Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for Older Children
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
Course Code: COMM5441
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for Older Children
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Professional Writing and Editing Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Ms Judith Rossell
Email: judith.rossell@rmit.edu.au
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 Older Children 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
Course Description
This course covers the knowledge and skills required to write for middle and late primary aged children. You analyse and discuss a broad range of fiction and non-fiction writing for this audience while developing concepts for your own projects. You also experiment with writing and editing techniques in order to write a work that meets the particular needs of a young readership.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Writing for Older Children |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a concept into a written work for children.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you learn through-
1. 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 of students’ choice
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
Week | Class Content | Assessment Due | Elements |
1 | Introduction to the course. Explanation of the year’s work and assessment - timelines etc. Initial writing exercises. |
VBP553 - 3 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A -1 CUSADM03A - 1 CUECOR01B -1 |
|
2 | Looking at chapter books – discussion of format. Initial ideas and concepts Discussion of drafting and workshopping process. |
VBP553 - 2 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2 CUSADM03A - 2 CUECOR01B -1 |
|
3 | Begin workshopping Where do our stories come from Exploring ideas, triggers, memory. |
VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSRAD02A - 2 CUSADM03A - 1/2 |
|
4 | Characters who drive stories. Creating characters your readers will care about Workshopping |
VBP553 - 2/4 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2 CUSADM03A - 3 |
|
5 | Beginnings, Middles and Ends. Creating a storyline – plotting in chapter books | VBP553 - 4 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2/3 CUSADM03A - 2 CUECOR01B -2 |
|
6 | Who are you writing for? Finding the child reader GUEST SPEAKER Workshopping |
VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUSRAD02A -1 CUSADM03A - 1 |
|
7 | Exploring the language of chapter books and comparing with other forms of fiction Workshopping |
VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A -3 |
|
8 | Writing visually. Studying the relationship between text and illustration and learning to write from pictures and for pictures. Workshopping Workshopping |
VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSRAD02A - 2/3 |
|
9 | Book Reviews Workshopping |
Book Reviews | VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A - 1/2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 1/4 |
Semester Break April 5 to April 11 | |||
10 | Whole class workshopping | CUVCOR04A - 4/5 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
11 | Introduction to non fiction | All students to bring an extract to workshop | VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2 |
12 | Non fiction. Different approaches to a subject GUEST SPEAKER |
VBP553 - 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSADM03A - 3 |
|
13 | Engaging the child reader | Chapter Book Texts Due | VBP553 - 3 CUSRAD02A - 1/2/3 CUSRAD02A -4 |
14 | Illustrations in non-fiction | VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSRAD02A - 2/3 |
|
15 | All Class Workshopping | Writing to a brief - submission due | CUVCOR04A - 4/5 CUECOR01B - 3 |
16 | Consultations | CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
17 | Assessment Week - no classes | ||
SEMESTER 2 | |||
1 | Introduction and discussion of direction and assessment requirements in Semester 2 Looking at Junior fiction and what’s involved. Developing a writing practice. |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 2 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A -2 CUSADM03A - 2 CUECOR01B -1 |
2 | Characters who help you plot Real and composite characters Characters your reader can identify with. Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 1/4 CUVCOR13A - 2 CUSADM03A - 3 |
3 | Creating plot – using myths and fables to develop strong story structure. Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 4 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 2/3 |
4 | Writing from the heart – using your own and other people’s experience to create writing that means something to you and your reader Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 3 CUSRAD02A - 1/2/3 CUSRAD02A -4 |
5 | Voice – studying voice in a range of children’s novels and finding your own Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A -4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
6 | Point of View – how does changing the point of view affect your story? Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
7 | Dialogue – making it convincing. Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
8 | Secondary characters – Your protagonist can’t do it on their own Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
9 | Mood, Emotion, Atmosphere. Guiding the reader’s feelings and responses. Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 1/4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
10 | WHOLE CLASS WORKSHOPPING | All students to bring an extract to workshop | CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUECOR01B - 3 |
11 | The drafting process • How many drafts? • Editing and polishing - When is enough really enough? Chapter outlines – do they help? Workshopping |
VBP553 - 4/5 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR04A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B -3 |
|
12 | Book Reviews | Book Reviews | VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A - 1/2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 1/4 |
Mid Semester Break Sep 24to Oct 5 (inclusive) |
|||
13 | GUEST SPEAKER Workshopping |
Student presentation | VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3 |
14 | Submitting your manuscript Which publisher? How to write a covering letter Contracts Workshopping and individual consultations to help with last minute problems |
Novel assessment due Student presentation |
VBP553 - 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4 |
15 | Consultations | VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
16 | Cup Day | ||
17 | Assessment Week- no classes |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed reading material is provided in class |
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
1. Chapter Book Texts
Write a text suitable for chapter book. Length 1500-4000 words. Due 8 May (30%)
2.Book Reviews.
Write short reviews of three chapter books. (To be presented in class April 3, written notes to be handed in) (5%)
3. Writing to a brief
Write an article suitable for The School Magazine, following the guidelines put out by the publishers on their website regarding themes, word count, content etc. OR write a synopsis and first chapter of a junior non-fiction book, also, following a publisher’s guidelines . Due 22 May. (10%)
4. Class exercises and workshopping. (5%)
Semester 2
1. Novel
A short novel of around 4000 words suitable for younger readers. Due 15 October (30%)
2. Book Reviews.
Short reviews of 3 junior novels. (To be presented in class Sept 18, written notes to be handed in) (5%)
3. Class Presentation
A 10 minute class presentation on a subject of your choice on a date agreed to by the teacher. 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. (10%)
7. Class exercises and workshopping. (5%)
Grades used in this course are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail
For further details on these assessment tasks and the grading system and 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