Course Title: Produce Writings - Novel
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COMM5401
Course Title: Produce Writings - Novel
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: Dr Olga Lorenzo
Phone: 9925 4058 (Mon pm only)
Email: olga.lorenzo@rmit.edu.au
Other teacher TBA
Nominal Hours: 105
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
The competency Produce Writings – Novel VBP552 is delivered and assessed alongside the following competencies:
CUVCOR03A: Develop, refine and communicate concept for own work
CUVCOR11A: Source information on history and theory and apply to own work
CUSRAD01A: collect and organise information
Course Description
Produce Writings – Novel supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for developing the first draft of a novel. You originate a concept early in first semester and then refine this concept while learning the basic conventions of novel writing.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP552 Produce Writings - Novel |
Element: |
1. Analyse the purpose of the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
2. Investigate the scope of the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
3. Plan the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
4. Create the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
5. Realise the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will have gained insight into the process of writing a novel. Through research and practical application of theory, you will be able to develop the concept for a novel, create and refine a synopsis and begin the first draft of a manuscript.
Details of Learning Activities
In-class activities:
• lectures
• industry speakers
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements
• workshopping of students’ own projects
• analysis/critique of writings of students’ choice
Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study
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 | Class Content | Assignments Due | Competency & Elements |
Week 1 8 Feb |
Introduction to subject. Explanation of course structure and assessment. Discussion of student and teacher expectations. Writing exercise |
VBP 552 1,2,3; CUSRAD01A 1-4; CUVCOR03A 1 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 2 15 Feb |
Discussion of writing practice Ideas for novels and initiating novels Texts set for the course Writing exercise |
VBP 552 1, 2, 3 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A1,2 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 3 22 Feb |
Novel beginnings Work-shopping of beginnings commences Discussion of conventional and non-conventional beginnings Writing exercise on beginnings |
VBP 552 3,4 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 4 1 Mar |
Pace and novel writing Writing exercises experimenting with pace Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1,2,3,4 CUVCOR03A 1 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 5 8 Mar |
Nexus between ‘show, don’t tell’ dictum and the scene as an element of pace Writing exercises on elements of pace continued work-shopping |
Notes for all 4-minute presentations on set texts DUE today | VBP 552 2,3 CUVCOR03A 1 |
Week 6 15 Mar |
Introduction to point of view as a key element of voice Writing exercises work-shopping |
VBP 552 2,3 CUVCOR03A 1 |
|
Week 7 22 Mar |
Voice and tense Other elements of voice examined Writing exercises experimenting with voice Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-4 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 8 29 Mar |
Rhythm and voice Writing exercises experimenting with rhythm and voice Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 9 5 Apr |
Concept of story focusing on Michael Hauge’s six-stage plot structure Writing exercise Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2 |
|
Week 10 12 Apr |
Analysis of story continued Writing exercise Presentations by students on set texts exploring elements of craft Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 11 19 Apr |
Character arcs—an introduction to Hauge’s theory of identity and essence Writing exercise Presentations by students on set texts discussing elements of craft in novel Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A, 12, 3 |
|
Week 12 3 May |
The synopsis, the blurb and the pitch Class presentations continued Work-shopping Writing exercises |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 2,3 |
|
Week 13 10 May |
Introduction to dialogue conventions Examination of dialogue and character in classic novels Writing exercises to do with dialogue Class presentations Work-shopping |
500-word synopsis and 2000-word excerpt DUE today | VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4; CUVCOR03A CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
Week 14 17 May |
Dialogue, continued. Punctuation and other conventions Writing exercises to do with dialogue Class presentations Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 2,3 |
|
Week 15 24 May |
Writing and re-writing. Revision and proof-reading. Drafts. Writing exercises Class presentations Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1, 2, 3 CUVCOR03A 2,3 |
|
Week 16 31 May |
Characterisation, continued. Other aspects of character Examination of character and techniques for developing character Writing exercises to do with characterisation Class presentations Work-shopping |
BP 552 1-5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 2,3 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 17 7 June |
Assessment | ||
Semester 2 | |||
Week 1 5 July |
Review of Semester 1 and introduction to Semester 2 work | VBP 552 3,4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3; CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 2 12 July |
Place and Atmosphere Discussion of craft Writing exercises Work-shopping |
VBP 552 3,4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 2,3 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 3 19 July |
Setting, landscape and place as metaphor Writing exercises Work-shopping |
VBP 552 3,4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 2,3 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 4 26 July |
Other forms of metaphor as craft Class presentations Writing exercises Work-shopping |
BP 552 3,4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4; CUVCOR03A CUVCOR11A |
|
Week 5 2 Aug |
Review of summary as a tempo of pace and the ‘show, don’t tell dictum’: when you have to tell; the unreliable narrator and subjectivity in the novel Presentations on set text Class presentations Work-shopping Writing exercises |
All 4-minute presentation notes due today | VBP 552 3,4,5 CUVCOR03A 1,2,3 |
Week 6 9 Aug |
The unreliable narrator and subjectivity continued Presentations on set text Class presentations Work-shopping Writing exercises |
VBP 552 3,4,5 CUVCOR03A 2,3 |
|
Week 7 16 Aug |
Post-modernism and the conventions of writing Discussion of craft Class presentations Work-shopping |
VBP 552 3,4, CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 2, 3 CUVCOR11A |
|
Week 8 23 Aug |
Novel beginnings and narrative perspective Presentations on set text Work-shopping Writing exercises |
VBP 552 1,2,3,4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1, 2, 3 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 9 30 Aug |
Review of novel beginnings Presentations on set text Work-shopping |
VBP 552 1,2,3 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 |
|
Week 10 6 Sep |
Character arcs Class presentations Work-shopping |
VBP 552 4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
|
Week 11 13 Sep |
The pitch and the synopsis refined Class presentations Work-shopping Writing exercise |
VBP 552 1,2,3,4,5 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 |
|
Week 12 20 Sep |
Middles of novels Presentations on set text Work-shopping Writing exercise |
VBP 552 3,4,5 CUSRAD01A CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 |
|
Week 13 11 Oct |
Tension and higher stakes Work-shopping |
500-word synopsis and 2000-word excerpt DUE today | VBP 552 3,4 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 CUVCOR11A 1,2 |
Week 14 18 Oct |
The publishing industry Agents Writing exercise |
VBP 552 2 CUSRAD01A; CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 |
|
Week 15 25 Oct |
Writing practice and the writing in the cold Ted Solotaroff piece |
VBP 552 2 CUSRAD01A 1-4 CUVCOR03A 1,2, 3 |
|
Week 16 | Public Holiday | ||
Week 17 | Assessment |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
For Olga Lorenzo |
References
George, E., 2004. Write Away — (ISBN 9780060560423) |
Other Resources
You require access to a computer and to the internet for this course
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing 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 and grades for the Presentation task and the Synopsis/Novel Excerpt task.
Semester 1
1. Workshop 1,500-word novel extract - (10%) Date for workshopping to be assigned by teacher. Photocopies of extract to be workshopped need to be arranged beforehand or brought to class. This work has to be separate from the Synopis and Novel Excerpt to be submitted at the end of the semester.
2. Presentation – (10%) Notes due week beginning March 7. A 4-minute presentation on one of the texts set for Semester 1 on a single aspect of craft or a single writing convention. You hand in presentation notes by the due date and have to be ready to present after this at any time determined by the teacher. Complying with time limit and responding to brief is a vital part of the assessment.
3. Synopsis and Novel Excerpt (30%) Due week beginning May 9. A maximum 500-word synopsis and a 2,000-word excerpt of novel edited to publishable standard. Word count to be included and presentation as per industry requirements:
- Single-sided printing
- 12-pt type
- Numbered pages
- Wide margins
- Synopsis as per industry requirements
Semester 2
4.. Workshop 1,500-word novel extract - (10%) Date for workshopping to be assigned by teacher. Photocopies of extract to be workshopped need to be arranged beforehand or brought to class. This work has to be separate from the Synopis and Novel Excerpt to be submitted at the end of the semester.
5. Presentation – (10%) Notes due week beginning Aug 1. A 4-minute presentation on one of the texts set for Semester 1 on a single aspect of craft or a single writing convention. You hand in presentation notes by the due date and have to be ready to present after this at any time determined by the teacher. Complying with time limit and responding to brief is a vital part of the assessment.
6. Synopsis and Novel Excerpt (30%) Due week beginning October 10. A maximum 500-word synopsis and a 2,000-word excerpt of novel edited to publishable standard. Word count to be included and presentation as per industry requirements:
- Single-sided printing
- 12-pt type
- Numbered pages
- Wide margins
- Synopsis as per industry requirements
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 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
Feedback:
You will receive spoken and/or written feedback from your teacher on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information on late submissions and plagiarism
Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
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 on or by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
Course Overview: Access Course Overview