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Unit description

Develops student skills in and understanding of publishing and editing, and knowledge of related historical, ethical and legal issues. Students will be introduced to print- and screen-based editing and publishing, and the communication, language, technical and project-management skills to edit and publish texts in context. Intended as a second/third-year unit. Extensive group work is required in this unit.

Unit content

Week 1   Introduction: Publishing, art or business? 
Week 2   How language works
Week 3   Grammar and punctuation 
Week 4   Structural editing 
Week 5   Copyediting and proofreading
Week 6   Publishing roles and processes
Week 7   Study break
Week 8   Marketing and distribution
Week 9   Art and design
Week 10  Debates and changes in publishing
Week 11  The fine print: Ethics, copyright, and legal issues
Week 12  Literary journals and self-publishing
Week 13  Review week

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1demonstrate knowledge of English language use to a very high standardIntellectual rigourCommunication and social skills
2demonstrate the professional editorial skills of marketing/promotion, interpersonal communication, quoting, setting up/working to an editorial brief, project-management, and familiarity with technologyCommunication and social skills
3discuss design principlesCommunication and social skills
4discuss the publishing industry's processes and structures and its associated ethics and legalitiesEthical practiceCommunication and social skills
5reflect on the history of publishing.Communication and social skills

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of English language use to a very high standard
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  2. demonstrate the professional editorial skills of marketing/promotion, interpersonal communication, quoting, setting up/working to an editorial brief, project-management, and familiarity with technology
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  3. discuss design principles
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  4. discuss the publishing industry's processes and structures and its associated ethics and legalities
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  5. reflect on the history of publishing.
    • GA6: Communication and social skills

Prescribed texts

  • The ebook version is also available in the SCU Library.: Flann, E, Hill, B & Wang, L, 2014, The Australian editing handbook, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Queensland. ISBN: 9781118635957.
Prescribed texts may change in future study periods.

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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