Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Advanced Novel
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COMM5414
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Advanced Novel
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Program 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
Teacher: Toni Jordan
Email: tonijordan@bigpond.com
Nominal Hours: 70
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 your are required to have completed or be in the process of completing the competency Refine Writing and Editing Techniques – Novel before enrolling in Refine Writing and Editing Techniques – Advanced Novel.
At RMIT Refine Writing and Editing Techniques – Advanced Novel is taught and assessed alongside 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
You are expected to have 30,000 words of a novel project completed before the start of the class.
Course Description
This course covers the knowledge and skills required to work on an advanced draft of a novel. The emphasis in this course is on completing a manuscript to publishable standard and preparing to show the work to publishers and agents.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Advanced Novel |
Element: |
1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 The potential for new approaches to writing based on the capabilities of techniques already used are evaluated |
Element: |
2. Develop and refine conceptual vision for writings |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 The criteria for selecting techniques are considered based on results of experimentation |
Element: |
3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 The specific resource requirements which arise from the use of techniques and experimental approaches are assessed |
Element: |
4. Plan the writing |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 The writing task is planned to reflect the media, scope, structure and content of the work and to meet agreed timelines |
Element: |
5. Realise writings |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Writings are realised using techniques and media selected from research and experimentation to meet the conceptual vision |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop a final draft of your novel and prepare the manuscript for publication.
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
• analysis/critique of students’ writings
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent project based work
• writing and reading assignments
• online and other research
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
Week | Class content | Assessment due | Elements |
1 | Introduction and review of projects. Explanation of structure of the semester | VBP 553 1–4 CUVCOR04A 4 CUSADM03A1–4 CUECOR01B 1–3 CUSRAD02A 1–4 |
|
2 | Workshopping | VBP 553 1–4 CUSADM03A 1–4 CUVCOR04A 1–3 CUECOR01B 1–3 |
|
3 | Workshopping of novels, review of beginnings | VBP 553 1–4 CUSADM03A1–4 |
|
4 | Workshopping of novels, review of beginnings, continued | VBP 553 1–4 CUVCOR13A – 1–3 |
|
5 | Workshopping, review of place | VBP 553 1–4 CUSRAD02A 1–2 CUVCOR13A 1–3 |
|
6 | Workshopping, review of pace | VBP 553 1–4; CUVCOR04A 1–4 CUECOR01B –3 CUVDES05A – 1–5 |
|
7 | Workshopping, overview of publishing industry | CUSADM03A 1,2,3 VBP 553 1–4 |
|
8 | Presentations on elements of craft, workshopping | CUSRAD02A 1–4 CUVCOR13A 1–3 VBP 553 1–4 |
|
9 | Presentations on elements of craft, workshopping | CUVCOR13A 1–3 VBP 553 1–4 |
|
10 | Presentations on elements of craft, workshopping | CUSADM03A 1–4 VBP 553 1–4 |
|
11 | Workshopping, place and atmosphere | VBP 553 1–4 CUVCOR04A 1,2,3 CUECOR01B 3 CUVDES05A 1–5 |
|
12 | Workshopping, metaphor | VBP 553 1–4 CUVCOR13A 1–3 CUECOR01B 1–3 CUSADM03A 1–3 |
|
13 | Workshopping, middles of novels | VBP 553 1–4; CUSADM03A 4 CUVCOR04A 3,4 |
|
14 | Workshopping, middles continued | VBP553 3 CUSADM03A 2 CUVCOR04A 3,4 |
|
15 | Where to send your novel – discussion of the publishing alternatives. | Assessment due | CUVCOR13A 1-3 CUECOR01B 2,3 VBP553 3 CUVCOR04A 3,4 |
16 | No class – Monday 31 October | ||
17 | Pitching your novel | CUVCOR13A 1-3 CUECOR01B 2,3 VBP553 3 CUVCOR04A 3,4 |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You will require access to a computer and to the internet
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Assessment tasks include participation in class exercises and the completion of written assignments.
Assessment Tasks
1. Novel Manuscript
A 10,000-word excerpt from novel edited to publishable standard, including:
• exact word count
• (maximum) 800-word synposis
• 3000 word section of manuscript clearly identified for close assessment
Due Date: 17 October
Percentage weight: 80%
2. Presentation
10 minute class presentation highlighting an element of craft with particular relevance to your work in progress.
Due on date to be decided with teacher.
Percentage weight 5%
3. Workshopping
You are expected to workshop your writing a minimum of 5 times during the semester and to offer feedback during other workshopping sessions.
Percentage weight 15%
Your assignments will be graded. Grades used in this unit are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail
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 both spoken and written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is about the honest presentation of your academic work. Presenting work that fails to acknowledge other people’s work within yours can compromise academic integrity. For further information on academic integrity and plagiarism, please refer to the following URL. http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kkc202lwe1yv
Late Submissions
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 course blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.
Special Consideration Policy
Please refer to the following URL for information on applying for special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;
Course Overview: Access Course Overview