Course Title: Refine editing skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2015
Course Code: COMM7307
Course Title: Refine editing skills
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5314 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925-4815
Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Stephanie Holt
9925-8089
stephanie.holt@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 120
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
None
Course Description
This course covers the knowledge and skills required to apply advanced editing skills to a range of texts in different media.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VU20278 Refine editing skills |
Element: |
1. Appraise the suitability of written material for a specific purpose or readership |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Broad characteristics of the readership adn the publication are clarified |
Element: |
2. Liaise closely with the author and/or client to make all significant substantive editing decisions. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Appraisal of the text is discussed with author and/or client to establish broad editing approach |
Element: |
3. Undertake substantive editing of a text |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Text is restructured and reworded where necessary and material added or deleted |
Element: |
4. Undertake editing of the style of the text |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Language is edited for consistency, appropriateness and clarity |
Element: |
5. Edit for completeness and consistency |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Parts of the text are edited for consistency and itnernal integrity |
Learning Outcomes
You will be able to work independently and collaboratively to edit different kinds of text at a professional level and across a range of media.
Details of Learning Activities
This course is offered as blended learning.
Online instructional modules are used to deliver core content in four of five units: Style and Consistency; Publishing and Publications; Structure and Substance; Grammar and Punctuation. These self-paced modules include videos, activities, and exercises. The unit Techniques and Technologies will be a self-directed unit supported by resources provided through the Blackboard LMS. A companion booklet is supplied with each module.
The instructional modules are supported and extended with online discussion forums, quizzes and readings through the Blackboard LMS.
Students will also work collaboratively, within the class and - where relevant - with workplace colleagues, in preparing folios and projects.
A number of face-to-face workshops, revision classes and computer lab sessions are used to ensure students are using editing techniques and technologies correctly, and to allow further discussion, group work, and assessment support. Informal student-organised study groups are also encouraged.
Individual or online meetings with the teacher may be requested, if needed.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Learning focus | Assessments | |
| 0 | Introduction to course and online resources | ||
| 1 | INTRO TO COURSE |
Assessment #1 (style) distributed | |
| 2 | STYLE & CONSISTENCY |
|
|
| 3 | STYLE & CONSISTENCY |
||
| 4 | STYLE & CONSISTENCY |
||
| 5 |
Review of Style & Consistency Collaborating online Introduction to Publishing and Production unit |
Assessment #1 (style) due Assessment #2 (folio) distributed Assessment #3 (project) distributed |
|
| 6 | PUBLISHING & PUBLICATIONS |
|
|
| 7 | PUBLISHING & PUBLICATIONS - Managing a publishing project Reading/discussion: keeping everyone on the same page |
||
| 8 | PUBLISHING & PUBLICATIONS - Legal and ethical considerations Reading/discussion: can I do that? |
Assessment#3A (group project - schedule, brief and flatplan) due |
|
| 9 |
Review of Publishing & Publications Editing online Introduction to Structure & Substance unit |
Assessment#2A (2 folio pieces) due |
|
| 10 | STRUCTURE & SUBSTANCE - developing documents Reading/discussion: starting with structure |
|
|
| 11 | STRUCTURE & SUBSTANCE |
||
| 12 | STRUCTURE & SUBSTANCE - strengthening sentences Reading/discussion: specialist language or weasel words? |
Assessment #2B (2 folio pieces) due |
|
| 13 |
Review of Structure & Substance Proofreading hard copy Introduction to Grammar & Punctuation |
Assessment#3B (group project - progress report) due | |
| 14 | GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION - finetuning sentences Reading/discussion: the art of communication |
|
|
| 15 | GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION - checking grammar Reading/discussion: your grammar tips |
||
| 16 | GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION - fixing punctuation Reading/discussion: punctuation and grammar trends |
Assessment#2C (2 folio pieces) due NOTE |
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of resources.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.
Recommended texts:
Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers, 6th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd, 2002
Flann E., Hill B. and Wang, L., The Australian Editing Handbook, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd, 2014
You will also need access to a current Australian dictionary, either the Macquarie Dictionary or the Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:
- participation in written exercises, in class and online
- the application of learned skills and insights to the editing of writing tasks.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all assessment (refer to your Blackboard site for assessment criteria). Once you have demonstrated competency, 5 elements of these tasks, as indicated below, will be graded (refer to Blacklboard for grading rubric).
Assessment Task 1 Style Assignment (individual work)
Copyediting text provided is graded.
You will compile a report on house style in your workplace or in a given publication or organisation, including discussion and annotated examples, and will show that you can apply this style to a text provided.
Due Week 5 (Sunday 9 August)
Assessment Task 2 Editing folio (individual work)
The substantive edit, sentence-editing text and proofreading will be graded.
You will submit 6 select items (2 of approx 800 words total per unit) for an editing folio. Your work will show appropriate editing of initial text, and demonstrate your solution to a range of editorial challenges relevant to a workplace. The substantive edit, sentence-editing and proofreading texts are provided, and will be graded. Remaining folio pieces can be chosen from a selection provided, or (after negotiation with your teacher) from comparable tasks from your workplace.
Due Weeks 9, 12, 16 (Sunday 6 September, Sunday 11 October, Sunday 8 November)
Assessment Task 3 Publication project (group project)
Your individual reflection on this project will be graded.
In a team, you will work collaboratively to create a small publication which demonstrates your range of editing skills. You will then reflect individually on the key challenges faced, and how you might apply the resulting learning to future editing projects.
Part A Project schedule, brief and flatplan due Week 8 (Monday 25 August)
Part B Progress report due Week 13 (Sunday 18 October)
Part C Final delivery of project due Week 17 (publication: Monday 9 November, reflection Wednesday 11 November)
Grades which apply to this course are:
- CHD Competency with high distinction
- CD Competency with distinction
- CC Competency with credit
- CAG Competency Achieved (Graded)
- NYC Not Yet Competent
- DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
All graded assessments are equally weighted for the final grade.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available from the course contact person (stated above) and will be available on the class Blackboard when assessment tasks commence.
Other Information
Cover Sheet for Submissions:
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications
Attendance:
The major learning experience involves online exercises and discussion, and group collaboration. It is strongly advised that you complete most online activities and attend all Saturday intensive sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
Feedback:
You will receive verbal and written feedback on your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student feedback at RMIT: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7
Student Progress:
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential.
Student progress policy: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1
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. Special consideration, appeals and discipline : http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity : http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n
Course Overview: Access Course Overview