Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
Course Code: COMM5405
Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children
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: Rachel Flynn
Email: rachel.flynn@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 – Writing for Children 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
Produce Writings –Writing for Children supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required to write and market material for young children.
You are introduced to the works of various children’s writers and examine the techniques used in writing picture storybooks, junior novels and other forms of fiction and non-fiction materials for children. You also 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 - Writing for Children |
Element: |
1. Analyse the purpose of the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The purpose of the work is confirmed with relevant parties |
Element: |
2. Investigate the scope of 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: |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will have gained insight into the process of writing for children. Through research and practice you will be able to develop an initial concept into a written work for children.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you learn through -
In-class activities:
• lectures
• industry speakers
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements
• workshopping of students’ own projects
• analysis/critique of writings
Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• 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 | Assignments Due | Competency & Elements |
|
Week 1 |
Introduction to the subject. Explanation of the year’s work and assessment. <style type="text/css">
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</style> Format of picture books |
VBP 552 Analyse purpose of writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD01A Collect relevant information |
|
Week 2 |
Exploring ideas and characters |
VBP 552 Investigate the scope of the writing task CUSRAD01A Collect & assess information CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUVCOR03A Develop concept |
|
|
Week 3 |
Thinking about audience. Workshopping |
CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD01ACollect and assess information |
|
|
Week 4 |
Plotting your picture book Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Plan writing task CUSRAD01ACollect and assess information |
|
Week 5 |
Illustrations - Art and Text book text |
|
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Plan writing task CUSRAD01ACollect and assess information |
|
Week 6
|
Labour Day Holiday Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task |
|
|
Week 7
|
The process of redrafting Workshopping |
Assessment 1 Reviews of picture books |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task |
|
Week 8
|
Writing in verse | Assessment 1 Reviews of picture books (cont.) |
CUVCOR11A Collect information on own area of work |
|
Week 9
|
Creating storyworlds Workshopping |
Assessment 1 Reviews of picture books (cont.) |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task |
| Easter Break | |||
|
Week 10 |
Ideas for writing non-fiction Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task |
|
|
Week 11
|
Non-fiction (cont.) Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP 552 Create writing task |
|
|
Week 12 |
Novels, starting points Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Create writing task |
|
|
Week 13 |
Developing character Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP552 Create writing task | |
|
Week 14 |
Effective openings Workshopping |
Assessment 2 Two picture book texts due |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Create writing task |
|
Week 15
|
Prose styles |
Assessment 3 Non-fiction article due |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Apply information to own area of work VBP552 Realise writing task |
|
Week 16
|
Review and assessment of material covered in Semester 1 |
|
CUSRAD01A Communicate information VBP552 Realise writing task |
|
Week 17 |
Assessment Week- no classes |
||
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Week 1
|
Examining structure |
VBP 552 Analyse the purpose of the writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
|
Week 2 |
Establishing and sustaining viewpoint |
VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
|
Week 3 |
Endings |
Assessment 1 Reviews of novels |
VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
Week 4
|
Dialogue Workshopping |
Assessment 1 Reviews of novels (cont) |
VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR03A Develop concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
Week 5 |
The narrator’s voice Workshopping |
Assessment 1 Reviews of novels (cont) |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Create writing task CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
Week 6
|
Genres Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory |
|
|
Week 7 |
Ideas for non-fiction books Workshopping |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
|
Week 8 |
Attending Melbourne’s Writers’ Festival |
CUVCOR11A Collect information on history and theory | |
|
Week 9
|
Presentations of novel cover design Workshopping non-fiction projects |
|
CUVCOR03A Develop concept VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information CUSRAD01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
Week 10 |
Workshopping of novels |
|
CUVCOR03A Develop concept VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information CUSRAD01A - Organise & communicate information |
| Weeks 11 and 12 | Workshopping of novels | Assessment 2 Group presentations |
|
| Semester Break 24 Sept - 1 Oct | |||
|
Weeks 13 and 14
|
Workshopping of novels |
Assessment 2 Group presentations (cont.) |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUVCOR11A Apply information CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
Week 15 24 Oct |
What next? | Assessment 3 Novel Submission |
CUVCOR03A Develop & communicate concept CUSRAD 01A Collect,assess and organise information |
|
Week 16
|
Starting your next project |
VBP 552 Analyse purpose and investigate scope of writing task CUSRAD 01A - Organise & communicate information |
|
|
Week 17 |
Assessment Week - no classes |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed material will be provided by the teacher |
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You require access to a computer and 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.Book Reviews. (5%)
A review of a minimum of 15 picture books. As you read each book, write a brief review to be shared with class members. This works as a starting point for discussion and become a shared resource for the class.
Due Weeks 7,8,9 (March 19th and 26th, April 2nd )
Assessment 2. Picture Book Texts. (30%)
Submit two texts suitable for picture books. Submissions to include:
•a fully drafted text arranged in 24 or 32 pages
•a dummy
•notes about the illustrations
•a letter/pitch to an appropriate publisher
•three Australian publishers to whom you may send your text
•a reflection on the process of writing: Consider your starting point, how you have engaged the audience, workshopping, redrafting and dealing with problems
Due Week 14 (May 14 )
Assessment 3: Non-fiction article. (10%)
An article suitable for Comet or Explore magazines, following the guidelines put out by the publishers on their website regarding themes, word count, content etc. Due Week 15 (May 21.)
Assessment 4: Workshopping (5%)
Ongoing workshopping of writing exercises and projects
Semenster 2
Assessment 1: Book Reviews. (5%)
A review of a minimum of 3 junior novels. As you read each book, write a brief review to be shared with class members. This works as a starting point for discussion and become a shared resource for the class.
Due Weeks 3,4 and 5 (July 16, 23 and 30 )
Assessment 2: Group Presentation (10%)
A 10 -15 minute class presentation on a subject of your choice. The subject should be related to children’s literature and you need to to let the teacher know the topic you have chosen at least a week before their presentation date is due. You are required to hand in the written notes from their talk with all sources acknowledged. Due Weeks 11-14 (September 10th, 17th and October 8th, 15th)
Assessment 3: Novel - 5,000 words. (30%)
Although the final draft is due in Week 15 Oct 22 there are four stages to hand in or present in class during the semester.
- Opening of novel - Due week 2 (July 9th)
- Draft of novel in progressand reflection on process - Due week 7 (August 13th)
- Presentation of cover design- Due weeks 9 and 10 (August 27th, September 3rdz)
- Finished NovelDue week 15 (October 22nd)
Assessment 4: Workshopping. (5%)
Ongoing workshopping of writing exercises and projects
Assessment tasks in this unit are graded.
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.
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail
For further information on the criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
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
Course Overview: Access Course Overview