Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Journalism
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COMM5408
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Journalism
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Professional Writing and Editing Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:Brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
This course is taught by a number of specialist teachers and coordinated by Penny Johnson
Coordinator: Penny Johnson
Email : penny.johnson@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 85
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
At RMIT Refine Writing and Editing – Journalism is delivered and assessed along with the following competencies.
- CUVCOR04A - Originate concept for own work and conduct critical discourse
- CUVCOR13A - Research and critically analyse history and theory to inform artistic practice
- CUECOR01B - Manage own work and learning
- CUSADM03A - Manage a project
- CUVDES05A - Interpret and respond to a brief
- CUSRAD02A - Conduct Research
Through the development of these competencies, you gain the skills needed to manage your work and learning while responding to a range of project briefs. You research the work of other writers and publishers and apply your findings to your own writing through the development of a concept into a written work or a publishing project.
Course Description
This unit covers the knowledge and skills required to research and experiment with writing and editing techniques and media to generate writings. It focuses on a number of distinct writing areas including travel writing, literary non-fiction, feature writing, online writing and writing for radio. It also provides insights and practical skills applicable to the writing life of the freelancer
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Journalism |
Element: |
1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
2. Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
4. Plan the writing |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Element: |
5. Realise writings |
Performance Criteria: |
. |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to write for a range of publications and media.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you learn through-
1. 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
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
Date | Class Content |
Assessment Due |
Competency and Elements |
Wk1 Feb 8 |
Introduction to the course. Explanation of the year’s work and assessment. | VBP553 - 3 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A - 1 CUSADM03A - 1 CUECOR01B - 1 |
|
Wk 2 Feb 15 |
Advanced Feature Articles Come to class with three story ideas and a few possible target mags for these stories – a profile? an essay? a how-to? a humour piece? We’ll work both ideas into pitches, focusing on what makes ideas stronger, better suited to the reader/editor. |
VBP553 - 1/2 CUVDES05A - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 1/2 CUECOR01B - 1 |
|
Wk 3 Feb 22 |
Advanced Feature Articles Researching the successful story idea. Where to start? What to add? What to omit? Which speakers to include? Lining up interviews. Brainstorming and resource pooling. |
VBP553 - 1/2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 2/3 CUSRAD02A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 2/3 CUECOR01B - 2 |
|
Wk 4 Mar 1 |
Advanced Feature Articles Dealing with transcripts, dovetailing data into storytelling, going that extra mile to distinguish your work. |
VBP553 - 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
Wk 5 Mar 8 |
Advanced Feature Articles Creating a master sheet and copy plan. Structure? Sidebars? Best ways to start and end a feature. Engaging the readers, and holding their attention. The main idea and the best angles. |
VBP553 - 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
Wk 6 Mar 15 |
Advanced Feature Articles First draft, with workshops and support reading. How to enliven and improve the copy. Problem areas. Micro and macro changes. Style. |
VBP553 - 5 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
Wk 7 Mar 22 |
Advanced Feature Articles Spit, polish, and voila: your feature, ready for the world. Debrief, plus the prospect (and business) of ongoing writing. |
Assessment 1 Feature assessment due |
VBP553 - 5 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUVCOR04A - 3 |
Wk 8 Mar 29 |
Advanced Feature Articles Return and sharing of work. Celebration of features in general – the best of here and OS – plus market opportunities. |
VBP553 - 5 CUSADM03A - 4 |
|
Wk 9 Apr 5 |
Writing for Radio/Advanced Interviewing - why we listen to radio/podcasts/audio streaming - Different script formats required for different types of programs/interviews - finding good ‘talent’ - workshop ideas for interviews |
CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1-3 CUSRAD02A - 1 CUSADM03A - 1 |
|
Wk 10 Apr 14 |
