There is continual assessment throughout both semesters to monitor progress.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

There will be an official internal test in Week 12 of Semester 1.
A passage will be read for a duration of 4 minutes, with a 30-second interval after the first
2 minutes, at a constant speed of 60wpm (Accredited Group) 40wpm (non-Accredited groups). The shorthand notes taken will then be transcribed into longhand. For a pass, there will be an error tolerance of 5%. The result of this test will determine the group within which you will be placed in Semester 2, and will be considered alongside your final internal assessment.

For the benefit of ALL students, each student will be placed in a group that will MOST benefit their speed development.


At the end of SEMESTER 2

The assessment will have two distinct parts:

Part 1:
A passage will be read for a duration of 4 minutes, with a 30-second interval after the first 2 minutes, at a constant speed of 80wpm (Accredited group) 60wpm (non-Accredited groups). The shorthand notes taken will then be transcribed into longhand.
(60% weighting)

Those students who already hold an NCTJ Certificate at 80 wpm (accredited group) 60 wpm (non-accredited groups) or above on this date, may declare themselves exempt from this internal test.

Part 2:
A theory test will examine the theory learned in Semester 1 and the word groupings and advanced phraseology developed in Semester 2 (for both accredited and non-accredited groups).

This is the minimum requirement to pass the module.
(40% weighting)


EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
External examinations are held as and when students are prepared, and these can be arranged each month if necessary. (You can find the NCTJ examination dates on Blackboard, the University’s virtual learning environment, (which you should access as soon as possible after the start of your course), and on the NCTJ webpage). It is your responsibility to ensure that you have declared your intention to take an external examination at least three weeks before the examination date, and paid the fee.

You can pay for your NCTJ examinations by going to:
https://shop.staffs.ac.uk/shop-by-faculty/fact/nctj.html

Students studying on the NCTJ Accredited course will have one free attempt. Further attempts at any speed should be submitted as “resit” even if the speed is different in order to generate the current payment fee.

The receipt details should be given to the reader when entering the examination room.

Every student should aim for NCTJ Certificate at 100 wpm in the first year of study, and certainly, before graduation. NCTJ examination begin at 60 wpm and go up to 120 wpm. They are held throughout the year, but the greatest number of opportunities to sit examinations will be at 100 wpm and 80 wpm.

How fast you progress will largely depend on your commitment and the time you devote to your practice.

This module introduces students to the importance of fast accurate shorthand note taking in various journalistic settings. The shorthand method used is Teeline, and students are prepared for the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) shorthand examinations.

Regular weekly workshops (5 x 1 hour per week) with a specialist shorthand teacher combined with independent study using Blackboard and other audio/visual study aids.

Shorthand skills will be used during practical journalism classes for note taking
Regular speed tests and homework will contribute to the learning process

NCTJ past papers and audio will be used for independent study

Internet
Blackboard
Library

Ann Dix (2001) Teeline Fast, Heinemann is recommended as a back-up to the theory, but not used in class.

Marie Cartright (2009) NCTJ Teeline Gold Standard. This contains:

CD with over 5 hours practice dictation, giving students additional practice
Past examination materials from 50-120 wpm allowing students to build speed gradually at their own pace.
Authored by Marie Cartwright, Chief Examiner for the NCTJ’s shorthand board.

Introductory theory section.

1. APPLY THE TEELINE ALPHABET
[Application; Learning]

2. APPLY THE SKELETONISING OF LONGHAND WORDS
[Knowledge and Understanding; Application]

3. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO JOIN TEELINE LETTERS TOGETHER TO FORM WORDS
[Knowledge and Understanding; Application]

4. DEMONSTRATE A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TEELINE THEORY, INCLUDING ALL THE BLENDS
[Knowledge and Understanding]

5. CRITICALLY APPLY THEORY TO THE ACCURATE RECORDING OF WORDS, SENTENCES AND PASSAGES.
[Application]

6. APPLY THE SPECIAL OUTLINES OF THE SYSTEM
[Knowledge and Understanding; Application]

7. RECORD AND TRANSCRIBE SPEECH ACCURATELY AT INCREASING SPEEDS
[Application; Learning]