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Unit outline_

WRIT6001: Professional Editing

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit introduces practical techniques for editing workplace documents for increased clarity and effectiveness. Applying theories and principles of visual rhetoric, students will learn how to improve the readability and reception of workplace texts according to audience conventions and expectations. By analysing actual workplace documents, students will develop their critical reading abilities and gain a better understanding of how to edit texts for word economy, improved design and layout, and inclusive language. Editing print texts for digital or oral presentation will also be emphasised.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit English and Writing
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Susan Thomas, susan.thomas@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Individual editorial project
Written task
25% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 07 Jul 2023
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5 LO1 LO2
Assignment group assignment Large editorial project
Written task with group and individual (collaborative input) options
50% Week 09
Due date: 28 Apr 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 07 Jul 2023
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Assignment Reflective Essay
Written submission in essay form
25% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 07 Jul 2023
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO1 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: rhetorical canons and editorial processes Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO5
Week 02 Rhetoric for editors: a critical vocabulary Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Higher order editorial concerns Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 04 Lower order editorial concerns Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 05 Visual rhetoric and delivery Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Collaboration and editing: relationships and processes Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Inclusive language and cross-cultural communication Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 Editorial publics: genres and their audiences Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Editors as professionals: ethics, politics, power Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Content management and online editing contexts Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Transcription and adaptation: from print to oral and back again Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Editing and AI Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Editing as reflective practice Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: For the period of Semester 1, 2023, attendance will be assessed on the basis of participation in a mix of live online  and in-person seminars (Zoom), Canvas Discussions and other online activities hosted through Canvas. The expectation is that each week students will participate in these essential activities.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Reading List link available on Canvas.

The unit will draw upon two main forms of reading material:

  1. scholarly works that deal critically with editing in theory and practice
  2. works that deal with applied knowledge, such as professional handbooks and practical articles

These readings must be completed before the relevant week’s seminar. They may also be drawn upon to support student work for assignments.

A further category of resource is reference material such as dictionaries, grammatical references, usage guides and other similar works. These will be generally useful, and students may decide to acquire works of this kind, but they are not required.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Interpret professional and public documents in terms of their rhetorical features and as products of an editorial process
  • LO2. Compose meaningful editorial advice addressing lower and higher order concerns
  • LO3. Critically assess stylistic choices in professional and public writing according to their promotion of social inclusion and their responsibility to diverse audiences
  • LO4. Adapt arguments from print documents for oral and digital contexts of delivery
  • LO5. Build and maintain constructive editorial relationships with colleagues and other professionals

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The entire UoS structure has been revised as a result of student feedback and performance. The UoS has moved from seminar-only to lecture/seminar in order to create more contact hours with students. Assessments have been reduced and revised to reflect this new format.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.