Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Small Press Publishing

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: COMM5448

Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Small Press Publishing

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: Mr Don Porter
Telephone: 03 9925 8089
Email: don.porter@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 – Small Press Publishing 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

In this course you edit, design and publish a project of your choice. The course covers the knowledge and skills required to research and experiment with writing, editing and publishing techniques while further developing the skills needed for operating within a small press environment.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Small Press Publishing

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop and publish a project of your choice.

Details of Learning Activities

In this course you learn through -
In-class activities:

• lectures
• practical lab work
• field trips
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• reflection and discussion
• creative exercises

Out-of-class activities:

• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study

Teaching Schedule

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	Class Content	Assessment due	Competency and Elements
Week 1 Feb 10	Introduction to small press publishing: 1. The contemporary Australian small press publishing scene 2. Possible publishing proposals 3. Active collection of examples of Small Press Publication 4. Layout the program for the year 5. Introduce the “writings” elements as: Initial concept Publication content Project Review		VBP553 - 2 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A - 1 CUSADM03A - 1 CUECOR01B - 2
Week 2 Feb 17	Project management basics 1. Defining your project: Purpose, audience, cost 2. Evaluation criteria 3. Timetable 4. Structural Styling: Design Genre		VBP553 – 2/3 CUVDES05A - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A – 1/2 CUSADM03A - 1 CUECOR01B - 2
Week 3 Feb 23	Production processes: 1. Timelines and schedules 2. Publishing resources 3. Production resources 4. Research history elements of content and processes 5. Visits to and by printeries, graphic designers, writers, artists, photographers, publishers		CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A – 2/3 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 1
Week 4 Mar 2	Small Press Publishing: 1. Case studies and models 2. Workshop proposals 3. Selection of media		VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A – 1/2
Week 5  Mar 9	Sales and distribution 1. Costings and budgets 2. Promotion 3. Backing and Investment		CUVCOR04A - 4 CUSADM03A – 2/3 CUECOR01B - 2
Week 6 March 16	Presentation proposals Group skills audit: Needs assessment: skills, resources, information Organise skills-training groups	Assessment 1 Small press publishing case study assessment <style type="text/css">@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }h1 { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.Heading1Char { font-weight: bold; }.MsoChpDefault { font-size: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSectio</style>	VBP553 - 3 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A – 2/3 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 7  Mar 23	Student-initiated training sessions 1. Lab session as required - each session is broken into a skills unit and an Assessment Activity in: •Research practice •Writing style •Illustration selection •Selected media •Design practice •Typography •Printing process •Binding process 2. Introduction to the production of the chosen publication you have been developing 3. Discussing the state of the project research 4. Discussing the media and initial design of the project	Assessment 2. Small press publishing proposal assessment	VBP553 - 4 CUVDES05A - 2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3
Week 8  Mar 30	Research Practice		CUSRAD01A - 1-4
Week 9  Apr 6	Writing style •Genre •Preparation of materials •Organisation of ideas •Search and research •Drafting ideas •Matching publication type and style to the content Exercise •Presentation of a written content brief for an advertisement discussed in this skills		VBP553 – 1/3/4 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A – 2/3 CUVCOR04A – 3 CUSRAD02A -3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 10 Apr 13	Illustration selection •Style of publication •Style of content •Relationship of illustration to design of publication and the information style •Programs to use Exercise •From a written and visual brief present an illustration style list for a series of articles		<!--EndFragment-->CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B -2/3
Week 11 Apr 20	Selected media •Ultimate determination of overall style of publication •This will be control the choice of project, being small press material •Both computer based and hand art •Supported by skill sessions and professional contact visit Exercise • Thinking of your small press publication think of the transition to digital and online design and structure as an alternative to print		CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A – 1/2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 3 CUSADM03A - 3
	Mid-semester Break
Week 12 May 4	Design practice •Determined by the content and illustration style as well as the main reader age group •Skill sessions on design elements and various combinations of elements •Design process from concept to finished publication •Skill session on the choice and use of type Exercise •Create a series of simple design sketch a series of simple visualisations of design page layouts	Assessment 3. Text and Illustration Forum	VBP553 – 1/4 CUVDES05A - 2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 13 May 11	Typography •Recognition of type faces •What are their backgrounds variants •What are the affects in their uses in varying types of publications (eg. educational, advertising, academic, online, etc) •Type as a design element in its own right •Skill session on the choice and use of type Exercise •Select four cuttings of type from a magazine or newspaper and using one of your own visual designs use the type samples to construct to build a realistic looking mock-up.		VBP553 – 1/4 CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A – 2/3 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSRAD02A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B -3
