Course Title: Develop writing and editing skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
Course Code: COMM5397
Course Title: Develop writing and editing skills
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in 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: Ms Liz Steele
Phone: 9925 4951
Email: <font color="#0066cc">elizabeth.steele@rmit.edu.au</font>
Teacher: Mr Ian See
Email: ian.see@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 develops your writing and editing skills in a professional context. It introduces you to the publishing process and emphasises the roles, responsibilities and relationships of authors and editors. The course contains a detailed study of English spelling, vocabulary, grammar and syntax, and of paragraphs. You also analyse and assess writing from a range of styles and for different audiences.
The course also focuses on punctuation and style issues, as well as copyediting and proofreading. You learn editing and proofreading mark-up and technique, and handle proofs with numerous design features.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP551 Develop writing and editing skills |
Element: |
1. Ensure the clarity of language |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The principles of clear language are applied to writings |
Element: |
2. Apply the appropriate voice and tone |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 The type of authorial voice/s appropriate to the publication are determined and applied to writings |
Element: |
3. Apply the accepted conventions of grammar and usage to a range of written contexts |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 The conventions of grammar and syntax in written English are analysed |
Element: |
4. Use correct spelling and punctuation |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Australian spelling and punctuation conventions are demonstrated in writings |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
• understand the book publishing process and the role of the editor
• apply the fundamentals of English grammar, spelling and vocabulary to a range of written contexts
• use reference tools with confidence, including style manuals and dictionaries
• critique short pieces of fiction and non-fiction according to principles of genre, audience, style and clarity
• communicate effectively in editorial report writing and in author–editor relationships
• apply punctuation correctly and for effect
• use the publishing industry’s technical language and its copyediting and proofreading marks
• edit short pieces of fiction and non-fiction according to principles of genre, audience, style and clarity
• edit and communicate research through delivery of a class talk.
Details of Learning Activities
Classes are a mixture of lectures, discussion, practical exercises and group work.
You learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• lectures
• industry speakers
• teacher-directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• individual and collaborative projects
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• analysis/critique of students’ work
2. Out-of-class activities
• practical exercises
• reading articles and excerpts
• preparing for discussion
• editorial report writing
• project work
• independent research
• revision for tests.
The Editing 1 website on Blackboard provides information, resources, activities and web links to support your studies. You are expected to manage your learning and undertake an appropriate amount of out-of-class independent study and research.
Teaching Schedule
| Semester 1 | |||
| Week starting | Class content | Assessment due dates | Elements |
| Week 1 |
Outline course and requirements Class talk: Introduction Role of the editor |
1, 3 | |
| Week 2 |
Class talk: Organise time slots Language: Spelling and tautologies The book production process |
2, 4 | |
| Week 3 |
Class talk: Research and presentation tips Language: Word confusions Readership/markets |
Class presentation plan due (21 and 22 February) | 1, 2 |
| Week 4 |
Grammar: Introduction and nouns Text analysis (non-fiction) |
2, 3 | |
| Week 5 |
Grammar: Possession Text analysis (fiction) |
2, 3 | |
| Week 6 |
Grammar: Test revision Effective communication |
1, 2 | |
| Week 7 |
Test Editorial report writing |
Editing and grammar test (20 and 21 March) | 1, 2, 3 |
| Week 8 |
Grammar: Sentence grammar—subjects, objects and complements Editorial report writing |
2, 3 | |
| Week 9 |
Grammar: Finite verbs Paragraphs |
1, 3 | |
| Week 10 |
Grammar: Non-finite verbs Paragraphs |
1, 3 | |
| Week 11 |
Grammar: Pronouns | 1, 3 | |
| Week 12 |
Grammar: Agreement, adjectives, adverbs, determiners | Editorial report due (1 and 2 May) | 3 |
| Week 13 |
Grammar: Prepositions and conjunctions | 1, 3 | |
| Week 14 |
Grammar: Clauses and phrases | 1, 3 | |
| Week 15 23 May |
