Course Title: Articulate, present and debate ideas

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: COMM5915C

Course Title: Articulate, present and debate ideas

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting

Course Contact : Program 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: John Reeves
Tel: 9925 4895
Email: john.reeves@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

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

Pre-requisites – None

At RMIT Articulate, present and debate ideas (COMM5915C) is delivered and assessed along with Work as an independent screenwriter (COMM5919)

Course Description

This course delivers the skills and knowledge required to articulate, present and debate ideas. It’s is delievered in conjunction with Develop and Apply Creative Arts Industry Knowledge.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	BSBCRT401A Articulate, present and debate ideas
Element:	1. Analyse ideas for communication to others.
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Distil key themes, messages and positions to aid in clarity of thought and presentation 1.2 Reflect on different ways of communication ideas for different purposes and to different people 1.3 Identify the enabling skills and attributes f individuals who can effectively participate in discussions about ideas.
Element:	2. Provoke response and reaction.
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Explore and use different techniques to engage, fascinate and involve others in the process of communication and exchange. 2.2 Explore the way that storytelling can be used to deliver ideas. 2.3 Create innovative approaches to different communication challenges 2.4 Be prepared to take risks in the way ideas are presented 2.5 Identify specific ways to provoke and encourage specific response in particular individuals or groups.
Element:	3. Debate and discuss ideas.
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Present and argue substantiated positions on ideas 3.2 Be open to critical analysis of own ideas and to the ideas of others, 3.3 Identify and participate in conversations that challenge and explore different concepts and approaches and generate new ideas. 3.4 Respond to questions about ideas with confidence and relevant information. 3.5 Reflect on and appraise the views of others and use to refine ideas and to embrace new ideas.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to articulate your ideas and present a point of view in a persuasive manner

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
• analysis/critique of students’ writings

2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study

In the course Working in the Industry B, you will be working independently on building your own career plan. This will involve a great deal of background work: interviewing people working in different areas of the industry, looking at the industry in Australia and internationally, analysing trends, reading current literature and researching different career paths. You will be expected to spend a minimum of 2 hours a week working on this project and to bring your findings regularly to class to discuss with your teacher and your peers.

Teaching Schedule

Week	Content	Assessment due	Competency and Elements
1	Overview of course and discussion of course content Planning a career in the Screenwriting industry Rejection - 3 methods for coping		VPAU304 - Develop career plan. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others.
2	The Entrepreneur is You Guest: TBC The Pool – the website, the publication, the party - preliminary planning in breakout groups Discussion of Assessment #1: Your Pool entry		VPAU304 - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
3	Pitching yourself and your work via social media Guest: TBC Discussion Speed Pitching – breakout groups Feedback Your chance to pitch Review/fine tuning: Assessment #1: Your Pool Page MIFF film reviews: groups formed		VPAU304 - Manage time and resources. - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
4	The Pool - further planning in breakout groups Introduction to Assessment #2: Your Career Plan The Back-up Plan: an exercise Career Track and personal slate	Assessment #1 due: Your Pool Page	VPAU304 - Develop career plan. - Manage time and resources. - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
5	In the field: The Back-up Plan Students working on alternatives to their chosen pathways		VPAU304 - Develop career plan. - Manage time and resources. - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Debate and discuss ideas.
6	Part Of The Union: Contracts and industrial clout, with the Australian Writers’ Guild Guests: TBC The Back-up Plan: reports (part Assessment #3)		VPAU304 - Prepare funding applications. - Manage time and resources. - Meet legal obligations necessary to business. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
7	Making Hay (part #1): The financial side of a career as an independent screenwriter/filmmaker (including career planning and securing development funding) Guest: TBC MIFF Film reviews (part Assessment #3)		VPAU304 - Develop networks.
8	Tell Me About It: Open Slate (part Assessment #3) Pitching practice MIFF Film reviews (part Assessment #3)		VPAU304 - Prepare funding applications. - Manage time and resources. - Develop networks.
9	Advice from the Front: recent alumni Guests: TBC The Pool: making it happen		BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
10	Choosing your electives next year/insight from industry professionals: Finding the Work: agents and managers Guests: TBC		BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others.
11	Making Hay (part #2): The financial side of a career as an independent screenwriter/filmmaker (including career planning and securing development funding) Guests: TBC Final Review: Assessment #2: Your Career Plan		VPAU304 - Develop career plan. - Prepare funding applications. - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
12	Discussion of Assessment #4: Your Pitch Group practice Random Pitches: an exercise	Assessment #2 due: Your Career Plan	VPAU304 - Develop career plan. - Develop networks.
13	Performing Your Pitch: fine tuning Guest: TBC The Pool: final planning		VPAU304 - Develop career plan. - Develop networks.
14	Assessment #4: Pitching To the Professionals (Day #1)	Assessment #4 due: Your Pitch	VPAU304 - Prepare funding applications. - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.
15	Assessment #4: Pitching To the Professionals (Day #2)	Assessment #4 due: Your Pitch	VPAU304 - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others.
16	Pitching - the wrap-up Final Review		VPAU304 - Prepare funding applications. - Develop networks. BSBCRT401A - Analyse ideas for communication to others. - Provoke response and reaction. - Debate and discuss ideas.

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Any prescribed reading material will be distributed in class

Any prescribed reading material will be distributed in class

References

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.

Other Resources

You will require access to a computer and to the internet

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is on going 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.

Assessment 1. Your Pool Page
Due date: Week 4 (July 27)
Percentage Weighting: 20%
Design your own entry for The Pool website, including photo, contact details, project slate and other information as decided, and submit it both as hard copy and in an electronic format.

Assessment 2. Career Plan
Due date: <style type="text/css"> Week 14: Friday October 15</style>Week 12 (Sept 21)
Percentage Weighting: 30%
Write a strategic plan of 1500 – 2000 words identifying your major goals, and steps for achieving them over a 3-8 year period. Include:
• Long term goals
• Shorter term objectives
• Analysis of the current industrial and professional environment and relevant opportunities and threats in the local and international screen industries
• Analysis of personal strengths and weaknesses, personality type and values
• Target organisations or projects for funding, production or employment
• Include strategies for non-core employment to complete the career jigsaw
• Identify training or resources required to pursue career goals and particular objectives e.g. business and financial plan, training, professional development, networks, teams and collaboration, work environment
• Strategies for managing your professional life, including developing projects, maintaining focus and dealing with setbacks and rejection
• Overall Timeline

Assessment 3. Open Slate
Due date: As scheduled with teacher throughout the semester
Percentage Weighting: 20%
Your overall contribution to the debate (including film review, participation in preparation and presentation of Open Slate, class exercise involvement)

Assessment 4. Your Pitch
Due date: As scheduled with teacher in Weeks 14 & 15 (Oct 19/26)
Percentage Weighting: 30%

After research, drafting and workshopping, present a 3-5 minute pitch for a particular project to industry personnel as if you were seeking to gain their involvement in the project. You will have 3-5 minutes to further discuss the project and field questions.

Your assessments will be graded. Grades used in this unit are as follows:

80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. This is available through the course contact in Program Administration

Other Information

Submission of Assessment Tasks
You are required to submit all written 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 program blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.

Feedback
You will receive both oral 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 in a manner 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

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Course Title: Articulate, present and debate ideas

Part B: Course Detail

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