Course Title: Refine writing skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2014
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
Teacher:
- Ms Viv Weir
- viv.weir@rmit.edu.au
- 9925-8012
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. |
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 |
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 |
Element: |
4. Plan the writing |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Writing tasks are planned to reflect the concept, constraints and available resources of the project |
Element: |
5. Complete writing |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Writing is completed using techniques and media selected from research and experimentation |
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 - Tuesday |
Content Class – Thursday |
Asessment Due |
Elements VU20277 |
| 1 | COMMUNICATION PROCESS Communication model - Variables in communication model - Barriers to effective communication |
COMMUNICATION PROCESS Communication model - Forms of communication - Non verbal communication |
1.1 | |
| 2 | ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION Theory and purpose - Writing for the ear or eye - Choosing a medium - Targetting readership Introduction to Summative Assessment 1 |
ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION Theory and purpose - Why write better? - Defining purpose - Barriers - Branding - Style sheets - Workplace dynamics |
Formative task 1 | 1,2,3 |
| 3 | THE WRITING PROCESS - Your strengths - Planning - Drafting - Audience - Six-stage writing process - Readability statistics |
THE WRITING PROCESS - Evaluating - Feedback - Redrafting - Editing - Revision - Proofreading |
Formative task 2 | 2,3,4 |
| 4 | WRITING WITH IMPACT - Rules for clear writing - Grammar basics - Using plain language Introduction to Summative Assessment 2 - Writing Process |
WRITING WITH IMPACT - Pitfalls: tautology, word choices - Passive/active voice - Punctuation |
Assessment 1: Critique Due weeks 4-9 |
3,4,5 |
| 5 | PRESENTING INFORMATION - Page layout - Font - White space - Headings, numbers, bullets - Tables, charts, diagrams |
BUSINESS WRITING: SATISFYING/NEUTRAL MESSAGES - Purpose - Strategy - Tone |
3,4,5 | |
| 6 | BUSINESS WRITING: DIFFICULT MESSAGES - Purpose - Strategy - Tone Introduction to Summative Assessment 3 - Portfolio Documents (Ongoing) |
BUSINESS WRITING: PERSUASIVE MESSAGES - Purpose - Strategy - Tone |
3,4,5 | |
| 7 | BUSINESS WRITING: PERSUASIVE WRITING - Types of persuasive writing - Key parts of an argument - Developing an argument |
BUSINESS WRITING: PERSUASIVE WRITING
- Different types of reasoning |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 8 | BUSINESS WRITING: MEMOS - Purpose - Structure - Tone |
BUSINESS WRITING: EMAILS - Purpose - Structure - Language - Tone |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 9 | BUSINESS WRITING: PRESENTATIONS/ |
BUSINESS WRITING: PRESENTATIONS /SPEECHES - Logos - Ethos - Pathos |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 10 | WORKSHOPPING: - Speeches - Presentations |
WORKSHOPPING: - Speeches - Presentations |
Assessment 2: Five-step Writing Process Due | 2,3,4,5 |
| Easter Break | April 18 – April 25 (inclusive) | |||
| 11 | BUSINESS WRITING: PERSUASIVE WRITING - Resumes - Persuasive writing in practice |
BUSINESS WRITING: SUMMARIES - Agenda - Minutes |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 12 | BUSINESS WRITING: SUMMARIES - Precis |
BUSINESS WRITING: WEB PAGES - Language - Structure |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 13 | BUSINESS WRITING: REPORTS - Purpose - Audience - Structure |
BUSINESS WRITING: REPORTS |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 14 | BUSINESS WRITING: - Policy writing - Proposals |
BUSINESS WRITING: |
2,3,4,5 | |
| 15 | Review and revision | Review and revision | Assessment 3: Writing Portfolio Due |
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 in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks are graded as Competent or Not Yet Competent.
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. You must submit all pieces of assessment in order for your competency to be assessed in this course.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Formative task 1 - Week 2
Formative task 2 - Week 3
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Assessment 1: Critique of a workplace document. Due: Ongoing - Week beginning March 3 to week beginning April 7.
Assessment 2: Writing project incorporating five stages of development. Due: Week beginning April 14.
Assessment 3: Folio of a range of four workplace documents. Choice of documents to be negotiated with your teacher. Due: Week beginning May 26.
Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment.
- CA Competency Achieved
- NYC Not Yet Competent
- DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
For further information on the assessment and grading criteria, 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 from the course contact person (stated above).
Other Information
Attendance
The major learning experience involvesclass-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. These are available on Blackboard or at Reception.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. For more information on this policy go to RMIT’s Academic Integrity web pages.
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
Program Assessment Board
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 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 (SSCC)
.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview