Course Title: Conduct research

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: GEDU5192C

Course Title: Conduct research

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

Coordinator: Clare Renner
Telephone: 9925 4047
Email: clare.renner@rmit.edu.au  

Nominal Hours: 35

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

<!--EndFragment-->At RMIT, the unit Conduct research is contextualised by your chosen writing courses. Conduct research is delivered and assessed along with each of your Refine Writing and Editing specialisations

Course Description

This course covers the skills and knowledge required to research the information needed to inform a range of written works. 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUSRAD02A Conduct research

Element:

1. Clarify and confirm purpose of research

Performance Criteria:

1.1Clarify and confirm the areas and elements to be researched and agree on the deadlines for reporting

1.2Clarify the research brief and confirm in sufficient detail with relevant personnel to allow appropriate research to continue

1.3Use appropriate research and data gathering techniques and procedures so that materials and sources of information are identified within time constraints

1.4Check that the materials identified are in an appropriate format for the purpose and technical capabilities required

1.5Discuss research ideas fully and constructively with relevant personnel, and identify any implications for the research brief

1.6Reach agreement with the relevant personnel on the format, style and structure of materials best for the purpose

1.7Identify potential difficulties in meeting the brief and draw to the attention of relevant personnel promptly

Element:

2. Identify and access sources of information 

Performance Criteria:

 2.1Identify appropriate sources of information and potential contributors relevant to the research brief

2.2Establish contact with a sufficiently wide and varied range of sources to optimise information gathering

2.3When specialist knowledge is required, identify potential sources of information and advice

2.4Agree on the use of specialist sources and make arrangements for appropriate contracts to be issued (where required)

2.5Approach relevant sources promptly and in a way most likely to elicit the required information

2.6Maintain accurate and comprehensive records and details of information sources

2.7Adjust contact information when requirements of the research brief change and keep records up to date

2.8Establish and maintain a file of all relevant documentation and correspondence in a format which allows ease of access and reporting

Element:

3. Analyse research findings

Performance Criteria:

3.1Analyse and interpret data

3.2Identify key issues for further research or for discussion with appropriate personnel

3.3Develop conclusions and recommendations (if required)

Element:

4. Provide information in appropriate format                            

Performance Criteria:

4.1Organise information in logical and clear structure and in a format appropriate for the purpose and present information to appropriate personnel

4.2Meet deadlines for provision of materials as specified by the brief

4.3Ensure accuracy and currency of information supplied

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to conduct research to inform a range of writing tasks.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course you  learn through - 

In-class activities:
•classroom-based lectures
•class exercises
•teacher directed group activities/projects
•peer teaching and class presentations
•group discussion
•class exercises to review discussions/lectures
•class readings
•workshopping of students’ own projects


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


Teaching Schedule

  Conduct Research is delivered and assessed within each of your Refine Writing and Editing  specialisations. For example, you discuss the skills required to research content for a desk-top publishing project, the subject matter of a novel, the background for a feature article, etc.

See your  Refine Writing and Editing specialisation course outlines for the teaching schedule.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There are no prescribed texts for this unit.


References

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


Other Resources

All resources are supplied by the teacher for this unit. 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this unit includes the completion of a written exercise and demonstration of competency through your chosen writing specialisations.


Assessment Tasks


Conduct Research is assessed firstly through a preliminary exercise specific to the competency.  This exercise will be e-mailed to  you by the unit coordinator with directions on how to submit the assessment. The assessment is due by April 11.

Conduct Research is also assessed within each of your Refine Writing and Editing  specialisation, by your writing teachers . Successful completion of the assessment will demonstrate competency in researching a range of writing and editing projects  See Refine Writing and Editing course guides for assessment details.

To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete all assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.

This competency will be assessed as:
C Competent
NYC Not yet competent
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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 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