Course Title: Produce Writings - Short Story
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
Course Code: COMM5403
Course Title: Produce Writings - Short Story
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: Ms Ania Walwicz
Phone: 03 99254525
Email: ania.walwicz@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 – Short Story is delivered and assessed along with the following competencies:
• CUSRAD01A – Collect and organise information
• CUVCOR03A – Develop, refine and communicate concept
• CUVCOR11A – Source information on history and theory and apply to own work
Course Description
In this course you explore the art of writing in the short story form while looking at the skills and knowledge needed to write and market your own short stories. You are introduced to the works of many different short story writers and experiment with a range of approaches and techniques while creating your own body of work.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP552 Produce Writings - Short Story |
Element: |
Analyse the purpose of the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The purpose of the work is confirmed with relevant parties |
Element: |
Create the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 The level and scope of the writing task is analysed to determine the length and style of the work |
Element: |
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 and to meet agreed timelines |
Element: |
Plan 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 |
Element: |
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 |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will have gained insight into the theory and practice of short story writing. Through research and the practical application of theory, you will be able to develop an initial concept into a written work.
Details of Learning Activities
Learning Activities In-class activities:
• classroom-based lectures
• creative writing exercises
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• class readings of short stories
• workshopping of students’ own projects
Out-of-class activities:
• independent writing and reading
• online and other research
• independent study
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 Starting | Class Content | Competencies and Elements |
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| Week 1 |
Introduction to short story writing Intoduction to the class, its aims and procedures Outline of the short story format |
VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUSRAD01A Collect information CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory |
| Week 2 |
Strategies and aims of the storyteller Discussion of the various aims that narrative proposes The formation of narrative and the reading of narrative form |
VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUSRAD01A Collect information CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory |
| Week 3 |
The classical short story The history of short story writing Making a plan for a story |
VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task /Investigate the scope of the writing task CUSRAD01A Assess the information CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept |
| Week 4 |
The Australian short stort Reading and discussion of a story Reflection on form, content, context |
VBP 552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept |
| Week 5 |
The construct of the fairytale Looking at the fairytale form How can we compose fairytales |
CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Plan the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Communicate concept |
| Week 6 |
Use of autobiography True life as narrative The confessional mode in literature |
CUVCOR03A Develop concept / Communicate concept VBP 552 Plan the purpose of the writing task / Create the writing teak CUSRAD01A Assess the information |
| Week 7 |
Humour in storytelling Reading and analysis of humour Construction of a humourous text |
CUVCOR03A Refine concept / Communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create the writing task |
| Week 8 |
Storytelling and the realm of the fantastic Narrative dealing with the extraordinary Reading and writing fantastic material |
CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work CUVCOR03A Refine concept /Communicate concept |
| Week 9 |
The construct of memory The use of memory trace in literature Methods and tactics of the use of memory in writing |
CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work CUVCOR03A Refine concept VBP 552 Create the writing task |
| Week 10 |
The use of descriptive detail in storytelling How to create and evoke images for the reader Techniques and approaches |
VBP 552 Created the writing task |
| Week 11 |
The use of dialogue in short story Looking at how dialogue features in storytelling Qualified and unqualified dialogue |
CUVCOR03A Refine concept VBP 552 Create the writing task |
| Week 12 |
The suspended story Stories that do not end neatly Investigation of story formation |
VBP 552 Create the writing task CUVCOR03A Refine concept |
| Week 13 |
Magic realist tradition in short story Discussion of magic realist approaches and their use in storytelling Trying out an elaborate way of writing |
VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Refine concept |
| Week 14 |
Detective fiction The elements of detective fiction Genre writing and its conventions |
CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work CUSRAD01A Collect relevant information CUVCOR03A Refine concept |
| Week 15 |
Science fiction Reading science fiction Discussing its elements and functions |
VBP 552 Realise the writing task CUVCOR03A Refine concept |
| Week 16 |
Horror Story How to frighten the reader Looking at tactics and approaches |
CUVCOR03A Refine concept VBP 552 Realise the writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work |
| Week 17 | Assessment week - no classes | |
| SEMESTER 2 | ||
| Week 1 |
The Russian short story Reading literature Reflection on place and time |
VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task /Investigate the scope of the writing task |
| Week 2 |
The French short story Reading and discussing story formats Applying these formats to our work |
CUSRAD01A Collect relevant information CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept |
| Week 3 |
The German short story Considering storytelling and its influences Trying out new tactics and approaches |
CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory/Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create the writing task CUSRAD01A Collect relevant information /Assess the information |
| Week 4 |
The American short story New thoughts about the formation of narrative Reflection on form |
CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory /Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create the writing task |
| Week 5 |
Stream of consciousness The use of inner thoughts of a character The language of the interior |
VBP 552 ICreate the writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory /Apply information to own area of work |
| Week 6 |
The monologue form The use of first person voice in writing Story as a performative vehicle |
VBP 552 Create the writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory /Apply information to own area of work |
| Week 7 |
The adolescent voice The tradition of the young narrator How can we adopt this stance |
VBP 552 Create the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept |
| Week 8 |
The flashback technique Storytelling and the cinematic technique Movement of time in a story |
VBP 552 Create the writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD01A Organise the information / Communicate the information |
| Week 9 |
The fiction/non- fiction story Feature story as short story The new hybrid format |
VBP 552 Create the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept |
| Week 10 |
The magazine story Looking at a story from a magazine publication Reflection and discussion |
VBP 552 Create the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept / Communicate concept |
| Week 11 |
A story in segments Use of segmentation in storytelling The purpose and function of dividing the story |
CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create the writing task |
| Week 12 |
Interrelated stories in a sequence The new form of a book of stories Thinking of ideas of linkage of stories |
CUSRAD01A Organise the information VBP 552 Plan the purpose of the writing task /Create the writing task |
| Week 13 |
Best stories from the course Looking at the works published by students Discussion and new approaches |
CUSRAD01A Organise the information / Communicate the information |
| Week 14 |
Creating atmosphere in a story How to affect the reader Tactics and approaches |
CUVCOR03A Communicate concept VBP 552 Create the writing task |
| Week 15 |
Job stories An area of storytelling about experience Telling our stories |
CUVCOR03A Communicate concept VBP 552 Realise the writing task |
| Week 16 |
Contemporary Japanese story Reading recent work Discussion and reflection |
CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory VBP 552 Realise the writing task |
| Week 17 | Assessment Week - no classes |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Class hand-outs and recommendations will be made during the course of the year. |
References
You are advised to look at the course blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You require access to a computer and access 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
Assessment 1: Workshopping your own and other student work (5%)
Assessment 2: Submission of one short story – 2,500 words (20%) Due 30/3/2012
Assessment 3: Submission of one short story – 2,500 words (20%) Due18/5/2012
Semester 2
Assessment 4: Workshopping your own and other student work (5%)
Assessment 5: Class presentation on an aspect of short story(10%) Topic and date of presentation to be to be discussed with teacher
Assessment 6: Submission of one short story – 2,500 words (20%) Due 10/8/2012
Assessment 7: Submission of one short story – 2,500 words (20%) Du 12/10/2012
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 assessment tasks with the relevant
Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program
administration
Other Information
Submission of Assessment Tasks
You are required to submit all assessment tasks in hard copy with a completed School of Media and Communication cover sheet. You are expected to keep a copy of all assignments submitted.
Late Submissions
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension before that due date.
Please refer to the course blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.
Feedback
You will receive both spoken and written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is about the honest presentation of your academic work. Presenting work that fails to acknowledge other people’s work within yours can compromise academic integrity. For further information on academic integrity and plagiarism, please refer to the following URL. http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kkc202lwe1yv
Special Consideration Policy
Please refer to the following URL for information on applying for special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1
<!--EndFragment-->
Course Overview: Access Course Overview