Course Title: Writing for Children

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Writing for Children

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2463

City Campus

Undergraduate

345T Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019

COMM2463

City Campus

Undergraduate

375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021

COMM2463

City Campus

Undergraduate

515T Creative Industries

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dzintra Boyd and Sarah Vincent

Course Coordinator Phone: +61399254269 (Dzintra)

Course Coordinator Email: pwecoordinators@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will explore ways of writing for a young readership with an emphasis on picture book texts and novels for primary aged readers. You will develop creative writing techniques particular to this market and learn how to present and promote fiction and nonfiction for young readers. You will be introduced to a wide range of Australian and international children’s books and encouraged to read widely to familiarise yourself with trends in the market. In this course you will also discuss issues affecting children’s writers, such as how children read, the relationship between visual and text-based narrative, representation of gender and ethnicity and questions of language, content and themes.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This is an option course, which will complement the Program Learning Outcomes you are developing in your program, with particular emphasis on the following:

2. acquire and apply the skills to write works of fiction and non-fiction, edit professionally, edit to an industry standard,  create digital content, design print and web-based products, develop and manage writing and editing projects.

3. apply and creatively adapt theoretical and technical knowledge and skills to reflect the needs and expectations of varied readerships and markets

4. identify, analyse, and reflect on relevant trends in writing, editing and publishing in both local and international contexts


 

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  1. analyse and discuss local and international trends in children’s literature
  2. write original material suitable for young readers across a range of genres and present material in a suitable format
  3. apply your knowledge of the relationship between text and illustration in your own picture books for children
  4. identify and manage issues such as gender, ethnicity and censorship that arise when writing specifically for a children’s market
  5. critique your own writing and that of your peers, and make use of feedback to develop your work.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • studios, where you will learn through practice, exploration and reflection
  • lectures, which provide the framework for exploring picture books and other texts for children
  • completion of class exercises designed to clarify course content
  • writing workshops to assist development of writing techniques with feedback from peers and teacher
  • independent study, working through the course requirements as presented in classes, online and through learning materials.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for Professional Writing and Editing students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies https://rmit.libguides.com/writing-editing

The Library provides guides on academic referencing https://www.rmit.edu.au/library/study/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarians.


Overview of Assessment

 You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Assessment may include a range of activities such as in-class exercises, assignments, and individual projects.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.


Assessment Task 1: Storymap (15%) CLO 1,2

Assessment Task 2: Picture Book Manuscript (40%) CLO 2,3,4

Assessment Task 3: Novel (45%) CLO 1,2,5