Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Adam Smith
Contact via adam.smith@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to PGCertEditElecPub or GradCertEditElecPub or MCrWrit or GradDipCrWrit
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit focuses on language, including variation in grammar, usage and punctuation, and linguistic approaches to writing style, discourse development and readability. It examines the features of different text types, spoken and written, as well as those evolving on the internet. It discusses communicative approaches to writing, including plain English for mediating complex content, and promotional writing for advertising purposes. It includes modules on editing Aboriginal English, and on academic writing and editing, especially theses and journal articles.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Online discussion 1 | 20% | 30/5/15 |
International punctuation | 20% | 04/10/15 |
Online discussion 2 | 20% | 25/10/15 |
Practical work (2 options) | 40% | 15/11/15 |
Due: 30/5/15
Weighting: 20%
The first assessable discussion of this unit focuses on nominal style and the extent to which nominalizations are essential to the discipline or type of discourse, or unnecessary to it. Your task is to find:
(i) a short paragraph in which nominalizations are part of the professional language of writers in the discipline (= essential nominalizations)
(ii) a short paragraph in which nominalizations are unnecessary for the communication, or perhaps a deliberate strategy to mask difficult information which will be unwelcome, for whatever reason (= nonessential nominalizations)
These two passages (essential/non-essential) should be posted separately, with a few sentences (3 to 4) below, commenting on the nature of the nominalizations in each case, and what editorial action, if any, should be taken to amend the sentences in which they occur.
If in doubt about whether the nominalizations are part of the terminology of a discipline, you might like to consult the relevant specialized dictionary (in print or online).
Post two initial contributions to the relevant forum, and respond to at least four postings from other students.
Due: 04/10/15
Weighting: 20%
Your punctuation assignment is to repunctuate a passage, supplied from an Australian short story, which has had all its punctuation removed.
Your task is to present it in two versions:
1. punctuated according to British style
2. punctuated according to American style
Please insert your punctuation marks into the text itself, highlighting the letters/space around each mark to draw attention to your changes. In addition, you should provide a page of discussion on the similarities and differences (no more than 500 words).
Due: 25/10/15
Weighting: 20%
Your task is to find two short pieces of electronic communication (say 2 to 3 sentences each), which contrast spoken and written styles of English as much as possible. They can be taken from any of the electronic media you access regularly.
The two pieces should be posted separately (in either order and on separate occasions if you wish), with a brief commentary (no more than 200 words) highlighting their spoken and written features respectively.
Post an initial contribution to the relevant forum, and respond to at least two postings of each type from other students.
Due: 15/11/15
Weighting: 40%
NOTE: Complete either Option 1 or Option 2.
OPTION 1: Promotional writing
Choose any two books, one (a) from the general trade area of publishing, the other (b) from the professional/educational area.
For each of them, write copy for
Then write no more than a page comparing the promotional strategies and the kinds of language you’ve used in each batch of copy.
Note that the two books you choose to promote should have been published at least ten years ago, so that you can do the exercise without being influenced by any publicity that may have been developed by others.
OPTION 2: Scholarly editing
Project yourself into the role of an editorial project manager responsible for producing an anthology of scholarly articles in a particular field (in print or online).
Your task is to create a cohesive collection of fresh papers in a specialized field with which you are familiar. Such papers often appear first in the “working papers” of a university or academic discipline, and are easily found on the web via a Google search >> working papers education/ geography/ linguistics. You should select five interesting papers from at least two different sources publishing during the last five years, to make a coherent set with a common topic or theme.
Option 2 consists of two parts:
Please append a list of the papers you are including in your anthology, with full details of the sources from which you have extracted them.
Students will require Internet access with a reliable web browser and e-mail facility, and must be able to play back recorded lectures (audio only).
Unit will be conducted by Distance and activities will include: Online reading, audio lectures, interactive quizzes, and online discussion groups x 2 (3 weeks each).
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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