Course Title: Write simple stories
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2010
Course Code: COMM5910C
Course Title: Write simple stories
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6088 - Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting
Course Contact : Program administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher contact details:John Reeves
Location:Building 94, level 2, room 35, 23-27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton, 3053
Phone:9925 4895
Fax: 9925 4362
Email:john.reeves@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 30
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This course delivers the skills and knowledge required to write simple stories, both linear and non-linear.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUFWRT302A Write simple stories |
Element: |
1. Clarify storytelling requirements. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Discuss with relevant personnel storytelling briefs, including target audience, format , timelines and delivery platforms |
Element: |
2. Prepare to write stories. |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Research stories from a range of creative works that may inspire story ideas that meet requirements of briefs |
Element: |
3. Draft stories. |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Use a creative writing style appropriate to specified stories |
Element: |
4. Refine stories. |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Participate in the testing of stories in line with agreed criteria |
Learning Outcomes
N/A
Details of Learning Activities
• lectures
• demonstrations
• guest lecturers
• peer teaching and class presentations
• exercises
• discussion
• group activities/projects
• workshopping
While you will be introduced to concepts and theories by way of short lectures, screenings, student reports and selected readings, most class time will be given to writing exercises and story workshopping.
Teaching Schedule
WEEK | TOPIC | ELEMENT |
1 | Introduction | 1, 2, 3 |
2 | Sourcing: Looking for stories that matter Story Structure: Beginning, Middle and End Story workshop: One Afternoon |
1, 2 |
3, 4 | Sourcing: Fairy Tales Reading: Little Red Riding Hood, The Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella Reports: The Grimm Brothers, Charles Perrault Story workshop: Found Stories |
1, 2 |
5 | Sourcing: Classical drama Reading/Reports: Aristotle, Aristophanes, E M Forster Story Structure: The Inciting Incident Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, ,3, 4 |
6 | Sourcing: The Power of Myth Reading: Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler Story Structure: Conflict Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
7 | Storytellers in the Screen Industry: The Early Days Viewing: Frances Marion Reading/Reports: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daniel Fuchs Story workshops x 3 FIRST STORY DUE |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
8 | Sourcing: A Sense of Place Viewing: North By Northwest Reading/Reports: Lisa Dethridge, Wim Wenders Screening: Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
Weeks 9 to 17 will cover the competency Write Extended Stories | ||
9 | Sourcing: The Hero Myth Extended Story Structure: Characterization, Character Development, Motivation Reading/Reports: David Mamet Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
10 | Sourcing: Road Tales Storytellers in the Screen Industry: David Goodis Reading/Reports: Syd Field, Helen Garner Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
11 | Sourcing: True Tales Extended Story Structure: Set-up, Payoff, Antagonists Stories for short film Reading/Reports: Henry Lawson, Peter Carey, Tim Winton Story workshops x 3 SECOND STORY DUE |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
12 | Sourcing: Imagery Extended Story Structure: The Middle, Upping the Stakes Stories for feature film Reading/Reports: Mary Fortune, Barbara Baynton, Linda Seger Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
13 | Sourcing: Looking for Subtext Extended Story Structure: Mystery, Suspense, Irony Viewing: Roger Corman Reading/Reports: Edgar Allan Poe, Patricia Highsmith, Robert McKee Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
14 | Sourcing: The Story Within Extended Story Structure: Emotion - Beyond Story Reading/Reports: Tom Hanlin, Colm Toíbín, Adrian Martin Story workshops x 3 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
15 | Sourcing: Family Ties/Valued Objects Extended Story Structure: dramatic action Reading/Reports: Writing For Children Story workshops x 3 THIRD STORY DUE |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
16 | Sourcing: True Crime Extended Story Structure: Climax, Crisis Reading: Australian Police Journal |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
17 | Review |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on your knowledge and ability to write simple stories that engage the target audience and meet the requirements of a storytelling brief.
Assessment Tasks
Story 1: A Fairy Tale: A Magical Object or Happening
(1500 words)
Story 2: The Extraordinary Within the Ordinary
(2000 words)
Story 3: A Suspenseful Tale
(2500 words)
Assessment Matrix
CUFWRT302A Write A Simple Story | Story 1 | Story 2 | Story 3 |
ELEMENTS: Clarify storytelling requirements. |
X | X | X |
Prepare to write stories. | X | X | X |
Draft stories. | X | X | X |
Refine stories. | X | X | X |
KNOWLEDGE: write simple stories that engage specific audiences |
X | X | X |
SKILLS: purpose of basic elements of a simple story, including: dialogue characters point of view setting |
X | X | X |
CUFWRT402A Write An Extended Story | |||
Analyse extended story writing requirements | X | X | |
Prepare to write extended stories | X | X | |
Draft extended stories | X | X | |
Write final drafts | X | X | |
SKILLS initiative and enterprise sufficient to: Develop original, innovative and creative approaches in the storytelling process Experiment with narrative styles and elements to develop a creative sustained vision Find creative solutions to problems identified during the process of story development |
X | X | |
KNOWLEDGE: Storytelling techniques appropriate to a range of extended story contexts |
X | X | |
In-depth knowledge of storytelling narrative, structure and formats appropriate to audience and purpose | X | X |
Other Information
These assessment tasks are designed for you to demonstrate competency in the required skills and knowledge of this unit.
This unit will also be graded. Your teacher will provide a grading guide for you at the commencement of the course.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview