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Course Outline

CMN213 Editing for the Communication Professional

Course Coordinator:Sarah Casey (scasey3@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Editing for the Communication Professional examines the processes of copy editing and headline writing for publications such as newspapers, and academic articles. You will gain understandings and skills needed to edit reports, essays, theses, and business documents, as well as learning how to edit material from one genre to another.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Lecture – 1 hour online lecture content for 12 weeks (or equivalent). 1hr Week 1 12 times
Laboratory 1 – In-class laboratory 2hrs Week 2 12 times
Online
Lecture – 1 hour online content for 12 weeks (or equivalent). 1hr Week 1 12 times
Laboratory 1 – Interactive zoom laboratory 2hrs Week 2 12 times

Course Topics

1. Introduction to editing, punctuation, and basic grammar

2.  Editing for different genres: academic, journalistic, with a dash of creative

3. Advanced editing, plain language, and online editing

4. Editing and the law

5. Editing careers, editor and author relationship

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Effectively edit sentences applying the rules of grammar, style and punctuation Knowledgeable
2 Analyse and edit text to a required length, style and standard Creative and critical thinker
3 Effectively use computer-based editing methods and software Knowledgeable

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will be prepared for Assessment Task 1 as it is based on using the in-house Style Guide. Familiarity with the Style Guide will be provided during tutorials 1 - 4 with substantial examples being provided in class with computer activities related to the task.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 20% 
N/A
 Week 5 Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Quiz/zes Individual 35% 
Not exceeding 1000 words
 Week 9 Online Submission
All 3 Written Piece Individual 45% 
Not exceeding 1500 words
 Week 13 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Editing exercise 1
Goal: 
You will demonstrate and develop your knowledge of the application of the rules of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation in a series of sentences in an online quiz.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic format Correct a series of sentences based on the principles of editing discussed in lectures and computer workshops.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Effectively edit sentences applying the rules of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
 1 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Editing exercise 2
Goal: 
You will demonstrate your ability to apply the skills acquired in the course to edit news, and/or an academic work provided to you.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic format
You will be provided with a selection of short written texts and you will complete an online
quiz in relation to these.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Accurate use of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
 1 2 3
2 
Effectively edit different genres by applying the rules of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
 1 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Editing exercise 3
Goal: 
This task is designed to develop your analytical and editing skills by reducing text to a required length, style and standard.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic format You will be given a rough copy of a feature story, and an academic writing article that you will be asked to edit. You may choose one. In the process you will edit the article to an exact number of words while correcting errors of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation in accordance with the rules laid down in lectures, tutorials and the style guide. You will write a headline for the article or a title for the academic work, and produce a 350 word report to provide to the author to explain your editorial suggestions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analyse and edit text to a required length, style and standard.
 1 2 3
2 
Accurate use of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
 1 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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