Writing for Radio/Advanced Interviewing - How to script for radio/podcasts, eg. forward announce, back announce, questions etc. - What are the different roles/jobs in radio (producer, presenter etc.) - Different styles of interviews required for different styles of program - targeting your audience |
VBP553 - 1 CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 |
|
Wk 11 Apr 21 |
Writing for Radio/Advanced Interviewing - structuring interviews - Writing promos, forward and back announces- - examining scripts from actual radio programs. |
VBP553 - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR05A - 3 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
|
Mid Semester Break |
||
Wk 12 May 3 |
Writing for Radio/Advanced Interviewing - writing voice-pieces, complex radio packages |
VBP553 - 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 3 |
|
Wk 13 May 10 |
Writing for Radio/Advanced Interviewing: - Scripting Q/A’s, radio reviews |
VBP553 - 3/4 CUECOR01B - 1 CUSADM03A - 3 |
|
Wk 14 May 17 |
Writing for Radio/Advanced Interviewing Hand in Assignment. Listening back to interviews – feedback session – IN CLASS ASSESSMENT. |
Assessment 2 Writing for Radio assessment due. |
VBP553 - 2 CUSADM03A -2 CUECOR01B - 1 |
Wk 15 May 4 |
Advanced Travel Writing |
CUVCOR04A - 4 CUSRAD02A - 4 VBP553 - 3 CUVCOR13A - 1 CUSADM03A - 1 |
|
Wk 16 May 31 |
Advanced Travel Writing | VBP553 - 4/5 CUVDES05A - 2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 2/3 CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUSRAD02A - 4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUECOR01B - 3 |
|
Wk 17 June 7 |
Advanced Travel Writing | Assessment 3 Travel Writing Assessment due |
VBP553 - 5 CUSADM03A - 4 |
Wk 1 Jul 5 |
Introduction to Immersion Writing Setting up for final assignment |
|
CUVDES05A - 1 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1 CUSRAD02A - 1/2 CUSADM03A - 1 CUECOR01B -1 |
Wk 2 Jul 12 |
Writer and Research |
CUSRAD02A - 1-4 | |
Wk 3 Jul 19 |
Literary journalism Introduction to Literary journalism Writing exercise |
VBP553 - 2 CUVCOR 13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUSRAD02A - 1-3 CUSADM03A - 1/2 CUECOR01B - 1-3 |
|
Wk 4 Jul 26 |
Literary journalism Building on the literary journalistic form: Character and Place |
VBP553 - 2/3 CUVCOR 13A - 2/3 CUVCOR04A - 2/3 CUSADM03A - 3 |
|
Wk 5 Aug 2 |
Literary journalism Telling non-fiction stories Writers as chroniclers/storytellers The personal story: the universal message Workshopping ideas |
VBP553 - 2/4 CUVCOR 13A - 2/3 CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 |
|
Wk 6 Aug 9 |
Literary journalism Ethical and legal issues Brainstorming Professional approach Workshop story ideas |
VBP553 - 4/5 CUVCOR 13A - 2/3 CUVCOR04A - 3/4 CUSADM03A - 3 CUSRAD02A - 3-5 |
|
Wk 7 Aug16 |
Literary journalism Greater texture – making your literary journalism sing Workshopping as required |
Assessment 4 Literary Journalism assessment due |
VBP553 - 55CUECOR01B - 3 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUSADM03A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3 |
Wk 8 Aug 23 |
Immersion Writing - workshopping |
|
CUECOR01B - 3 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUSADM03A - 4 |
Wk 9 Aug 30 |
Immersion Writing - workshopping |
CUECOR01B - 3 CUVCOR 13A - 2 CUSADM03A - 4 |
|
Wk 10 Sep 6 |
On-line Journalism | |
VBP553 - 1/2/4 CUVCOR13A - 1 CUVCOR04A - 1/2 CUVDES05A - 1 |
Wk 11 Sep13 |
On-line Journalism | VBP553 - 1/2/4 CUVCOR13A - 2 CUVCOR04A - 3 CUVDES05A - 2/3 |
|
Wk 12 Sep 20 |
On-line Journalism | Assessment 5 Online Assessment Due |
VBP553 - 1/5 CUVCOR13A - 3/4 CUVCOR04A - 4 CUECOR01B - 3 |
Mid Semester Break |
|||
Wk 13 Oct 11 |
Guest Speaker - Writing your own particular passion | Assessment 6 Immersion Assessment Due |
CUVCOR 13A - 2/3 |
Wk 14 Oct 18 |
Marketing yourself as a free-lance journalist |
CUVCOR13A - 2/3 CUSADM03A - 3/4 |
|
Wk 15 Oct 25 |
<style type="text/css">@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }.MsoChpDefault { font-size: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }</style> Pitching to newspaper/magazine editor | CUVCOR 13A - 2/3 VBP553 - 5 CUSADM03A - 4 CUVDES05A - 2/3 |
|
Wk 16 Nov 1 |
Melbourne Cup Day | ||
Wk 17 Nov 8 |
Assessment Week |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed reading material is provided 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 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.
Semester 1
Assignment 1. Feature article (20%) Due March 22
Assignment 2 Writing for Radio assignment (20%) Due May 17
Assignment 3 Presentation and pitch for travel feature (10%) Due June 7
Semester 2
Assignment 4 Literary Non-fiction assignment (20%) Due August 16
Assignment 5 On-line journalism assessment (10%) Due September 20
Assignment 6 Immersion piece (20%) Due October 11
Grades used in this course 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 details on these assessment tasks and 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
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 Submission
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 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