Grammar: Misplaced, dangling and squinting modifiers Grammar revision and practice test |
1, 3 | |
| Week 16 |
Test Introduction to Major Editing Project |
Paragraphing and grammar test (29 and 30 May) | 1, 3 |
| Week 17 | Assessment Week - no classes | ||
| Semester break | 4 June to 29 June | ||
| Semester 2 | |||
| Week 1 |
Style: Introduction to house style and capitals |
1, 2, 4 | |
| Week 2 |
Style: Capitals, italics and titles | 3, 4 | |
| Week 3 |
Punctuation: Commas, semi-colons and colons |
1, 4 | |
| Week 4 |
Punctuation: Hyphens, ens and ems | Writing for Major Project due (24 and 25 July) | 3, 4 |
| Week 5 |
Punctuation: Quotation marks—fiction and non-fiction conventions | 3, 4 | |
| Week 6 |
Punctuation: Lists, shortened forms and remaining punctuation issues Test Revision: Punctuation |
4 | |
| Week 7 |
Test Editing symbols and mark-up technique for text and structure |
Punctuation test (14 and 15 August) | 1, 3, 4 |
| Week 8 |
Editing fiction Major Project: Project requirements |
||
| Week 9 |
Editing non-fiction Major Project: Author queries |
1, 2 | |
| Week 10 |
Style: Numbers Major Project: Style sheets |
3 | |
| Week 11 |
Major Project: Revision and in-class editing | 1 | |
| Week 12 |
Major Project: First author–editor meetings Proofreading: Proofreading symbols and mark-up technique |
1 | |
| Week 13 |
Proofreading: Proofreading technique Major Project: Second author–editor meetings |
1 | |
| Week 14 |
Proofreading: Typography and page proofing terminology Major Project: Author–editor sign-off |
Major project due (16 and 17 October) | 3, 4 |
| Week 15 |
Proofreading: Illustrations and figures Test Revision: Proofreading |
3 | |
| Week 16 |
Proofreading test | Proofreading test (30 and 31 October) | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Week 17 | Assessment Week - no classes |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Editing 1 Grammar Handbook 2011 (available from the RMIT Bookshop) |
References
You are advised to look at the course blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment includes a written report, an editing project, in-class tests and an oral presentation.
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.
1. Class presentation (15%)
A 10-minute presentation on an aspect of editing, publishing, writing or the English language. Your presentation relates to a publishing context, and to you and your classmates as people who will be working as editors or writers being edited.
Class presentation plan due Semester 1, Week 3 (21 and 22 February)
Presentation due in either Semester 1 or 2, on a date negotiated with your teacher.
2. Editing and grammar test (7.5%)
A closed-book test on spelling, tautologies, word confusions, plurals and the apostrophe.
Due date
Semester 1, Week 7 (20 and 21 March)
3. Editorial report (15%)
A 1000-word editorial report on an unpublished manuscript.
Due date
Semester 1, Week 12 (1 and 2 May)
4. Grammar and paragraphing test (20%)
A test on all grammar and paragraphing work covered in Semester 1.
Due date
Semester 1, Week 16 (29 and 30 May)
5. Punctuation test (12.5%)
An open-book test where you add punctuation to an unpunctuated paragraph and correct punctuation problems in a series of sentences, checking parallel structure and compound words as appropriate. You work with the style provided.
Due date
Semester 2, Week 7 (14 and 15 August)
6. Major editing project (20%)
You edit another student’s piece of writing submitted for a simulated anthology. To participate in the project, you submit a 1000–1200 word piece of writing according to a brief. As the editor, you complete an electronic clean up of your author’s piece and then do a hard-copy edit. You edit the piece according to the brief, the demands of the piece and market needs. A one-page reflection on the project as both editor and author details your experience and learning.
Due date
Writing – Semester 2, Week 4 (24 and 25 July)
Editing Project – Semester 2, Week 14, 16 and 17 Oct)
7. Proofreading test (10%)
An open-book test, where you proofread page proofs according to the brief and style provided. You are marked on your proofreading mark-up as well as your ability to find and correct errors.
Due date
Week 16 (30 and 31 October)
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
For further information on the grading system and 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 Assessment Tasks
You are required to 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.
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 course blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.
Feedback
You will receive both spoken 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 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
Special Consideration Policy
Please refer to the following URL for information on applying for special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1
Course Overview: Access Course Overview