Week 14 May 18	Printing process •Skill session on the recognition of the various printing processes •This also will contain both digital processes and online publication •As the meaning of “publication” has been left very open the student should take the opportunity to experiment with the future Exercise •Using the elements supplied, experiment in one of the printing processes you have been introduced to		VBP553 - 3 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 15 May 25	Ongoing Blackboard and class blog postings on all Skills sessions Binding process •Choice of Style and material/s •Specialist session Exercise •Concept of promotional packaging in sketch design from (visualisation). Then construct then cover or box as a cover		CUVDES05A - 2 CUVCOR 13A – 1/2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 16 Jun 1	•Written and verbal presentation of the state of your small press publication •Have you selected you form of production and have you stated producing it? •Have you thought of the publication run and its cost •How you would finance such a commitment	Assessment 4. Progress Report #1 Presentation	VBP553 – 4/5 CUVDES05A - 3 CUVCOR04A - 4 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B -
Week 17 June 8	Assessment Week - No Classes
	Semester 2
Week 1 July 6	Lab session as required Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 2 July 13	Lab session as required (This date is variable depending on the state of you publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 3  July 20	Lab session as required (This date is variable depending on the state of you publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 4 July 27	Work in progress presentations •Progress in artwork, design layout and illustrations •Progress in final written content Also Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVDES05A - 3 CUVCOR04A - 4 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 5 Aug 3	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 6 Aug 10	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 7 Aug 17	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available	Assessment 5. Progress Report #2 Presentation	<!--EndFragment--> VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 8  Aug 24	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 9 Aug 31	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 10  Sep 7	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 11 Sep 14	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
Week 12  Sep 21	Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available		VBP553 – 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 2/3
	Mid Semester Break
Week 13 Oct 12	Class/group presentation meetings Class planning meeting: small press publishing presentation		CUVDES05A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B – 3/4
Week 14 Oct 19	Folio preparation workshop •All elements required for presentation and assessment •1. Written proposal of main assessment publication •2. Small press publishing case study •3. Student initiated training session (Group) Skills participation •4. Progress report 1 •5. Progress report 2 •6. Final publication research, documentation and copy for main publishing project •7. Individual publishing project (2 copies) •8. Review and presentation of small press project		VBP553 - 5 CUVDES05A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 15 Oct 26	Small press presentation event Lab session as required (Ongoing access for main assessment publication) Lab access for computer or hand art access Supervision and assistance available <!--EndFragment-->	Assessment 6. Final documentation folio to be submitted Assessment 7.  Project to be submitted	VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUVCOR04A – 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B -3
Week 16 Nov 2	Small press Assessment Collection Last class: hand in all work for assessment	Assessment 8. Small press review and presentation	VBP553 - 5 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3
Week 17 Nov 9	Assessment Week

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There are no prescribed texts for this course

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, practical workshops, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing, editing and production 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.

Assessment 1.  Small press publishing case study (10%)
Small press publishing case study 16 March (present)  18 March (upload)

Assessment 2. Small press publishing proposal (10%)
Small press publishing proposal. 23 March (present)  26 March (upload)

Assessment 3. Text and illustration design forum  (10%
Text and illustration design forum   (4 May)

Assessment 4. Progress report #1 (5%)
Progress report #1   By appointment  ( 1 June)

Assessment 5. Progress report #2 (5%)
Progress report #2 (By appointment (17 August)

Assessment 6. Final documentation folio (10%)
Final documentation folio To be completed by 20 October

Assessment 7. Individual publishing project (40%)
Individual publishing project  To be completed by
26 October

Assessment 8. Small press review and presentation (class) (10%)
Small press review and presentation (class)  Nov 2



Assessment tasks in this unit are graded.

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 assessments
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.

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and/or written feedback from your teacher on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information on late submissions and plagiarism

Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are
unable to complete any piece of assessment on or by the due date, you will need to
apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%
20Syers;SECTION=1;

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview