Course coordinator
Dr Beck Wise
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Workplace Writing and Editing will give students training in skills necessary for advanced writing tasks in the workplace. It will feature modules on documenting procedures, applications and grant writing, plain English for government and the law, academic editing and style guides. Each module will be aimed at producing assessable work samples that will then be added to students' e-portfolios.
Hello, writers, and welcome to Workplace Writing and Editing! In this class, you'll learn practical skills in drafting, revising and presenting professional communication.
Over the course of the semester, we'll build our theoretical and practical expertise in professional communication, using a mix of model documents, writing practice and scholarly research. You'll develop, test and revise work in a variety of genres, producing effective communication that can be added to your portfolio.
This is a hands-on course -- we'll be writing, workshopping and rewriting across the semester, although most people find they increase their labour shortly before assessments are due. Our seminar activities contribute directly to your assessment tasks, so consistent attendance and active engagement with classroom activities will set you up for success.
Again, welcome -- I'm glad you're here, and look forward to working with you this semester.
ﾠ
Advice from previous WRIT7035 students
I asked students in WRIT7035 what they wished they'd known before enrolling in the class. Some answers are below:
- "Expect to be nurtured as a writer but also to be proactive in challenging yourself. Your skills learned in the class are really what you make of them and you'll walk away with the documents to prove it."
- "I wish I'd known to expect the theory behind [workplace writing], rather than simply all hands-on work"
- "Be prepared to sometimes not fully understand readings, but don't be afraid to ask"
- "Come into this class with a more open view of what writing and communication means. Over the next thirteen weeks you'll explore how writing for the workplace is a lot more multifaceted and complex than it may seem to be"
- "I had no expectations coming into this course, except that it might have been a little dry -- I could not have been more wrong. This course was intellectually stimulating and I am interested in learning more about [workplace writing]. The balance of theory and practical work was perfect and I have walked away with concrete skills."
Course requirements
Assumed background
You will need to read and analyse scholarly articles to strengthen both your critical reading and writing skills. You should also be prepared to share and discuss your own writing with your peers.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Beck Wise
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to equip students to identify workplace communication needs, develop and implement communication strategies, and communicate effectively in novel and diverse workplace contexts.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the theories, practices and contexts of workplace writing.
LO2.
Effectively plan a range of workplace documents.
LO3.
Effectively write a range of workplace documents.
LO4.
Effectively edit workplace documents.
LO5.
Understand principles and practices of team communication, and apply those ideas to communicate effectively in teams
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Communication skills memo | 20% |
24/03/2025 - 31/03/2025 |
| Project | Instruction set | 25% |
14/04/2025 - 22/04/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Project |
Remote collaboration project
|
45% |
Annotated bibliography (team submission) 12/05/2025 4:00 pm Internal memo (individual submission) 26/05/2025 4:00 pm Proposal (team submission) 9/06/2025 4:00 pm Reflection (individual submission) 9/06/2025 4:00 pm |
| Reflection | Development & workshop reflection | 10% |
9/06/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Communication skills memo
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
24/03/2025 - 31/03/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
You will write a memo which reports on the professional communication skills required in the types of jobs you plan to apply to, assess your CV and preparedness for these jobs, and describes goals and opportunities for developing your communication skills.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
About the submission window: I have allowed a one-week submission window, but recommend submitting at the start of the submission period and treating the remainder of the week as a "soft extension" if you need it -- a "soft extension" because you can use the extra time without submitting a formal extension request. I really appreciate you letting me know when you plan to submit, as it helps me to plan my time and ensure I set aside time to respond to your work as promptly as possible.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Instruction set
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
14/04/2025 - 22/04/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
Documentation is a key genre for many technical and professional communicators, and it needs to be crafted with users in mind. In this project, you'll develop a user-centred set of instructions for a blanket fort. You will identify your own target user for these instructions and should compose instructions that respond to that user's goals, needs, and expectations.
Depending on students' needs, we can allow time for peer review of drafts in our seminar meetings and will discuss this as a class as the deadline approaches.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
About the submission window: I have allowed a one-week submission window, but recommend submitting at the start of the submission period and treating the remainder of the week as a "soft extension" if you need it -- a "soft extension" because you can use the extra time without submitting a formal extension request. I really appreciate you letting me know when you plan to submit, as it helps me to plan my time and ensure I set aside time to respond to your work as promptly as possible.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Remote collaboration project
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Project
- Weight
- 45%
- Due date
Annotated bibliography (team submission) 12/05/2025 4:00 pm
Internal memo (individual submission) 26/05/2025 4:00 pm
Proposal (team submission) 9/06/2025 4:00 pm
Reflection (individual submission) 9/06/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Remote collaboration and communication has been a core concern of professional writers for decades, and the need to do it well has only intensified in recent years. In this project, you will work remotely with a team to assess collaboration and communication tools and pitch a solution to management. Like any workplace collaboration, the project includes both individual and team writing, and you will be graded individually through a mix of self-, peer and instructor assessment.
The project has four components:
- Annotated bibliography (10%, recommended deadline Monday week 11; team submission): you will assess 3-5 sources relating to remote collaboration and collaboration tools and write an annotated bibliography, which you will share with your team and submit as a group for assessment
- Internal memo (10%, recommended deadline Monday week 13; individual submission): you will write a short email memo explaining which collaboration tool you recommend and why. You will share this with your team and submit it individually for assessment
- Proposal (20%, deadline: 1st Monday of exam period; team submission): your team will write an internal proposal, based on your research and team memos, recommending a collaboration tool to management. Your team will submit this for assessment
- Reflection (5%, deadline: 1st Monday of exam period; individual submission): you will write a reflection on your team's work throughout the project, including an assessment of your and your peers' contributions to the project
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Deadlines for this work
This project includes specific deadlines for each interim component of the project. These deadlines have been selected to ensure your team makes consistent progress towards the final submission while practicing key team writing skills.
Should your team need an extension on any of the interim components (annotated bibliography, individual memo), you should agree on a new deadline together, and then email me to advise me of the date. All team members must agree to the new date, and all team members must be cc'd on the email requesting an extension.
Should your team need an extension on the final proposal, you should agree on a new deadline together, and then submit a formal extension request to the central administration team.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extensions are typically not available for the Annotated Bibliography or the Internal Memo. As noted above, deadlines for these components have been selected to ensure your team makes consistent progress towards the final submission while practicing key team writing skills. We can accommodate short extensions (generally up to 72 hours) on these tasks under some circumstances. Should your team need a short extension on the Annotated Bibliography or the Internal Memo, you should agree on a new deadline together, and then email me to advise me of the date. All team members must agree to the new date, and all team members must be cc'd on the email requesting an extension.
Should your team need an extension on the final proposal, you should agree on a new deadline together, and then submit a formal extension request to the central administration team. That request will need to include written evidence confirming that all team members have agreed to the new proposed deadline, in addition to evidence that documents the need for the extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
As this is a team writing project, please remember that late completion has a negative impact on your teammates' capacity to complete their work -- even on individually-submitted components, and especially if you are not proactive in communicating with your teammates about your submission timelines. Late submission and poor communication may impact your teammates' assessment of your individual contributions to your team's project, on top of the individual late penalty identified above.
Development & workshop reflection
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
9/06/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03
Task description
We value your development as a writer, and this assignment invites you to reflect on how your writing has changed over the semester. Over the course of the semester, we believe that everyone will get better at writing through engaging in conversation about writing with your peers, applying new information to complete writing tasks, and revising your work. This development will be visible in your submitted work in this and other classes. Regardless of whether you commence the class as a novice workplace writer or a confident workplace writer, you can still get better - but that development is not fully captured by assessing completed work.
In your reflection, you will be asked to assess your progress against three of the course's Learning Outcomes. You should provide evidence of your skills and confidence when you started the class and when you finished it, and a warrant that connects your evidence (what you learnt in the class and how it shows up in your writing) to the claim you have made about your development in each area. Your evidence must include discussion of at least one in-class workshop activity, at least one of our scholarly readings, and at least one writing task you completed for this course. You can also include evidence from other writing contexts to supplement this course-specific information.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Technical and professional communication - overview of the field What's the big picture of workplace writing? What do we mean and how do we do it? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Ethics What are our ethical obligations as writers in contemporary workplaces? What does ethical writing practice look like? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Information flow How does information move in organisations? What communication practices contribute to effective information management? What roles and responsibilities are associated with this? Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Genre How can genre theory help us understand and intervene in workplace writing practices? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Precision & clarity How do we communicate precisely in workplace writing, even (and maybe especially) when we don't have a perfect idea of our audience? What does this look like in the key professional genre of documentation? Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Multimodality How do words interact with other communication elements to convey meaning? How can we leverage principles of design to communicate more effectively? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Accessibility How do we write as accessibly as possible, for as many people as possible? Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Collaboration How do we write together in teams without having a breakdown? Why does team writing matter? How can we do it well? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-semester break Rest, recharge and recover! |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
General contact hours |
Accountability Team meetings: charter development. No class meetings to ensure everyone has spare time to meet, but meetings can occur anytime that suits the team. You'll need to send Beck documentation of your first team meeting. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Privacy and security Why should workplace writers prioritise privacy and information security? What privacy and security risks do workplace writers need to consider and control? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
General contact hours |
Co-writing No class meetings -- use the time to meet and/or write as a team. Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Technical editing What are the roles, responsibilities and key practices of technical editors? Learning outcomes: L04 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Seminar |
Now what? What are the next steps for the field of professional writing? What are your next steps as a writer? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Additional learning activity information
This class runs as a hands-on workshop -- each week, we'll discuss the assigned readings and apply the concepts you've learned from them to writing and communication activities that build towards your assessment.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.