School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2023 Units. All assessment changes will be published by 20th February 2023. All students are reminded to check the handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Teaching, Assessing and Improving Writing
  • Unit Code

    LAN6000
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Anne Madeleine THWAITE

Description

This unit examines the nature and function of writing in school and society, and deals with current theory and practice for the teaching of writing. Critical evaluation of research literature in the area will be undertaken, with attention both to theory and to teaching practice. Teachers will apply their knowledge in practical contexts, with some scope for specialisation in specific areas of interest.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded LAN5000

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Research, analyse, evaluate and communicate the theoretical concepts, knowledge about language (KAL) and best practice pedagogy for effective writing instruction.
  2. Review, analyse and synthesise knowledge of the pedagogical practices for writing instruction to create a philosophy that underpins effective teaching and learning for all students.
  3. Review, analyse, synthesise and evaluate knowledge for the use of relevant technologies for writing instruction.
  4. Work collaboratively with colleagues to evaluate and improve planning, teaching and assessment approaches in writing instruction as part of ongoing professional development.

Unit Content

  1. Conventions of written language: syntax, spelling, punctuation, coherence, cohesion.
  2. Debates and issues: discovery versus training; process versus genre; imitation versus invention.
  3. Developing instructional plans for specific learners and curriculum contexts.
  4. Diagnosing and improving student writing: structure, content, form, usage.
  5. History and development of writing.
  6. Instructional techniques: modelling, demonstration, patterning and drill, reformulation.
  7. Responding to student writing: aims and methods.
  8. Selections from the following topics reflect the background and different needs of primary, early years and secondary teachers at the Masters level:
  9. Technology in writing: composition on page and screen.
  10. The future of writing -developments in schools and society.
  11. The place of writing in the curriculum: forms and functions; learning area writing.
  12. Theories of writing instruction: developmental, communicative, expressive, rhetorical, procedural, linguistic.
  13. Writing and copyright.
  14. Writing as literary practice: form, style and 'voice'; concepts of authorship; deconstruction.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, workshops, practical experiences, video, on-line discussion.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Literature ReviewLiterature Review50%
Case StudyCase Study50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Literature ReviewLiterature Review50%
Case StudyCase Study50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

LAN6000|2|1

School: Education

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Teaching, Assessing and Improving Writing
  • Unit Code

    LAN6000
  • Year

    2023
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Sundrakanthi SINGH

Description

This unit examines the nature and function of writing in school and society, and deals with current theory and practice for the teaching of writing. Critical evaluation of research literature in the area will be undertaken, with attention both to theory and to teaching practice. Teachers will apply their knowledge in practical contexts, with some scope for specialisation in specific areas of interest.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded LAN5000

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse historical and contemporary research about writing instruction in educational settings.
  2. Critically reflect on contemporary issues in writing instruction that occur in a teaching context.
  3. Apply Knowledge About Language (KAL) to inform instructional practice which meets the learning needs of student writers in the classroom.
  4. Synthesise research to make suggestions for improved practice in schools or classrooms.

Unit Content

  1. Conventions of written language: syntax, spelling, punctuation, coherence, cohesion.
  2. Debates and issues: discovery versus training; process versus genre; imitation versus invention.
  3. Developing instructional plans for specific learners and curriculum contexts.
  4. Diagnosing and improving student writing: structure, content, form, usage.
  5. History and development of writing.
  6. Instructional techniques: modelling, demonstration, patterning and drill, reformulation.
  7. Responding to student writing: aims and methods.
  8. Selections from the following topics reflect the background and different needs of primary, early years and secondary teachers at the Masters level:
  9. Technology in writing: composition on page and screen.
  10. The future of writing -developments in schools and society.
  11. The place of writing in the curriculum: forms and functions; learning area writing.
  12. Theories of writing instruction: developmental, communicative, expressive, rhetorical, procedural, linguistic.
  13. Writing and copyright.
  14. Writing as literary practice: form, style and 'voice'; concepts of authorship; deconstruction.

Learning Experience

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, workshops, practical experiences, video, on-line discussion.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentKnowledge about Language Quizzes and Assessment of Student Writing 50%
Literature ReviewLiterature Review 50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentKnowledge about language quizzes and Assessment of Student Writing 50%
Literature ReviewLiterature Review 50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

LAN6000|3|2