Course Title: Produce Writings - Desktop Publishing

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: COMM5399

Course Title: Produce Writings - Desktop Publishing

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in 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

Teacher: Arthur Clover
Phone: 9925 4269
Email: arthur.clover@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 105

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, Produce Writings – Desktop Publishing is delivered and assessed along with the following competencies.
CUSRAD01A - Collect and organise information
CUVCOR03A - Develop, refine and communicate concept for own work
CUVCOR11A - Source information on history and theory and apply to own work

 

Course Description

In this full year course you are introduced to the InDesign desktop publishing software package, as well as Adobe Photoshop and Quark Xpress.

This course will increase your ability to create and format professional-looking documents. It will also give you knowledge of the processes involved in printing documents professionally.

 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP552 Produce Writings - Desktop Publishing

Element:

1. Analyse the purpose of the writing task

Performance Criteria:

1.1 The purpose of the work is confirmed with relevant parties
1.2 The form, media and technique most appropriate to the purpose of the writing task is selected
1.3 The stylistic and cultural context of the writing task is proposed to meet the writing objective
Element: 2. Investigate the scope of the writing task
Performance Criteria: 1.1 The purpose of the work is confirmed with relevant parties
1.2 The form, media and technique most appropriate to the purpose of the writing task is selected
1.3 The stylistic and cultural context of the writing task is proposed to meet the writing objective
2.1 The level and scope of the writing task is analysed to determine the length and style of the work
2.2 The level of research required to fulfil the agreed outcome to the required style and standard is analysed
2.3 The resources necessary to retrieve or generate the relevant information is determined
2.4 The type and level of information required to suit the context of the writing task is planned
 

Element:

2. Investigate the scope of the writing task

Performance Criteria:

3.1 The writing task is planned to reflect the media, scope, structure and content of the work
3.2 Ideas are organised and developed into an ordered sequence
3.3 All resources required to deliver the writing task are organised
3.4 A timeline for the completion of the writing task that reflects the critical milestones is determined
 

Element:

3. Plan the writing task

Performance Criteria:

3.1 The writing task is planned to reflect the media, scope, structure and content of the work
3.2 Ideas are organised and developed into an ordered sequence
3.3 All resources required to deliver the writing task are organised
3.4 A timeline for the completion of the writing task that reflects the critical milestones is determined
 

Element:

4. Create the writing task

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Components of the information required and the form in which the writing will be developed, constructed and presented is resolved
4.2 The intention of the writing task and the characteristics of the audience are reflected in the writing
4.3 Appropriate processes and research are utilised to retrieve the necessary information
4.4 The particular characteristics of the media are analysed to inform the writing in a way that is appropriate for the purpose of the writing
4.5 Relevant information sources are employed to generate and inform the writing task
4.5 Common literary devices and the metaphoric function of language are integrated into the writing task
4.6 Writing task is produced in accordance with writing goals
 

Element:

5. Realise the writing task

Performance Criteria:

5.1 The writing task is appropriate for the media, the context of the brief and the style of the subject matter
5.2 The language in which the writing task is written is suitable for the intended audience
5.3 The writing task is proofed and edited to the standard required for presentation
5.4 A draft is presented, if required, to the client to confirm that the work is acceptable
5.5 Work is adjusted as required and presented in the agreed manner and timeframe
 


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course, you will be able to manipulate text and images to create a range of professional documents.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• lectures
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• analysis/critique of students’ work
• lab work

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

In the course Produce Writings – Desktop Publishing you will attend a scheduled class for 3 hours once a week. You will be expected to work on your assignments and project work outside this class time. To help you you’re your independent study, you will attend a timetabled weekly 4 hour scheduled lab session and a teacher will be there to give you help and support as needed.


Teaching Schedule

 
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 speakers and resources.
 
   
Week Class content Assessment due Competency and Elements
1 Introduction to Photoshop 
• Outline of course structure and elements
• Basic Photoshop concepts
• Creating a graphic 
• Searching the Internet for appropriately sizes graphics 

 
 

Photoshop
Excercise #1
Thought bubble  

 To be completed in class

VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work

2 Introduction to Photoshop 
• Image size and resolution
• Cropping
• Cut and paste
• Layers
• Scaling layers
 
 

Photoshop
Exercise # 2  
Photo collage 

 

To be worked on in class
 

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

 CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 


 

3 Introduction to Photoshop 
• Layer styles 
• Text tracking 
 

 Photoshop
Exercise #3
Photo advertisement

 

To be completed in class

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUSRAD01A
Collect relevant information

 
4 Introduction to Photoshop 
• Layer masks

 Photoshop
Exercise #4
Integrated image

 

To be completed in class

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUSRAD01A
Collect relevant information
 
5 Introduction to Photoshop
• Rubber stamp tool
• Resizing a canvas 
• Layer opacity 
 

 

Photoshop
Exercise # 5
Cloning an image 


 

 


To be completed in class

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUVCOR03A
Communicate concept
 
6 Introduction to Photoshop
• Levels
• Complete Photoshop folio exercises

 


 Photoshop Exercises     1 -5 to  submitted in class

  VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUVCOR03A
Communicate concept

 

7

Introduction to InDesign 
• The toolbar
• Opening grouping and docking windows
• Creating a new document
• Creating text frames
• Using placeholder text
• Fill and stroke
• Inserting and manipulating graphics 

InDesign
Exercise # 1
Jefferson magazine layout 
 

 

To be worked on in class

 

 


 

 
VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUVCOR03A
Communicate concept

 
8

Introduction to InDesign
• Tracking and kerning 
• Horizontal and vertical scaling
• Leading
• Baseline shift
• Small caps

 

Continue InDesign Exercise #1

To be completed in class
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUVCOR03A
Communicate concept

 
9  Introduction to InDesign (cont.)

 InDesign
Exercise #2
Leonardo’s menu

To be worked on in class
 

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUVCOR03A
Communicate concept

 
10 Introduction to InDesign (cont.)

 Continue InDesign Exercise #2 

To be completed in class

 

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

VBP 552
Analyse the purpose of the writing task

CUVCOR03A
Develop concept

CUVCOR11A
Collect information on history and theory
 
11  Introduction to InDesign (cont.)


 

InDesign
Exercise #3
Flier design

 

To be completed in class


 

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUSRAD01A
Organise the information

CUVCOR03A
Communicate concept

 
12  InDesign/Photoshop 
• Principles of poster design 
• Following a brief
• Procedures for thec printing process


Commence A3 Poster



 

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

VBP 552
Analyse the purpose of the writing task

CUVCOR03A
Develop concept

CUVCOR11A
Collect information on history and theory

VBP 552
Realise the writing task
 
13 Introduction to InDesign (cont.)
• Continue working on A3 poster 
  InDesign Exercise Folio to be submitted.  VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Analyse the purpose of the writing task

CUVCOR03A
Develop concept

CUVCOR11A
Collect information on history and theory
 
14

 

Introduction to InDesign (cont.)
• Continuing working on A3 poster

 
 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR03A
Develop concept

 
15 InDesign/Photoshop
• The A3 poster must be completed by the end of this class, then exported to PDF format and taken to a digital printing shop for colour printing.

 


 

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Analyse the purpose of the writing task

CUVCOR03A
Develop concept

CUVCOR11A
Collect information on history and theory

VBP 552
Realise the writing task
 
16

Final class
Presentation of completed colour poster in class. 


The following items must be submitted in this class  

• A3 poster - including production diary

 

 


 

 

Submit A3 poster and production diary
 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task 

VBP 552
Analyse the purpose of the writing task

CUVCOR03A
Develop concept

CUVCOR11A
Collect information on history and theory

VBP 552
Realise the writing task
  SEMESTER BREAK    
SEM 2      
WEEK Class Content Assessment due Competency and Elements
 1

Photoshop
• Colour Modes
• Magicwand
• Hue and saturation

Photoshop Exercise1

Simpsons colourisation
exercise

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
 2 Photoshop
• Pen Tool
• Creating a path
• Loading a selection
• Brightness /contrast
Photoshop Exercise 2
Paths
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
3 Quark Xpress
Brief introduction to the software package Quark Xpress
Tour of Quark
 Submit Photoshop Exercises
 
 
4 InDesign
• Master pages
Begin InDesign Exercise1

 Visit Victoria
 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
5 InDesign
• Continue Visit Victoria exercise
Continue  InDesign Exercise1

 Visit Victoria
VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
6 InDesign
• Continue Visit Victoria excercise
Continue InDesign Exercise 1

Visit Victoria
VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
7 InDesign (cont.) Complete InDesign Exercise 1

Visit Victoria
VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
8 InDesign
• Principles of  DL brochure design
Begin InDesign exercise 2
 DL brochure
 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

VBP 552
Investigate the scope of the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
9 InDesign
• Continue DL brochure
 Continue InDesign exercise 2
DL brochure
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
10  InDesign
• Continue DL brochure
• The DL brochure does not have to be professionally printed
 Complete  InDesign exercise 2
DL brochure
 VBP 552
Create the writing task 


CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
11  InDesign
• Booklet design
• Production diary

Commence InDesign
 Self directed A5 booklet
(4 page spread)
 Submit Indesign exercise 1 and 2  VBP 552
Create the writing task


CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
12  InDesign
• Booklet design
• Production diary - continued

Self directed A5 booklet
(4 page spread)
 
 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task


CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
13  InDesign
• Booklet design
• Production diary - continued

Self directed A5 booklet
(4 page spread)
 

 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
14  InDesign
• Booklet design
• Production diary - continued

Self directed A5 booklet
(4 page spread)
 

 
 VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
15  InDesign
• A5 booklet must be completed in this class and exported to a PDF format for printing at a digital printing outlet. To be submitted in week 16
• Production diary - to be submitted week 16

 Complete  InDesign exercise 5
Self directed A5 booklet
(4 page spread)

Complete production diary

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
16

 Last class
• Class discussion of A5 booklet designs (show and tell)
• Hard copies of the following items must be submitted by the end of this class:

DL brochure (black and white, or colour if desired)
• A5 booklet (colour printout)

 

 



 


 

Submit colour printed copy of A5 booklet

Submit production diary

 VBP 552
Create the writing task

CUVCOR11A
Apply information to own area of work

CUSRADO1A
Collect relevant information

CUVCOR3A
Develop refine and communicate concept for own work
 
 17  Assessment week - no classes
 
   


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

None


References

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


Other Resources

You require a USB flash drive on which to backup your work. A capacity of at least 3 GB is recommended.
You will be required to take your A3 poster (InDesign/Photoshop excercise item) in a PDF format to a professional digital printing shop for colour printing at your own expense..


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is on going throughout the semester. It takes the form of a series of exercises designed to develop your skills in InDesign and Photoshop, and in practical projects over which you will have complete creative control, within the limits of the brief.

 


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
 
Photoshop folio - class exercises (5)
15% of marks.
Due : Week 6 beginning March 12 (semester 1)

InDesign folio - class exercises (3)
15% of marks.
Due: Week 13 beginning May 13(semester 1)
 

InDesign/Poster -
A3 Poster and production diary
20% of marks
Due: Week 16  (semester 1)


 

SEMESTER 2

Photoshop folio - class exercises (2)
5% of marks.
Due : Week 3 beginning July 15 (semester 2)

InDesign folio - class exercises (2)
20% of marks.
Due: Week 11 beginning September 9 (semester 2)

InDesign -  A5 booklet 
and production diary
25% of marks
Due: Week 16 (semester 2) 

Mark Criteria
• Text and Typography
• Visual impact
• Graphics (Selection, Management, Placement)
• Design composition & balance
• Working to a deadline (Project management)
• Distribution of information
• Awareness of simple design techniques
• Flow and Theme


Your assignments will be graded. Grades used in this unit are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of excercise tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration



 

Other Information

Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.

Plagiarism - RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity

Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.

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:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online

Work submitted late without an extension or special consideration will be penalised. See the program website for more details.

Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)

Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview