Course Title: Refine writing skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: COMM7305

Course Title: Refine writing skills

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5314 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

 Teachers:

  • Ms  Marie McInerney - marie.mcinerney@rmit.edu.au
  • Yannick Thoraval - yannick.thoraval@rmit.edu.au
  • 9925-4815 or 9925-8012 (leave message)
     

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

This course has no pre-requisites or co-requisites


 

Course Description

In this course you will draft, write and edit many different kinds of workplace documents.You will learn to inform and to persuade, taking into account the purpose and context of the writing.Through research and experimentation with writing techniques in a range of media, you will gain the skills and knowledge required to write for both the ear and the eye.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU20277 Refine writing skills

Element:

1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media

Performance Criteria:

1.1 The potential for new approaches to writing is evaluated in terms of the capability of techniques already used by writer.
1.2 New techniques are selected for specific effects and introduced into writing.
1.3 Relevant approaches by other writers are researched, adapted and used with due consideration of intellectual property, moral rights and copyright requirements
1.4 Feedback is sought from fellow practitioners or informed others as to the effectiveness of particular experiments

Element:

2. Develop and refine a concept for a piece of work

Performance Criteria:

2.1 A concept for the project work is developed based on the purpose of the work and its intended audience
2.2 Writing techniques suitable for the concept are evaluated against feedback from experimentation
2.3 A concept is documented
2.4 Feedback is sought from appropriate others and concept is refined where necessary

Element:

3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Resource requirements necessary for the development of a piece of extended work are clarified
3.2 Constraints that may impact on the development of work are evaluated
3.3 Concept is amended or renegotiated in terms of available resources

Element:

4. Plan the writing

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Writing tasks are planned to reflect the concept, constraints and available resources of the project
4.2 Writing tasks are organised and developed into an ordered sequence of deadlines
4.3 All resources required to deliver the product are organised
4.4 A timeline for the completion of the product is agreed with commissioning agents or editors if necessary

Element:

5. Complete writing

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Writing is completed using techniques and media selected from research and experimentation
5.2 The potential for changes in the use of techniques is evaluated and responded to where necessary
5.3 The concept is refined where necessary based on the writer’s on-going experiences with the production of writing
5.4 Writing meets professional levels of execution including attention to grammar, vocabulary, style, presentation and time frame.

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.
 


Details of Learning Activities

 In class activities may include:
•Lectures
•Guest lecture
•Class presentations
•Group discussions
•Teacher directed group activities/projects
•Class exercises to review discussions/lectures
•Workshopping of student projects
•Analysis/critique of relevant reading material


Out of class activities may include:
•Online research
•Independent project based work


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 Content Class 1                                                         

 		 Content Class 2                                                                     
 		 Assessment Due Elements
VU20277             
 
 1  COMMUNICATION PROCESS                                
• Communication Model
•Variables
•Non Verbal Communication
Barriers		 ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION:
Theory & Purpose
• Why write better?
• Defining purpose
•Barriers & problems
 		   1
 2  THE WRITING PROCESS
• Your strengths
• Planning
• Drafting
•Audience		 ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION: Theory & Purpose
• Writing for ear or eye
• Choosing a medium
• Targetting readership(s)

 		   1,2,3
 
 3 THE WRITING PROCESS
• Evaluating
• Feedback
• Redrafting

 

ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION:

Theory & Purpose
• Branding & communication strategy
• Style sheets
•Workplace dynamics
 

   2,3,4
 
 4  WRITING WITH IMPACT
• Rules for clear writing
• Levels of clear writing
•Grammar basics

 		PRESENTING INFORMATION
• Page layout
• Font
• White space		 Assessment 1:
Critique
Due weeks 4-9 		 3,4,5

 
 5  THE WRITING PROCESS
• Editing
• Revision
•Proofreading		 PRESENTING INFORMATION
• Page layout
• Font
• White space T
 		    3,4,5
 6  THE WRITING PROCESS
• Editing
• Revision
•Proofreading		 PRESENTING INFORMATION
• Page layout
•Font
•White space
•Headings, numbers & bullets
Tables, charts & diagrams
 		   3,4,5
   Easter Week Break April 1 to April 5      
 7  WRITING WITH IMPACT
Pitfalls: tautology, double negatives, word choices, passive/active writing, punctuation, adverbs Assessment 3
Portfolio Documents
Ongoing		 BUSINESS WRITING II: CORRESPONDENCE
• Memos
• Internal correspondence

Assessment 3
Portfolio Documents
Ongoing
 

 Assessment 2: Summary Due: Week 7

 2,3,4,5
 8  BUSINESS WRITING I: PERSUASIVE WRITING
• Types of persuasive writing
• Key parts of an argument
•Developing an argument		 •BUSINESS WRITING II: CORRESPONDENCE
Email & tone
 		   2,3,4,5
 9  BUSINESS WRITING I: PERSUASIVE WRITING
•Different types of reasoning
•Proof analysis		 BUSINESS WRITING I: PERSUASIVE WRITING
• Difficult messages
• Internal policies
 		    2,3,4,5
 10  BUSINESS WRITING I: PERSUASIVE WRITING
• Logos
• Ethos
•Pathos		 BUSINESS WRITING I: PERSUASIVE WRITING
•Speeches
• Presentations
 		   2,3,4,5
 11  BUSINESS WRITING I: PERSUASIVE WRITING
• Resumes
Persuasive writing in practice		 BUSINESS WRITING III: SUMMARIES
Agendas & minutes
editing for space
 		   2,3,4,5
 12  •BUSINESS WRITING IV: VARIOUS
Reports		  BUSINESS WRITING III: SUMMARIES
• Summaries
Precis
 		   2,3,4,5
 13 •BUSINESS WRITING IV: VARIOUS
Reports
 		 BUSINESS WRITING IV: VARIOUS
• Policy writing
•Tenders
 		   2,3,4,5
 14  •BUSINESS WRITING IV: VARIOUS
Reports		  BUSINESS WRITING IV: VARIOUS
• Codes of conduct
• Tenders		    2,3,4,5
15  Review and  revision  Review and revision

 Assessment  3:  Portfolio handed in

 

  5


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Your teacher will provide any prescribed reading in the form of class notes.


References

You are advised to look at the course myRMIT (Course Blackboard) site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

 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 of the library resources.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment tasks will require you to demonstrate proficiency in a range of writing styles.
Assessment tasks in this course include the development and refinement of a range of writing pieces which address the current standards used in the workplace. All assessment should meet a professional level of completion.

 


Assessment Tasks

Assessment tasks will be assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment. To demonstrate competency in this course you need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard.

  • Assessment 1:  Critique of a workplace document. Due: Ongoing - week beginning March 11 to week beginning April 15
  • Assessment 2:  Writing project incorporating five stages of development. Due: Week beginning April 8
  • Assessment 3: Folio of a range of four workplace documents. Choice of documents to be negotiated with your teacher. Due: Week beginning  June 3

 

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment.

  • CA Competency Achieved
  • NYCNot 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 are available from the course contact person (stated above).

Other Information

 Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.

Plagiarism - RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity

Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.

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 by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online

Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)

Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees
.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview