COMM70579
Planning Your Freelance Writing Business (Establishing Rates And Budgets)
Sheridan
 
  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version
 

Land Acknowledgement

Sheridan College resides on land that has been, and still is, the traditional territory of several Indigenous nations, including the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We recognize this territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon treaty and the Two Row Wampum treaty, which emphasize the importance of joint stewardship, peace, and respectful relationships.

As an institution of higher learning Sheridan embraces the critical role that education must play in facilitating real transformational change. We continue our collective efforts to recognize Canada's colonial history and to take steps to meaningful Truth and Reconciliation.


Section I: Administrative Information
  Total hours: 21.0
Credit Value: 2.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Winter 2022
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents: N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Program(s): Freelance Editor and Writer
Program Coordinator(s): N/A
Course Leader or Contact: N/A
Version: 20220110_00
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: Access to course materials and assignments will be available on Sheridan's Learning and Teaching Environment (SLATE). Students will need reliable access to a computer and the internet.

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
In this course, students learn how to assess the financial value of their skill sets based on industry equivalents and how to establish business plans, rates, and budgets. Students will examine existing media outlets and consider expenses and other factors in freelance work.

Program Context

 
Freelance Editor and Writer Program Coordinator(s): N/A
Continuing and Professional Studies Students


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

  Critical Performance:
By the end of this course, students will have explored how freelance writers can set up the basics necessary to launch and maintain their business and consider expenses and other factors in freelance work.
 
Learning Outcomes:

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Identify common freelance and small business issues.
  2. Inventory their own skill sets, writing and editing speed, and other expenditures according to industry examples.
  3. Create a business plan and mandate from an editorial standpoint using industry terminology and resources.
  4. Assess their business budget/expenditures according to industry examples.
  5. Design their own rates based on different project or client requirements.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 Evaluation Plan: ONLINE
 Quiz10.0%
 Skills Inventory20.0%
 Business Plan/Mandate/Mission Statement25.0%
 Budget/Expenditures Project20.0%
 Rate Development25.0%
Total100.0%

Evaluation Notes and Academic Missed Work Procedure:
TEST AND ASSIGNMENT PROTOCOL To encourage behaviours that will help students to be successful in the workplace and to ensure that students receive credit for their individual work, the following rules apply to every course offered within the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies. 1. Students are responsible for staying abreast of test dates and times, as well as due dates and any special instructions for submitting assignments and projects as supplied to the class by the professor. 2. Students must write all tests at the specified times. Missed tests, in-class activities, assignments and presentations are awarded a mark of zero. If an extension or make-up opportunity is approved by the professor as outlined below, the mark of zero may be revised by subsequent performance. The penalty for late submission of written assignments is a loss of 10% per day for up to five business days (excluding weekends and statutory holidays), after which, a grade of zero is assigned. Business days include any day that the college is open for business, whether the student has scheduled classes that day or not. 3. Students who miss a test or in-class activity or assignment or fail to submit an assignment on time due to exceptional circumstances are required to notify their professor in advance of the class whenever possible. A make-up test may be supplied for students who provide an acceptable explanation of their absence and/or acceptable documentation explaining their absence (e.g., a medical certificate). All make-up tests are to be written at a time and place agreed to by the professor and the student upon the student's return. Alternately, students may be given an opportunity to earn the associated marks by having a subsequent test count for the additional marks. Exceptional circumstances may result in a modification of due dates for assignments. 4. Unless otherwise specified, assignments and projects must be submitted at the beginning of class. 5. Students must complete every assignment as an individual effort unless, the professor specifies otherwise. 6. Since there may be instances of grade appeal or questions regarding the timely completion of assignments and/or extent of individual effort, etc., students are strongly advised to keep, and make available to their professor, if requested, a copy of all assignments and working notes until the course grade has been finalized. 7. There will be no re-submission of work unless this has been previously agreed to or suggested by the professor. 8. Students must submit all assignments in courses with practical lab and field components in order to pass the course.

Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Colleges and Universities requirements:


 

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

  • Communication Skills - Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken, visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
  • Information Management Skills - Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.
  • Numeracy - Execute mathematical operations accurately.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact (if course is PLAR-eligible) - Office of the Registrar

  • Not Eligible for PLAR

 
 
Section III: Topical Outline
Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Instruction Mode: Online
Professor: N/A
Resource(s):
 TypeDescription
RequiredTextbookBusiness Planning for Editorial Freelancers: A Guide for New Starters, Louise Harnby, Louise Harnby, ISBN 13: 978-1484106211, 2013

Applicable student group(s): Continuing and Professional Studies
Course Details:

Module 1: Introduction/Overview

Introducing the course 

Taking an initial look at the freelancing and the gig economy

(Quiz 10%)

 

Module 2: Industry and Skillsets

Overview of different kinds of freelance opportunities

Looking at personal skills assessment

Introduction to creating a brand/self-marketing

Identifying industry standards and certification

(Skills Inventory 20%)

 

Module 3: Business Plans and Mandates/Mission Statements

Using your skills inventory to develop your own business plan and mission statement

(Business Plan/Mandate/Mission Statement 25%)

 

Module 4: Assessing Budgets/Expenditures

Looking at typical freelance expenses

Examining budget and expenditures related to your own work

(Budget/Expenditures Project 20%)

 

Module 5: Establishing Rates

Looking at different rate models (hourly, project-based).

Using industry standards from associations and other organizations based on your own skillsets (using the skills inventory).

Developing your own rates for different circumstances.

(Rate Development 25%)

 

 



Sheridan Policies

It is recommended that students read the following policies in relation to course outlines:

  • Academic Integrity
  • Copyright
  • Intellectual Property
  • Respectful Behaviour
  • Accessible Learning
All Sheridan policies can be viewed on the Sheridan policy website.

Appropriate use of generative Artificial Intelligence tools: In alignment with Sheridan's Academic Integrity Policy, students should consult with their professors and/or refer to evaluation instructions regarding the appropriate use, or prohibition, of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for coursework. Turnitin AI detection software may be used by faculty members to screen assignment submissions or exams for unauthorized use of artificial intelligence.

Course Outline Changes: The information contained in this Course Outline including but not limited to faculty and program information and course description is subject to change without notice. Nothing in this Course Outline should be viewed as a representation, offer and/or warranty. Students are responsible for reading the Important Notice and Disclaimer which applies to Programs and Courses.


[ Printable Version ]

Copyright © Sheridan College. All rights reserved.