writing that means something to you and your reader	Student presentation	VBP553 - 3 CUSRAD02A - 1/2/3 CUSRAD02A -4
Wk 5 Aug 2	Voice – studying voice in a range of children’s novels and finding your own	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A -4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 6 Aug 9	Point of View – how does changing the point of view affect your story?	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 7 Aug16	Dialogue – making it convincing.	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 8 Aug 23	Secondary characters – Your protagonist can’t do it on their own	Student presentation Article due	VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 9 Aug 30	Mood, Emotion, Atmosphere. Guiding the reader’s feelings and responses.	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 10 Sep 6	Literary v popular fiction – do you have to separate them?	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1/4 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 1
Wk 11 Sep13	Whole class workshopping	All students to bring an extract to workshop	CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 12 Sep 20	The drafting process •How many drafts? •Editing and polishing - When is enough really enough? Chapter outlines – do they help?		VBP553 - 4/5 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR04A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B -3
	Mid Semester Break Sep 26 to Oct 7 (inclusive)
Wk 13 Oct 11	Reviewing childrens’ books – Different ways of getting into print	Student presentation	VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A - 1/2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 1/4
Wk 14 Oct 18	Submitting your manuscript Which publisher? How to write a covering letter Contracts Workshopping and individual consultations to help with last minute problems	Student presentation	VBP553 - 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4
Wk 15 Oct 25	Making a living as a writer for Children - Speaking in schools	Novel assessment due	CUVCOR 13A - 3
Wk 16 Nov 1	Guest Publisher	Student presentation	VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3
Wk 17 Nov 8	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.

Semester 1.
1. Picture Book Texts
Two texts suitable for picture books. Submission includes a dummy for each picture book to demonstrate an understanding of the format. Actual illustrations are not required. Due 24 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 31 May. (10%)

4. Class exercises and workshopping. (5%)

Semester 2
1. Novel
 A short novel of around 4000 words suitable for younger readers. Due 25 October (30%)

2. 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%)

3. 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. (5%)



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