Course Title: Refine editing skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2018
Course Code: COMM7307
Course Title: Refine editing 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: mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Sandra Duncanson
sandra.duncanson@rmit.edu.au
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
None
Course Description
This course covers the knowledge and skills required to apply advanced editing skills to a range of texts in different media.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VU20278 Refine editing skills |
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Element: |
1. Appraise the suitability of written material for a specific purpose or readership |
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Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Broad characteristics of the readership adn the publication are clarified |
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Element: |
2. Liaise closely with the author and/or client to make all significant substantive editing decisions. |
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Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Appraisal of the text is discussed with author and/or client to establish broad editing approach |
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Element: |
3. Undertake substantive editing of a text |
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Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Text is restructured and reworded where necessary and material added or deleted |
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Element: |
4. Undertake editing of the style of the text |
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Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
5. Edit for completeness and consistency |
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Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Parts of the text are edited for consistency and itnernal integrity |
Learning Outcomes
You will be able to work independently and collaboratively to edit different kinds of text at a professional level and across a range of media.
Details of Learning Activities
This course is delivered as blended learning: a combination of online and face-to-face instruction.
Online content
Each week you will work independently through an online module that will deliver core content through both written and video instruction. Your weekly course work also includes practice exercises and activities that will prepare you for the graded tests and assignments. The course also offers opportunities for online discussion. A PDF companion booklet is supplied with each unit, which is available in the course resources.
Face-to-face classes
There are five four-hour classes that you are required to attend from 9.30am on the following dates: 24 February, 17 March, 21 April, 12 May and 26 May. You are also required to attend the one-hour orientation class on Thursday 8 February from 5.30pm. Some of the tasks required to satisfactorily complete this course will be conducted during classes, so please ensure that you attend all face-to-face sessions.
Consultation sessions will also be held from Week 2. These sessions are optional, and offer students the opportunity to seek help with the online content in person.
Please note: the first Thursday session (8 February, 5.30–6.30pm) is not optional. All students undertaking this unit are required to attend this orientation session.
How is the course structured?
This course is divided into four units: three discrete knowledge-based units that are taught sequentially – English Language Conventions, Structure and Substance, and Copyediting and Proofreading – and a fourth skills-based unit, Editing Process and Practice, that is taught each week throughout the semester.
Teaching Schedule
Week |
Teaching and learning focus |
Assessment due |
Week 1 5–13 February |
English language convention: Editing process and practice: |
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Orientation class Week 1 Thu 8 February 5.30–6.30pm |
Navigating the weekly online, work requirements and course pages | |
Week 2 12–18 February |
English language convention: Editing process and practice: |
Week 2 online test |
Week 3 19–25 February |
English language conventions: Editing process and practice: |
Week 3 online test Due: 25 February (11.59 pm) |
Class 1 Week 3: 24 February 9.30 am–1.30 pm |
English Language Conventions: Editing Process and Practice: |
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Week 4 26 February–4 March |
English language conventions: Editing process and practice: |
Week 4 online test Due: 4 March (11.59 pm) |
Week 5 5–11 March |
English language conventions: Editing process and practice: |
Week 5 online test Due: 11 March (11.59 pm) |
Week 6 12–18 March |
Structure and substance: Editing process and practice: |
Week 6 online test Editing folio: |
Class 2 Week 6: 17 March 9.30 am–1.30 pm |
Manuscript assessment Managing projects and documents Digital markup in word (styles, tracked changes and comments) Initial editing folio author–editor meetings |
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Week 7 19–25 March |
Structure and substance: Editing process and practice: |
Week 7 online test Due: 25 March (11.59 pm) |
Week 8 26–29 March |
Structure and substance Editing process and practice |
Week 8 online test Editing folio: Substantive edit and editorial report upload to canvas (tracked word doc.) |
Mid-semester break 30 March–6 April | ||
Week 9 9–15 April |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing process and practice: |
Week 9 online test Due: 15 April (11.59 pm) |
Week 10 16–22 April |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing process and practice: |
Week 10 online test Editing folio: |
Class 3 Week 10: 21 April 9.30 am–1.30 pm |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing Process and Practice: |
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Week 11 23–29 April |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing process and practice: |
Week 11 online test Due: 29 April (11.59 pm) |
Week 12 30 April–6 May |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing process and practice: |
Editing folio: |
Week 13 7–13 May |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing process and practice: |
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Class 4 Week 13: 12 May 9.30 am–1.30 pm |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing Process and Practice: |
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Week 14 14–20 May |
Copyediting and proofreading: Editing process and practice: |
Editing folio: |
Week 15 21–27 May |
Revision and folio completion | |
Class 5 Week 15: 26 May 9.30 am–1.30 pm |
Proofreading test Where to from here? |
Editing folio: Whole editing folio including report (upload zipped file to Canvas or submit in hard copy in class) Due: 26 May Report: Graded 20% Folio: C/NYC |
Week 16 | Resubmission if required. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Resources are available on the course Canvas site.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:
- participation in written exercises, in class and online
- the application of learned skills and insights to the editing of writing tasks.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all assessment. Once you have demonstrated competency, the assessment tasks indicated below will be graded.
All assessment tasks will have more detailed briefs, which include assessment criteria, which are available on Canvas. Grading rubrics will also be available on Canvas.
Assessment Task 1 Weekly tests
You will be assessed on your knowledge of the online classwork via weekly tests for Weeks 2–11 .
They will test your understanding of the English language conventions required to appraise writing; undertake a substantive edit; and edit a text for style, completeness, and consistency. They will also test your understanding of legal and ethical issues related to editing, planning a publication, editing a project, and working effectively with writers and editing clients. Your teacher will be monitoring your performance in these weekly tests, and may contact you to discuss your progress.
DUE: Every Sunday 11:59 pm Weeks 2–11
Assessment Task 2 Editing folio (partially graded)
You will prepare a range of documents that demonstrate your ability to appraise material’s suitability for publication, your ability to communicate effectively with your author/client, your substantive editing skills, your ability to establish an appropriate and consistent editorial style, and your ability to edit a text for consistency and completeness.
The Editing folio has 5 sections. The components will be developed throughout the semester, following models and instruction delivered in the online classwork and in face-to-face classes. Some components of the folio are assessed for competency, other components are graded once competency is achieved.
More more details see Canvas.
DUE: Various pieces are due 18 March, 29 March, 22 April, 6 May, 20 May and 26 May
Assessment Task 3 Proofreading test (graded)
You will sit a test in class on Saturday 26 May. It will be conducted in two one-hour sittings with a break of at least 30 minutes in between. It will have two parts:
- Part 1: print proofreading (hardcopy document, single page, hardcopy markup)
- Part 2: online proofreading (single page digital PDF intended for online publication)
While your final test marks will contribute your grade, you do need to satisfactorily demonstrate all requirements for competency.
Grading
Grades that apply to this course are:
- CHD Competency with high distinction
- CD Competency with distinction
- CC Competency with credit
- CAG Competency Achieved (Graded)
- NYC Not Yet Competent
- DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. The assessment matrix for this course can be obtained from your teacher.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Assessment Feedback
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
Adjustments to Assessment (eg. applying for an extension of time):
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview