100-101 Professional Writing

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the BA (Media and Communications), BA (Media and Communications)/Bachelor of Commerce, and BA (Media and Communications)/Bachelor of Laws.

This subject aims to enhance students' writing in general by introducing them to the fundamental skills used by professional writers within the Media and Communications industries. Through a workshop format, students will work on their own news stories in order to enhance their mastery of written communication. Students will familiarise themselves with planning, editing and revising their work, as well as that of others. Students will also become familiar with various styles and contexts of media writing and develop an understanding of the various writing skills required to communicate effectively to different kinds of readers. In addition, through the lecture format, students will learn about basic theories of communication, including communication as rhetoric, communicative media as a system of signs, and the analysis of audience/discourse community. Professional Writing is theoretically complementary to Introduction to Media and Communications, and also functions as preparation for those students wishing to take Writing Journalism in 2nd year.

Class participation and written work totalling 4000 words. Students must attend at least 80% of classes to be eligible for assessment.

A subject reader will be available.