Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2007

Course Code: COMM5405

Course Title: Produce Writings - Writing for Children

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Program Administration Brendan Lee

Course Contact Phone: Brendan Lee 9925 4368

Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Sally Rippin
9925 4815

Clare Renner
clare.renner@rmit.edu.au

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

None

Course Description

Produce Writings –Writing for Children supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required to write and market material for young children.
You are introduced to the works of various children’s writers and examine the techniques used in writing picture storybooks, junior novels and other forms of fiction and non-fiction materials for children.

Produce Writings – Writing for Children 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

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBP552 Produce Writings - Writing for Children

Learning Outcomes

  On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a concept into a variety of written works for children.

Details of Learning Activities

1.    Lectures
2.    Presentations
3.    Guest speakers
4.    Workshopping, self-criticism of written work, providing oral critiques of others’ work

Teaching Schedule

1	Introduction to the subject and explanation of the semester’s work. Looking at the market. Who’s publishing what? Initial writing exercises.
2	Writing for children/writing for adults – is there a difference And where does it lie?
3.	Begin at the beginning – ideas and inspiration Discussion of drafting and workshopping process.
4.	.Introduction to picture books – discussion of format. Stages and development of 3-5 year old children in relation to the content of pre-school picture books
5	Stages and development of early school aged children. Comparison between pre-school and primary picture books.
6	Beginnings, Middles and Ends.
7	Creating characters in 400 words
8	Picture book settings. “Where’ is important.
9	Making a dummy.
10	Relationship between text and illustration Picture books for older readers – a growing market
11	Picture books for older readers – a growing market
12	Drafting process – What to look out for
13	Rhyming picture books – why children love them and publishers don’t
14	Non-fiction and picture books
15	Whole class workshopping
16	Rhyme, rhythm and song – poetry for younger children Play writing – is there a market?
17	Guest Speaker Review of the semester and discussion of work covered in semester 2
18	Review of semesterJ
19	unior fiction - What’s involved? Bridging novels, early chapter books, picture books for older readers, longer novels Beginning your novel
20	Characters who help you plot. Characters for different age groups. Real and composite characters
21	Who is telling your story? Looking at the pros and cons of different points of view
22	Look who’s talking - Writing convincing dialogue
23	Beginnings, middles and ends - ideas on structure
24	Non-Fiction for middle/upper primary
25	Fairy tales, the hero’s journey and Harry Potter - Are we re-telling the same stories? Looking at fantasy as a genre.
26	The education market
27	Issue Books – Is there a place for them?
28	Short stories for children
29	Whole class workshopping
30	Using our own our own and other people’s experience
31	Poetry – Is there a market?
32	Writing Reviews What purpose do they serve? What‘s involved in writing them. How to get your review published
33	Writing as a business. Submitting your manuscript Which publisher? How to write a covering letter Contracts Agents The role of the editor
34	Whole class workshopping Individual consultations to help with last minute problems.
35	Series fiction – fast, fun and financially rewarding (sometimes!)
36	Reviewing the year

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

 Teachers will provide handouts in class

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

 Picture Book Texts
Students are required to write two texts suitable for picture books for younger readers. They are also required to make a dummy for each picture book to demonstrate an understanding of the format. Illustrations are not required.
The two texts are to be submitted at the end of Semester 1. (35%)

Reading List
Students should read and record the details of at least 15 picture books in Semester 1. The reading list to be submitted at the end of the year should include:    
- A brief description of the book including your response (100 words is plenty)
- Publishing details. (5%)

Novel
Students are to write a short novel of around 4000 words suitable for younger readers. This is to be submitted at the end of Semester 2. (30%)

Non-fiction article
Students are to write an article suitable for Comet or Explore magazines. You will be given a list of the 2007/8 themes for these magazines and you must follow the guidelines put out by the publishers on their website regarding word count, content etc. This will be due towards the end of Semester 2. (10%)

Book Review
Oral review of a children’s novel to be given a date chosen by the student in Semester 2. (5%)

Class Paper
Students are required to give a 15 minute class paper on a subject of their choice. The subject should be related to Children’s Literature and students are asked to let the lecturer know the topic they have chosen at least a week before the presentation is due. Students are required to hand in the written notes from their talk with all sources acknowledged. Students will give their papers throughout the year on a date to be chosen early in Semester 1 (10%)

Assessment Matrix

 Not applicable

Course Overview: Access Course Overview