Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Issues surrounding 'The Media' are a common source of interest for the media itself, and too the general public. Media and communication students should be well-positioned to make an informed contribution to these debates, but often lack the ability to communicate with a general audience. This unit will therefore assist students in this regard, helping them to become a visible part of the public discourse.

Aims

This unit allows students to engage in public debates about the media, politics and popular culture, and to learn strategies for translating academic concepts into a public forum. It therefore encourages students to think critically about the relationship between academic and public discourse. As the unit is project-based, students will also learn project management strategies, and how to work as part of a self-directed team.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Understand strategies for communicating to academic and popular audiences simultaneously.
2. Produced sustained writing for an online resource, and understand basic principles of web publishing.
3. Work effectively in a writing cohort, providing support and advice for fellow team-members.

Content

This unit is based around a website on which you will work throughout the course of the semester.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The contact time for this unit will occur in a weekly 2 hour editorial meeting, in which students will 'pitch' ideas for content, provide peer feedback on the work of other students, discuss strategies for increasing the website's readership, and other editoral matters.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions through the semester. You will receive written formative feedback on your unit's assignments.

Assessment name: Proposal
Description: You will write a brief (500 word) proposal for your participation in the project for the semester, including idea for website content, and how your existing skills may be best deployed and applied within the project team.
Relates to objectives: 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Writing Portfolio
Description: This is a collection of the work that you have contributed to the website over the course of the semester.
Relates to objectives: 2
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Write a short essay of 1000 words, discussing the challenges of communicating academic ideas in the popular domain.
Relates to objectives: 1
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required Text

There is no set text for this unit.

Recommended References

The unit readings will be held on the unit's CMD, which you can find under 'Learning Resources' on the BB site. Items with a URL can be accessed through their own URLs and not through the CMD.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 28-Mar-2013