Shorthand for Journalists

Unit Code:HAJM111

Credit Points	Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
12.5 Credit Points	I semester/teaching period	36 hours	Hawthorn	Nil	Nil

Credit Points

Duration

Contact Hours

Campus

Prerequisite

Corequisite

12.5 Credit Points

I semester/teaching period

36 hours

Hawthorn

Nil

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) or the Bachelor of Arts where the Professional Major is Journalism.

Aims & Objectives:

The aims of this unit are to acquaint students with the practice and theory of shorthand, and enable them to acquire the skills necessary to use shorthand in interviews, and reporting tasks.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this unit, students will be able to:

• Use shorthand to write down speech, at a speed of approximately 40 words per minute;

• Use the most frequently used short forms and phrases;

• Know the theory of Pitman 2000 shorthand; and

• Transcribe shorthand notes with 98% accuracy.

Teaching Methods:

Workshops

Assessment:

1. Attendance and participation 20%
2. Theory test on short-forms, phrases and intersections 20%

3. Theory test on transcription of a passage from printed shorthand 20%

4. Speed test on transcription of an unprepared passage dictated at various speeds, starting at 40 words per minute 40%.

Minimum requirements to pass this unit:
• Attend at least half the workshops;

• Achieve a mark at least 50% for each of the theory tests; and

• Transcribe a passage dictated at 40 words per minute with 98% accuracy.

Students who miss workshops because of illness or for other good reasons can consult their tutor about "making up" missed assessment. This will normally mean sitting a challenge test. Students should consult their tutor at the earliest possible opportunity about this, preferably before the class to be missed. Medical certificates may be required.

Content:

This unit, specifically designed for journalists, will give students a grounding in shorthand skills used in interviews with the sources for news stories. It will teach the theory and practice of Pitman 2000 shorthand, concentrating on developing a working knowledge of the theory and introduction to speed development techniques. Material used in the speed development component of this unit will be specifically designed to be relevant to journalism practice, and will intersect with unit materials in the related units HAJM100 Journalism Practice 1, and HAJM200 Journalism Practice 2. The speed achieved by students will be acknowledged with a certificate that can be shown to prospective employers.

Textbooks:

Compulsory text:
Pitman 2000 Shorthand Rapid Course (2nd ed), Sheedy – Moore, Longman Australia Pty Limited, 1995.

References:

Audio recordings for speed practice will be provided in workshops. Other resources will be provided in workshops as appropriate.