Course Title: Refine writing skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2019
Course Code: COMM7305
Course Title: Refine writing skills
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5314 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact: Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email: mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher:
Yannick Thoraval
yannick.thoraval@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 120
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
This course has no pre-requisites or co-requisites
Course Description
In this course you will draft, write and edit many different kinds of workplace documents.You will learn to inform and to persuade, taking into account the purpose and context of the writing.Through research and experimentation with writing techniques in a range of media, you will gain the skills and knowledge required to write for both the ear and the eye.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VU20277 Refine writing skills |
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1. Inform work through experimentation with writing techniques and media |
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2. Develop and refine a concept for a piece of work |
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3. Determine and organise resource requirements for work |
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4. Plan the writing |
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5. Complete writing |
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Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.
Details of Learning Activities
Face-to-face classes
We meet weekly for one, four-hour class delivered face-to-face. In class you will experience a practical, hands-on approach to the course material, with individual and group activities and discussions.
In-class activities may include:
- Lectures
- Class discussions
- Individual presentations
- Teacher directed group activities
- In-class reviews of weekly online activities
- Group workshopping of the work of individual students
- Analysis and critique of relevant reading materials.
Out-of-class activities may include:
- Independent reading, writing and editing activities, including for assessment
- Independent research, analysis and critique activities, including for assessment.
Weekly online activities
In addition to the face-to-face class, each week you will work independently through specified online activities. These activities will complement the class instruction.
Your combined weekly course work (face-to-face and online) will prepare you for the graded assignments.
Teaching Schedule
Course Schedule: Refine Writing Skills, Semester 2, 2019 | ||
Week |
Content and Activities |
Assessment |
1 8 July |
Communication: how hard is it? Introduction to class content and expectations – face-to-face content, online activities and assessments Introduction to Assessment 1 and 2 Forms of communication: verbal, non-verbal and graphics Barriers to communication and how to counteract them Why write better |
Assessment 1: online activities (starting Week 1 and continuing to Week 13) |
2 15 July |
The professional writer's approach The writing process: 6-step approach Identifying audience and purpose to shape communications The 'you' versus 'me' attitude Plain language: words and phrases |
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3 22 July |
Clear communication: working with words Writing on and off brand. Passive and active voice. Plain language continued: syntax, paragraphs, rhythm and tone. |
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4 29 July |
Clear communication: working with design Communicating visually, using content, design and layout. |
Assessment 2: Written critique Due: Sunday 4 August |
5 5 August |
Instructional writing Structuring content: exploring different strategies Models for structuring messages and documents: narrative, telescoping and more Instructional writing |
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6 12 August |
Writing correspondence that gets results Online versus print mediums: how emails differ from letters Frontloading key messages in emails and other techniques Responding to complaints |
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7 19 August |
Writing summaries and media releases The essence of a good summary How summaries are used in professional writing: resumes, agendas, minutes, web and social media copy Writing media releases |
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8 26 August |
Writing longer business documents White papers, business cases and reports Workshopping writing for Assessment 3A Introduction of Assessment 3B |
Assessment 3A: Writing folio – short documents Due: Sunday 1 September |
Mid-semester break: 2 to 6 September | ||
9 9 September
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Gathering research Researching and note-taking Citation methods Organising and presenting data |
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10 16 September |
Writing the report or white paper Different components: executive summary, introduction, body, conclusion, recommendations, appendices Finding the best structure for your report |
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11 23 September |
Writing to be heard not read: speechwriting Types of speeches Speech writing techniques Introduction of Assessment 3 Planning your speech
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12 30 September |
Writing persuasively Rhetoric, argumentation and common fallacies Use of ethos, logos and pathos |
Assessment 3B: Writing Folio – longer document Due: 6 October
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13 7 October |
Giving and receiving feedback Giving feedback in a professional context How professional writers handle feedback Workshopping speeches |
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14 |
Presenting to an audience How to prepare for delivering an oral presentation or speech, including how to combat nerves Delivering a speech |
Assessment 4A: Written persuasive speech Due: Sunday 20 October |
15 21 October |
Final presentations Delivery of speeches |
Assessment 4B: Oral persuasive speech Due: In class |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment tasks will require you to demonstrate proficiency in a range of writing styles.
Assessment tasks in this course include the development and refinement of a range of writing pieces which address the current standards used in the workplace. All assessment should meet a professional level of completion.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment 1: online activities
(starting Week 1 and continuing to Week 13)
Responses to material supplied.
Contributes to grading
Assessment 2: Written critique
Critique of an example of professional communication supplied.
Due: Sunday 4 August
Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory
Assessment 3: Writing folio
Part A – short documents
A portfolio of three varied professional documents related to a given scenario.
Due: Sunday 1 September
Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory
Part B: – longer document
A report responding to given scenario.
Due: 6 October
Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory
Assessment 4: Persuasive speech
As an individual, you will write and deliver a short speech. You must write between 800–1000 words and speak for at least five minutes. You will use the speech to persuasively argue for or against an issue of your choosing.
Part A: Written speech
Due: Sunday 20 October
Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory
Part B: Oral speech
Due: In class
Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix is available from your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview