Course Title: Feature Writing

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Feature Writing

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM1052

City Campus

Undergraduate

335H Applied Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009

Course Coordinator: Mandy Oakham

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2619

Course Coordinator Email:mandy.oakham@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 6.2.17


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

COMM 1046 Advanced Print Reporting


Course Description

This is a compulsory core course in the second year of the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) program which builds on skills introduced in advanced print reporting. This course introduces students to the variety and range of feature writing styles and develops the skills necessary to plan, research and write feature articles for newspapers and magazines.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course will introduce students to the variety of feature writing styles and, through critical analysis and writing exercises, develop the ability to plan, research and write feature articles for the print media.


On completing this course, students will:

- understand the variety and range of feature-style writing
- be able to critically analyse feature articles to evaluate their effectiveness
- understand the importance of the planning and research in the feature writing process 
- understand and develop the skills necessary to conduct effective interviews for feature articles
- understand how to structure and write feature articles


Overview of Learning Activities

A weekly lecture will introduce the range and variety of feature-style writing and the essential research and planning skills necessary to write feature articles. Weekly tutorials will involve critical analysis and discussion of different feature writing styles and writing practise working on a variety of articles that contribute to the assessment for this course.


Overview of Learning Resources

As well as readings set from the prescribed text, students will be expected to read daily and weekly newspapers – particularly feature articles, sections and magazines - and watch and listen to a selection of news programs. 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course includes writing feature articles and in-class exercises