Course Title: Produce Writings - Non-Fiction
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2011
Course Code: COMM5436
Course Title: Produce Writings - Non-Fiction
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: Kate Holden
Email: kate.holden@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
The competency Produce Writings –Non-fiction VBP552 is delivered and assessed in conjunction with 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
This course aims to give you the skills and confidence to embark upon a career as a freelance print journalist, and to prepare for a career as a non-fiction writer. It will help you to cultivate a professional approach and a critical awareness of appropriate language, style, and word length for a range of publications and audiences by:
- analysing a range of journalistic and other non-fiction material from various publications
- writing and workshopping in class
- researching and writing ‘publishable’ articles/chapters for assessment
- discussing contemporary issues in the media and publishing
- emphasising the importance of grammatical, well-constructed sentences and paragraphs
- developing competence and confidence in planning, drafting, re-drafting, editing and pitching articles and non-fiction work
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP552 Produce Writings - Non-Fiction |
Element: |
1. Analyse the purpose of the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The purpose of the work is confirmed with relevant parties |
Element: |
2. Investigate the scope of the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 The level and scope of the writing task is analysed to determine the length and style of the work |
Element: |
3. Plan the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 The writing task is planned to reflect the media, scope, structure and content of the work |
Element: |
4. Create the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Components of the information required and the form in which the writing will be developed, constructed and presented is resolved |
Element: |
5. Realise the writing task |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 The writing task is appropriate for the media, the context of the brief and the style of the subject matter |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to plan, draft, edit and pitch a variety of non-fiction for a range of publications.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through -
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 Beginning | Class content | Assignments due | Competency & Elements |
| Week 1 7 Feb |
Intro to the course Discussion of method, workshopping, privacy. Header and precede Header and precede exercise |
|
VBP552 - 2 CUVCOR03A - 1 CUSRAD01A - 1 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
| Week 2 14 Feb |
Observation pieces, scenes, people Writing observation, workshop in teams |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A - 1 CUVCOR11A -1 |
|
| Week 3 21 Feb |
Columns, personal and expert Column exercise |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A - 1/2 |
|
| Week 4 28 Feb |
Guest teacher, Alice Williams (columns and other freelancing) | CUVCOR11A -1 |
|
| Week 5 7 Mar |
Dealing with editors, business side of things etc Style exercise, noun+verb, writing from imagery |
VBP552 - 1 / 3 |
|
| Week 6 14 Mar |
Art of writing, style, choosing tone for piece Workshop column assignment |
VBP552 - 4 CUVCOR03A - 2/3 CUVCOR11A - 2 |
|
| Week 7 21 Mar |
Interviewing Guest speaker Rachelle Unreich Intv class-mate exercise |
Column due | VBP552 - 1/2 CUSRAD01A - 1/2/3 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
| Week 8 28 Mar |
IWriting profiles Vox pop exercise |
VBP552 - 2 -4 CUSRAD01A - 1 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
|
| Week 9 4 Apr |
Research techniques Guest speaker James Norman Workshop interviews |
CUSRAD01A – 1-4 | |
| Week 10 11 Apr |
Reviews Book review exercise |
Profile due | VBP552 - 1/2 |
| Week 11 18 Apr |
Reviews Film/theatre/music review exercise |
VBP552 - 3/4 CUVCOR03A - 2 |
|
| Mid Semester Break: 21/04/11 – 27/04/11 | |||
| Week 12 2 May |
‘How to’ writing, talk about presentations Out to observe a scene, or happening, write it up, workshop quickly. |
VBP552 - 1 CUVCOR03A - 2/3 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
|
| Week 13 9 May |
Odd jobs: writing real estate, community notices, etc. Suburban newspapers. Character exercise, speculative |
Review due | VBP552 - 1 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
| Week 14 16 May |
Presentations | Presentations | CUVCOR11A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A – 1-4 |
| Week 15 23 May |
Presentations | Presentations | CUVCOR11A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A – 1-4 |
| Week 16 30 May |
Industry Speaker | CUVCOR11A - 1 | |
| Week 17 6 June |
Assessment Week - no class |
||
| Semester 2 | |||
| Week 1 4 July |
Memoir Biographical dict exercise |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 1 CUSRAD01A - 1 /2 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
|
| Week 2 11 July |
Memoir Memoir piece exercise |
VBP552 - 3-5 CUVCOR11A - 2 |
|
| Week 3 18 July |
Biography Obituaries |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 1 CUSRAD01A - 1 /2 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
|
| Week 4 25 July |
Biography Family history/biography |
Memoir due | VBP552 - 3-5 CUVCOR11A - 2 |
| Week 5 1 Aug |
Magazine/mainstream article Quick pitch, develop outline, assess what research |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A - 1 /2 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
|
| Week 6 8 Aug |
Mainstream writing Team exercise on devising magazine liftout |
VBP552 - 3-5 CUVCOR03A - 3 CUVCOR11A - 1 /2 |
|
| Week 7 15 Aug |
Travel writing Guidebook exercise |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 1 /2 CUSRAD01A - 1 /2 CUVCOR11A - 1 |
|
| Week 8 22 Aug |
Travel writing Lyric/personal piece exercise |
VBP552 - 1/2 CUVCOR03A - 3 CUSRAD01A - 3/4 CUVCOR11A - 2 |
|
| Week 9 29 Aug |
Opinion pieces Opinion exercise |
Travel Piece due | VBP552 – 1 |
| Week 10 5 Sep |
‘Researching and writing a long feature article Library/internet research exercise: make a plan, decide focus, pitch to ‘editor’. |
VBP552 – 1-3 CUSRAD01A - 1-4 |
|
| Week 11 12 Sep |
Essays and literary nonfiction Workshop opinion piece |
VBP552 – Realise the writing task CUVCOR01A – Communicate concept |
|
| Week 12 19 Sep |
True crime: visit to Law Courts | CUSRAD01A - 1/2 | |
| Week 13 10 Oct |
Industry speaker Workshop Law courts exercise |
Opinion piece due | CUSRAD01A - 3/4 |
| Week 14 17 Oct |
Presentations | Presentations | CUVCOR11A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A – 1-4 |
| Week 15 24 Oct |
Presentations | Presentations |
CUVCOR11A - 1/2 CUSRAD01A – 1-4 |
| Week 16 31 Oct |
Summing up; business of being a freelancer, farewell | CUVCOR11A - 1/2 | |
| Week 17 | Assessment Week - no class |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
You are expected to read widely from newspapers, a broad range of magazines/journals (including online) and non-fiction books. Such readings will be supplemented by hand outs distributed in class. |
References
You are advised to look at the course blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
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 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.
Detailed briefs for each assignment will be provided to you in class and on blackboard, including industry-specific criteria such as: clarity and appropriateness of angle, clear audience targeting, etc. Your participation in the drafting and class workshopping process will be considered in assessment of assignments.
Assessment 1: 1 x 700 word column, either personal or ‘expert’ (10 %) Due 23/3/11
Assessment 2: 1 x 1200 word profile ( 15%) Due 13/4/2011
Assessment 3: 1 x 600 word review ( 10%) Due 11/5/2011
Assessment 4: Class presentation Sem 1. Topic to be negotiated ( 15%) Due 18 & 25/5/2011
Assessment 5: 1 x 1500 word memoir ( 10%) Due 27/7/2011
Assessment 6: 1 x 1200 word travel piece, either personal or guide style ( 10%) Due 31/8/2011
Assessment 7: 1 x 1200 word opinion piece ( 15%) Due 12/10/2011
Assessment 8: Class presentation Sem 2. Topic to be negotiated ( 15%) Due19 & 26/10/2011
Assessment tasks in this unit are graded.
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.
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 for grading, 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 verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
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 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;
Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview