Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for young adults
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2007
Course Code: COMM5413
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for young adults
School: 345T Creative Media
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Mr Brendan Lee
Course Contact Phone: 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Clare Renner
clare.renner@rmit.edu.au
Tel: 9925 4047
Nominal Hours: 85
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, Refine Writing and Editing –Writing for YA is delivered and assessed along with the following competencies.
•CUVCOR04A - Originate concept for own work and conduct critical discourse
•CUVCOR13A - Research and critically analyse history and theory to inform artistic practice
•CUECOR01B - Manage own work and learning
•CUSADM03A - Manage a project
•CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief
•CUSRAD02A - Conduct research
Through the development of these competencies, you gain the skills needed to manage your work and learning while responding to a project brief. You research the work of other writers and publishers and apply your findings to your own project through the development of a concept into a written work.
Course Description
This course covers the knowledge and skills required to write for young adults. You analyse and discuss a broad range of fiction and non-fiction writing for this audience while developing a concept for your own project. You also experiment with writing and editing techniques in order to write a work that meets the particular needs of a young adult readership.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for young adults |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a concept into a written work for young adult readership
Details of Learning Activities
Classroom based lectures, guest speakers, excursions
Teaching Schedule
Week 1 Orientation. Introduction to the subject. Explanation of the year’s work.
Week 2 The concept of Young Adulthood - reality or marketing myth. Initial writing exercises.
Week 3 Who writes, Why do they write, What do they write about?
What interests teenagers - researching your market.
Week 4 Beginning! - Ideas and inspiration.
Week 5 Writing short stories for Young Adults.
Picture books for Young Adults.
Week 6 Plotting your novel.
Preparing an outline. Looking at the difference between a synopsis and a chapter outline. Plotting exercises.
Week 7 The plot thickens....
Old story - new design. Exploring different design techniques.
Week 8 Whole class workshopping
Week 9 Characters - where do they come from?
Week 10 Who’s telling your story? Exploration of voice and viewpoint
Week 11 YA genre fiction - what’s around?
The popularity of speculative fiction
Week 12 Whole class workshopping
Week 13 Keeping it real - or not? How do we use real life experience.
Week 14 Character development
Secondary characters - what are they doing?
Week 15 Mainstream v series fiction – How popular do you want to be?
Week 16 Writing multicultural YA fiction
Week 17 Last chance for workshopping and consultation
Week 18 Review of the semester and discussion of work covered in
semester 2
Week 19 Descriptive writing – Can your readers cope?
Week 20 Writing convincing dialogue
Week 21 Guest speaker
Week 22 Whole class workshopping
Week 23 Conflict, opposition and suspense.
Week 24 Mood, Emotion, Atmosphere.
Week 25 Reviewing YA fiction
Week 26 Popular fiction
Week 27 Whole class workshopping
Week 28 Submitting a proposal
Week 29 Writing for magazines
Week 30 Looking at the education market.
Week 31 Whole Class Workshopping
Week 32 The drafting process - When is enough really enough?
Week 33 Workshopping and individual consultations to help with last minute problems. Week 34 Writing as a business.
Week 35 Guest Speaker
Week 36 Review of the year’s work
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
- Suggested reading material will be provided in class by teacher.
- Handouts provided in class by teacher
- Internet access through RMIT Library
- Publications & dvds/videos through RMIT Library, community libraries, video libraries and other sources
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
1. 10,000 words of a novel suitable for a Young Adult readership
5,000 words and a synopsis of a YA novel due at the end of Semester 1.
A further 5000 words of the YA novel and a chapter outline due at the end of Semester 2.
2. Book Review
Oral review of a YA novel to be given at a time of the student’s choosing. (5%)
3. Reading List.
Students should read and record the details of at least 10 novels this year. The reading list to be submitted at the end of the year should include:
- A brief synopsis of the plot, character and theme of each novel (100 words is plenty)
- Publishing details.
4. Class Paper
Students are required to give a 15 minute class paper on a subject of their choice. The subject should be related to Young Adult literature and students are asked to let the lecturer know the topic they have chosen at least a week before the presentation is due. Students are required to hand in the written notes from their talk with all sources acknowledged. (10%)
5. Class exercises and workshopping. (10%)
(Assessed throughout the semester.)
Assessment Matrix
Not applicable
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