Course Title: Write complex documents
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2013
Course Code: OFFC5208C
Course Title: Write complex documents
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4223 - Certificate IV in Business Administration
Course Contact : Sylvia Baroutis
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5469
Course Contact Email:sylvia.baroutis@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
TBA
Nominal Hours: 50
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 covers the skills and knowledge required to plan documents, draft text and prepare final text and produce documents of some complexity.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBWRT401A Write complex documents |
Element: |
3. Prepare final text |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1. Review draft text to ensure document objectives are achieved and requirements are met |
Element: |
1. Plan documents |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1. Determine the purposes of documents |
Element: |
2. Draft text |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1. Review and organise available data, information and knowledge according to proposed structure and content |
Element: |
4. Produce document |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1. Choose basic design elements for documents appropriate to audience and purpose |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Learning activities will include class-based exercises, demonstration and observation in order to develop competency, including the underpinning skills and knowledge required for this unit. Students will have access to the Virtual Enterprise (simulated business office environment) to put into practice the advanced word processing skills in context with available resources.
Teaching Schedule
| WEEK | WEEK COMMENCING | TOPIC | ASSESSMENTS |
| 1 | 8 July | Course induction |
Assessment Task 1: Portfolio. All practice exercises/tasks to be completed to CA grade to be deemed competent. Task 1 includes draft report.
Flexible delivery students to submit weekly work to online dropbox/discussion board participation required. |
| 2 | 15 July | Business Writing - Chapter 15 The three-step writing process The seven components of writing style |
Portfolio items due: Practice Exercise 1. a,b,c,d (pg 427). Practice Exercise 4 (p.428). |
| 3 | 22 July |
Business Writing - Chapter 15 Organisation’s signature Evaluate and revise The advantages of writing in plain English |
Practice Exercise 1. a,b,c,d (pg 433) |
| 4 | 29 July |
Writing Business Letters - Chapter 16 Applying the three-step writing process to business letters Formatting a business letter Writing different types of letters |
Practice Exercise 4 (pg 451) |
| 5 | 5 August |
Writing Business Letters - Chapter 16 Applying the three-step writing process to business letters Writing different types of letters |
Practice Exercise 3 (pg 458) |
| 6 | 12 August |
Writing workshop. Includes in class case study. Using the Reflective Records/Workplace style guide. |
Case Study 2, Questions 1 & 2 (pg 478) |
| 7 | 19 August |
Writing emails, memos and short reports - Chapter 17 Continue to use the three-step process of writing |
Practice Exercise 2 a & b (pg 490) |
| 8 | 26 August | Writing emails, memos and short reports - Chapter 17 |
Case Study 2, Questions 1,2,3 (pg 510) |
| Mid semester break 2 - 6 September | |||
| 9 | 9 September |
Writing long reports - Chapter 18 Planning, writing, formatting and completing a long report. Use this chapter to help you develop the best approach to your Sustainability Report submission. |
Review Questions 1, 16,17,18 (pg 544-45) |
| 10 | 16 September | Writing technical documents - Chapter 19 |
Submit draft Reflective Record Virtual Enterprise: Sustainability Report |
| 11 | 23 September |
Writing technical documents - Chapter 19 Review and edit |
Learning Activities - Question 3 (pg 566) |
| 12 | 30 September |
Communicating visually through graphics - Chapter 20 Effective visual communication Types of graphics and how to present them in visual communication |
|
| 13 | 7 October | Work on Sustainable Work Practices Report | |
| 14 | 14 October | Skills Review Elements 1. Plan document 2. Draft text 3. Prepare final text 4. Produce document |
Upload to the Blackboard Dropbox your finished "perfect copy" revised version portfolio and marking guide. |
| 15 | 21 October | Practical Placement | |
| 16 | 28 October | Practical Placement |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Dwyer,J. The Business Communication Handbook, 9th Edition, Pearson. Contact publisher for eBook details also comes with a companion website. |
9781442546738 |
References
Dobson, A. Touch Typing in 10 hours, Oxford UK, 2009 |
9781845283407 |
Duffy, J. Illustrated Series, Microsoft Word 2010 Brief, Cengage Learning, 2011 |
9780538748223 |
Zimmermann, Zimmermann, Pinard & Shaffer, New Perspectives on Microsoft Word 2012: Comprehensive, 1st Edition, Cengage learning, 2011 |
0780538748926 |
Other Resources
myRMIT Studies
RMIT Study & Learning Centre https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/
Reflective Records Virtual Enterprise Style Manual
Overview of Assessment
Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical assessments, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.
