Course Title: Write simple stories
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
Course Code: COMM5910C
Course Title: Write simple stories
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6125 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact : Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: John Reeves
Phone: 9925 4895
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
Write Simple Stories is taught within the course Storytelling, which is made up of two competencies Write Simple Stories and Write Extended Stories. Strong storytelling is an essential component of screenwriting and the competency Write Simple Stories delivers the skills, craft and knowledge required to write short stories.
This competency Write Simple Stories (CUFWRT302A) is delivered and assessed with Write
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUFWRT302A Write simple stories |
Element: |
1. Clarify storytelling requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1. Discuss with relevant personnel storytelling briefs, including target audience, format, timelines and delivery platforms |
Element: |
2. Prepare to write stories |
Performance Criteria: |
4. Research stories from a range of creative works that may inspire story ideas that meet requirements of briefs |
Element: |
3. Draft stories |
Performance Criteria: |
11. Use a creative writing style appropriate to specified stories |
Element: |
4. Refine stories |
Performance Criteria: |
16. Participate in the testing of stories in line with agreed criteria |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to use both linear and non-linear structures to write simple and extended stories, You will build your understanding and overview of the history and importance of storytelling.
Details of Learning Activities
You will learn through:
1. In-class activities:
lectures
industry speakers
teacher directed group activities/projects
peer teaching and class presentations
group discussion
class exercises to review discussions/lectures
reading of excerpts of writings and set texts to provide examples of writing elements
workshopping of students’ own projects
analysis/critique of writings of students’ choice
2. Out-of-class activities:
independent project based work
writing and reading assignments
online and other research
independent study
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
Week | Class Content | Assessment Due | Competency and Elements |
1 | Introduction to Storytelling. Explanation of course content and overview of assessment | CUFWRT302A - 1 CUFWRT402A -1 |
|
2 | Sourcing: Looking for stories that matter Story Structure: Beginning, Middle and End Story workshop: One Afternoon |
CUFWRT302A - 2 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
3 | Sourcing: Fairy Tales Reading: Little Red Riding Hood, The Sleeping Beauty Reports: Charles Perrault, Fairy Tales |
CUFWRT302A – 2,3 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
4 | Sourcing: Fairy Tales (cont’d) Reading: Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella Reports: The Grimm Brothers Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A – 2, 3 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
5 | Sourcing: Classical drama Reading/Reports: Aristotle, Aristophanes, E M Forster, Linda Aronson Story Structure: The Inciting Incident Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A – 3, 4 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
6 | Sourcing: The Power of Myth Reading: Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler Story Structure: Conflict Story workshops |
Assessment #1: Redrafting your story | CUFWRT302A - 2 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
7 | Storytellers in the Screen Industry: The Early Days Viewing: Frances Marion Reading/Reports: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daniel Fuchs |
Assessment #2 due: A story drawing on folk or fairytale elements | CUFWRT302A – 2 CUFWRT402A - 2 |
8 | Sourcing: A Sense of Place Viewing: North By Northwest Reading/Reports: Lisa Dethridge, Wim Wenders Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -2 |
|
9 | Sourcing: The Hero Myth Extended Story Structure: Characterization, Character Development, Motivation Reading/Reports: Alfred Hitchcock, Patricia Highsmith, David Mamet Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A – 3, 4 CUFWRT402A - 2 |
|
10 | Sourcing: Road Tales Storytellers in the Screen Industry: David Goodis Reading/Reports: Syd Field, Helen Garner Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -3 |
|
11 | Sourcing: True Tales Extended Story Structure: Set-up, Payoff, Antagonists Stories for short film Reading/Reports: Henry Lawson, Peter Carey, Tim Winton |
Assessment #4 due: “The Extraordinary Within the Ordinary”
|
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -3 |
12 | Sourcing: Looking for Subtext Extended Story Structure: Mystery, Suspense, Irony Viewing: Roger Corman Reading/Reports: Edgar Allan Poe, Robert McKee Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -3 |
|
13 | Sourcing: Imagery Extended Story Structure: The Middle, Upping the Stakes Stories for feature film Reading/Reports: Mary Fortune, Barbara Baynton, Mary Gaunt, Linda Seger Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A - 4 |
|
14 | Sourcing: The Story Within Extended Story Structure: Emotion - Beyond Story Reading/Reports: Tom Hanlin, Colm Toíbín, Adrian Martin |
Assessment #5 due: “A Suspenseful Tale” | CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A - 4 |
15 | Sourcing: Family Ties/Valued Objects Extended Story Structure: dramatic action Reading/Reports: Writing For Children |
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A - 4 |
|
16 | Sourcing: True Crime Extended Story Structure: Crisis, Conflict, Climax Reading: Australian Police Journal, Henning Mankell |
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A - 4 |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
The Storytelling Course Reader 2013 will be available early in the semester. |
References
Extracts, readings and additional references are provided throughout the course. In addition to hard copy handouts, some readings are made available on Blackboard, and others can be accessed via the web. Recommended books will be discussed in class. You are advised to visit Blackboard for ongoing updated information |
Other Resources
Students will require access to a word processing program and the facility to print hard copies of stories for workshopping. These facilities are available in the Carlton Library.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.
Assessment Tasks
This unit Write Simple Stories is delivered and assessed in conjunction with Write Extended Stories .You will be assessed on your knowledge and ability to write both simple and extended stories that engage the target audience and meet the requirements or purpose of a storytelling concept, brief or project.
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are graded..
- Formative Assessment
- Assessment #1: Redrafting your story: exploring the power of collaborative writing and feedback Due: Week beginning March 18
- Assessment #2: Submit for feedback, a redrafted story drawing on folk and/or fairytale elements (1500 words) Due: Week beginning March 25
- Assessment #3 Workshop a draft of a story based on the theme “The Extraordinary within the Ordinary” Due: In class on date negotiated with teacher
- Assessment #4: Submit for feedback, a redrafted story based on the theme “The Extraordinary within the Ordinary” (2000 words) Due: Week beginning April 22
- Assessment #5 Workshop a draft of a “A Suspenseful Tale” Due: In class on date negotiated with teacher
Summative Assessment
- Assessment #6 Submit a final draft of “A Suspenseful Tale” in professional format (2,500) demonstrating your expertise and skills as a storyteller Due: Week beginning May 20
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
•HD Competent with High Distinction
•CDI Competent with Distinction
•CC Competent with Credit
•CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
•NYC Not Yet Competent
•DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
For further information on the assessment and grading criteria, please refer to the course blackboard site
Assessment Matrix
Assessment matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration.
Other Information
Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.
Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.
Plagiarism - RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity
Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online
Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)
Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees
Course Overview: Access Course Overview