Course Title: Perform writing and editing tasks
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2022
Course Code: COMM7372C
Course Title: Perform writing and editing tasks
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
School: 515T Creative Industries
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4405 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact: Dzintra Boyd and Sarah Vincent
Course Contact Phone: +61399254269 (Dzintra)
Course Contact Email: dzintra.boyd@rmit.edu.au and sarah.vincent@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Sarah Vincent
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
Are you keen to improve your line editing skills and produce publication-ready text? In this course you will learn the conventions of grammar, punctuation and spelling related to Australian English, and the art and technique of building robust sentences and paragraphs. You will learn how to edit for voice, tone and tense, and for clear, concise prose, especially for plain language. As a writer, you will apply these skills when revising your own work. As an editor, you will work with editing tools to copyedit and proofread text for publication, both electronically and in hard copy.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUAWRT404 Perform writing and editing tasks |
Element: |
1. Apply clear and appropriate language and style to writing and editing tasks |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Use safe work practices including addressing ergonomic requirements when undertaking writing tasks 1.2 Use clear, concise and plain English in writing and editing tasks 1.3 Apply appropriate paragraph structure to written material to ensure clarity of meaning and ease of reading 1.4 Make clear and logical connections between sentences, paragraphs and sections 1.5 Determine and incorporate the language and style of the audience |
Element: |
2. Apply the appropriate voice, tone and tense |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Determine appropriate voice, tone and tense of the written materials according to audience requirements 2.2 Maintain consistent voice, tone and tense throughout written material |
Element: |
3. Apply appropriate grammar, spelling and punctuation |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Apply appropriate grammar conventions to a range of written contexts including use of numbers, quotations, and tables 3.2 Apply appropriate spelling and punctuation conventions in writing and editing tasks. |
Element: |
4. Perform editing and proofreading tasks to meet requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Edit written material to ensure clear meaning through language and paragraphs, consistent voice, tone and tense 4.2 Copyedit written material by checking grammar, spelling and punctuation using standard editing conventions 4.3 Proofreading using style guides and by monitoring written material for errors |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.
You will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge and application of grammar, punctuation, spelling and style in set tasks
- write and revise your own work according to standard conventions
- edit and proofread text according to a style guide guide and to plain language style
- use handwritten and digital methods to undertake editing and proofreading tasks.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
- lectures
- teacher directed group activities/projects
- class exercises to review discussions/lectures
- peer teaching and class presentations
- group discussion
- class exercises
2. Out-of-class activities:
- independent project based work
- writing and reading assignments
- online and other research
- independent study
Teaching Schedule
Week |
Topic |
Assessments |
Week 1 |
Ergonomics practices while using a computer. The writing process and the three-stage comprehensive edit. What does an editor do? Assessment 1 briefing: introduction to the essay form, brainstorming ideas, conducting initial research and developing a plan. Assessment 3 briefing. |
|
Week 2 |
Exploring register, voice and tone. Australian spelling conventions and international variants. |
|
Week 3 |
Overview of word classes and parts of a sentence. Common grammar problems and how to fix them. Nouns, plurals and possessives. |
|
Week 4 |
Tense and subject–verb agreement. Choosing the right pronoun. |
Assessment 1 – Part 1 Essay plan |
Week 5 |
Modifiers, prepositions and conjunctions Feedback on your essay plan. Building a persuasive argument in an essay. |
|
Week 6 |
Capitalisation in words, phrases and headings. Key punctuation marks and how they are used. |
|
Week 7 |
House style and dashes, quotation marks and numbers |
|
Week 8 |
Paragraphing styles and conventions. Writing an effective paragraph. Using Word to edit text (find and replace, track changes). Applying the documentary note style: in-text citation and bibliography. |
Assessment 1 – Part 2 Draft essay |
Week 9 |
Strategies to proofread your own work. Principles and techniques of plain language. Active versus passive voice. |
|
Week 10 |
Using headings and hanging lists for readability. Grammar and spelling checks and readability statistics – positives and pitfalls. Assessment 2 briefing: The purpose and structure of a report. |
|
|
Mid-semester break from Friday 15 April to Monday 25 April inclusive |
Assessment 1 – Part 3 Revise and proofread essay |
Week 11 |
Copyediting tools and processes. Using Word to style headings and text, and write author queries. Working with a style guide and developing a style sheet. |
|
Week 12 |
The author-editor relationship. How to frame author queries. |
|
Week 13 |
Proofreading technique: hard copy mark-up and annotating pdfs. Blind proofreading and proofreading against copy. |
Assessment 2 – Part 1 Copyedit a report |
Week 14 |
Common proofreading errors and how to fix them. Typographic and illustration issues. Proofreading checklist and practice |
Assessment 3 – Knowledge assessment |
Week 15 |
Semester review |
Assessment 2 – Part 2 Proofread a newsletter |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
You will require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. 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.
The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The Learning Lab
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing throughout the course and will include a range of practical and theory components. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on Canvas.
This is a Vocational Education and Training qualification and is assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard required in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:
CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Tasks
Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.
Assessment 1: Plan and write a persuasive essay
Due: Part 1: Week 4; Part 2: Week 8; Part 3: Week 10
There are 3 parts to this task. You will be required to complete:
Part 1: Essay plan
Part 2: Draft essay
Part 3: Revise and proofread essay
You are required to write, revise and proofread a persuasive essay (2500–3000 words) on a topic of your choice. Choose a contemporary issue on which there are differing opinions. Research your topic carefully, taking notes and bibliographic details of sources consulted. Your essay must cite all quotations and sources using the documentary note system. You must also supply a bibliography, which must be styled correct
Assessment 2: Copyedit and Proofread documents
Due: Part 1: Week 13; Part 2: Week 15
This assessment will allow you to assume the role of editor and demonstrate your ability to apply the conventions of plain English to an editing task. It also includes copyediting and proofreading techniques.
There are 2 parts to this task. You will be required to complete:
Part 1: Copyedit using word processing software
Part 2: Proofread using handwritten methods
Assessment 3: Knowledge Assessment
Due: Week 14
This knowledge assessment will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of editing and proofreading practices and techniques.
Once you have achieved competency for all assessments in a unit of competency, you will receive an overall result. If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the Program Coordinator.
Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:
CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.
Other Information
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises
It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Information about your studies
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students
Assessment
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment
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.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit
Course Overview: Access Course Overview