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Unit of study_

MECO6914: Making Magazines

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Making Magazines explores practical and theoretical aspects of contemporary magazine culture. Students work in small groups to conceive, plan, write and design a small 'dummy' (prototype) magazine using InDesign software. The unit emphasises writing, editing and design rather than marketing, although students will learn the importance of producing a magazine for the commercial media landscape.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MECO6914
Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
MECO6930
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Andrea Duvall, andrea.duvall@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Feature pitch
More information is available on Canvas. Due in class in Week 6.
5% Week 06
Due date: 30 Mar 2020 at 18:00

Closing date: 03 Apr 2020
200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation Group magazine pitch
More information is available on Canvas. Due in class in Week 6.
5% Week 06
Due date: 30 Mar 2020 at 18:00

Closing date: 03 Apr 2020
200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3
Assignment Feature article
More information is available on Canvas.
25% Week 07
Due date: 06 Apr 2020 at 18:00

Closing date: 10 Apr 2020
1250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5
Assignment Feature layout
More information is available on Canvas. Due in class in Week 11.
15% Week 11
Due date: 11 May 2020 at 18:00

Closing date: 15 May 2020
650 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4
Presentation Group magazine presentation
More information is available on Canvas. Due in class in Week 13.
5% Week 13
Due date: 25 May 2020 at 18:00

Closing date: 29 May 2020
200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3
Assignment Group magazine
More information is available on Canvas.
45% Week 13
Due date: 25 May 2020 at 18:00

Closing date: 29 May 2020
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

  • Feature pitch: each student will deliver a brief (3 minute) oral pitch to the class about their feature idea.
  • Group magazine pitch: each magazine team will prepare an oral pitch, with appropriate visual aids (ie, a powerpoint presentation) to be delivered in class. Each team will approach the task as if they are an independent magazine team with a brand-new idea for a magazine, and deliver a presentation to the publisher (the lecturer), aimed at convincing the publisher to invest his company's money in their new project.
  • Feature article: write a long feature for your magazine.
  • Group magazine presentation: in the last seminar all group members will present their magazine to the rest of the class. By this stage your magazine should be in PDF form, ready to present as double-page spreads (DPS). Bring your magazine on a USB drive. Be prepared to briefly talk about the main elements of the magazine profile.
  • Feature layout: each student will individually design and layout their feature/s.
  • Group magazine: two print copies of magazine submitted to MECO office; 1x print copy of magazine profile; 1x print copy of media kit; 1x USB thumbdrive containing completed magazine as a PDF, and completed magazine profile as a Word document. Please also include a packaged InDesign folder, with the complete magazine and media kit, plus linked files.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to making magazines Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 02 What is a magazine, and why do we make them? Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Creating a magazine from the ground up Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Feature writing, interview and research skills Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 05 Interview technique and research skills Seminar (3 hr) LO2
Week 06 Magazine pitch and feature story pitch Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 From cover to cover – inside the magazine Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 All hail the subs! The role of the sub-editor Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 09 Making it pretty: covers and images Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 10 Magazine design Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 11 Advertising in magazines Seminar (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 12 Marketing – tips and tricks in the digital age Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 13 On sale! Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Required textbook: Jenny McKay (2018). The Magazines Handbook, 4th edition, London: Routledge.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand and experience the magazine production process from initial concept through to PDF and printing
  • LO2. research, write, and design at least one feature story for their group magazine
  • LO3. understand the various professional roles involved in making a magazine
  • LO4. participate in the making of a small magazine and develop group-work skills
  • LO5. demonstrate an understanding of the cultural and commercial context in which their magazine would be consumed.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit has been revised following student and peer feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.