Course Title: Write extended stories

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2010

Course Code: COMM5911C

Course Title: Write extended 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:Bredan.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: 40

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 extended stories. It builds on the skills covered in Write Simple Stories.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CUFWRT402A Write extended stories
Element:	1. Analyse extended story writing requirements.
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Identify the components of a storytelling creative concept, brief or project, including target audience, format , timeline and proposed outcomes 1.2 Consider factors such as style, tone and length in relation to purpose of the writing task 1.3 Decide on the most appropriate structuring technique for extended story writing tasks 1.4 Discuss with relevant personnel possible visual and aural storytelling structures if appropriate to storytelling tasks
Element:	2. Prepare to write extended stories.
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Research extended and more complex stories from a range of creative works that may inspire story ideas to meet project requirements 2.2 Use information sources to research subject areas 2.3 Experiment with a range of narrative structures and writing styles and techniques 2.4 Develop extended ideas for characters, plots and settings 2.5 Develop complex scenarios, contexts and situations as required 2.6 Select the story structure, style, techniques and content that best meet the requirements of projects 2.7 Seek feedback from relevant personnel on proposed stories and refine approach as required
Element:	3. Draft extended stories.
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Draft extended stories using appropriate structuring, style and language 3.2 Use relevant formatting and presentation techniques 3.3 Proofread draft stories for appropriate grammar, punctuation and spelling 3.4 Submit draft manuscripts to relevant personnel for feedback and amend as required
Element:	4. Write final drafts.
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Evaluate extended stories in line with relevant criteria 4.2 Discuss and confirm with relevant personnel additional requirements or modifications to the story 4.3 Complete necessary amendments as required within agreed timelines 4.4 Evaluate story writing process, assessing one's own performance and noting areas for future improvement

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 abiilty to write original extended stories that engage the target audience and meet the requirements or purpose of a storytelling concept, brief or project.

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