Assessment Tasks
1. Portfolio includes tasks for weeks 2-14. All portfolio items shall be attempted and a CA grade for each to be recorded in order to achieve a CA grade for this course. You will complete a portfolio of documents as evidence of your progressive learning and by submitting them to your class teacher each week, so you can gain progressive feedback on your work. Note the research required for the Sustainability Report due in Week 10 is cumulative and weekly work is required to progress this draft report. The draft report is reviewed and marked by the teacher and then resubmitted by the student with revisions in week 14.
All tasks must be submitted in the week indicated to your class teacher for assessment. You will also submit your final collated portfolio documents in Week 14 to the dropbox. All tasks to be presented in fully blocked open punctuation format, Arial Narrow 11 pt font with the name of each task and the week due in the header of all documents. Your name and student number should be placed in the footer.
All documents should be proofread for any spelling, grammatical and formatting errors prior to any submission. IMPORTANT: You must back-up your work regularly and use your student Google drive. The student is responsible for their own documents at all times. Shared student files will not be accepted.
Submission Requirements
NOTE: Assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard and viewed on screen during class time when requested by the teacher.
You should ensure that you:
- Submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration.
- Information on the process and application forms is available at:
- http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse/Staff%2FAdministration%2FPolicies%20and%20procedures%2FAcademic%20and%20research%2FAssessment%2FExtension%20of%20time%20for%20submission%20of%20assessable%20work%20procedure/ (unresolved)
- Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
- When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on myRMIT Studies.
- Each page of your assessment should include a footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and page numbers. For example, Jill Bloggs, 324567, Task 2 OFFC5208C Write complex documents, Page 1 of 10.
Marking Guide (competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ’competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying. You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you pass that unit of competency.
Marking Guide (Grading)
Grading for this unit will use the following criteria:
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
Students must be able to write complex documents by evaluating tasks to improve efficiency and suggesting improvements to the structure and design. They must also be able to demonstrate a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications as well as demonstrating a high level of initiative in an individual approach to planning, drafting, preparing and producing/word processing business documents.
2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
Students should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of all applicable business writing conventions, ergonomic skills when using computers/word processing to produce documents for all the assessment tasks, whilst following safe work practices throughout.
3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
Students are required to demonstrate their problem solving skills in order to analyse document requirements and using online help, manuals and user documentation to produce the business documents. Students should demonstrate an ability to determine appropriate strategies to make decisions about classification and storage of business documents.
4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
Students are expected to organise their own work schedules. Students also must ensure that they evaluate their own performance and identify areas for improvement and that this is demonstrated throughout the semester. They should manage time and ensure ergonomic requirements are met when producing all business documents.
5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
Students should be able to communciate with colleagues and customers to gather information about their needs and provide services, listening to and following complex oral instructions, proofreading and editing, writing clear and detailed instuctions. They should agree on the purpose and structure of documents with colleagues and clients, collecting feedback from colleagues and the assessor. Contributions to relevant class discussions and scheduled Collaborate sessions will be observed where applicable. In addition your tasks should demonstrate a very good understanding of strategies for a collaborative approach to writing business documents in the workplace.
Final Grades
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Assessment Matrix
|
Assessment |
|
Portfolio of documents covering all elements |
Required knowledge
Elements/Performance Criteria (see above for performance criteria) |
Portfolio of documents covering all elements |
Course Overview: Access Course Overview