Course Title: Write simple stories
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2014
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: |
1.1. 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
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’ stories
- 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: Ordinary Things Reading: Tim Winton Story Structure: Beginnings |
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 1: Generating Story Ideas | CUFWRT302A - 1, 2 |
| 3 | Sourcing: Fairy Tales |
CUFWRT302A – 1, 2 |
|
| 4 | Sourcing: Fairy Tales (cont’d) Reading: Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, The Grimm Brothers Story Structure: Inciting incidents Story workshops |
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 2: Workshop of story (dates of workshop to be confirmed) |
CUFWRT302A – 1, 2, |
| 5 | Sourcing: Classical theatre Reading: Aristotle, Aristophanes, E M Forster, Linda Aronson Story Structure: Conflict Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A – 1, 2, 3 |
|
| 6 | Sourcing: Myth Reading: Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler Story Structure: Climax Story workshops |
CUFWRT302A - 1, 2, 3 CUFWRT402A 2, 3, 4 |
|
| 7 | Sourcing: Allegory |
CUFWRT302A |
|
| 8 | Sourcing: Place Viewing: North By Northwest Story Structure: Emplacement Story workshops |
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT STORY 1 DUE: "The Ordinary in the Extraordinary" | CUFWRT302A - 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| 9 | Sourcing: Objects Extended Story Structure: Characterization, Complex Character Development, Motivation Summative Assessment 2 (Write Extended Stories) explained. Story workshops |
CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
| 10 | Sourcing: Travel |
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 3: Developing Conflict | CUFWRT402A - 2, 3 |
| 11 | The Ordinary and The Fantastic Reading: Henry Lawson, Peter Carey Extended Story Structure: Set-up, Payoff, Antagonists Stories for short film Story workshops |
|
CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3 |
| 12 | Extended Story Structure: Mystery, Suspense, Irony Reading: Robert McKee Story workshops |
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 4: Workshop of story (Dates of workshop to be confirmed) | CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3 |
| 13 | Sourcing: Imagery Extended Story Structure: Upping the Stakes, Crisis, Conflict, Climax. Stories for feature film. Reading: Barbara Baynton, Linda Seger Story workshops |
CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3 |
|
| 14 | Action, Stillness Extended Story Structure: Sub-text, suspension of action. Reading: Colm Toíbín, Adrian Martin Story workshops |
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT STORY 2 DUE: "A Suspenseful Tale" |
CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3 |
| 15 | Extended Story Structure: Framing, POV, Story about Story |
CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
| 16 | Course Review. | CUFWRT402A - 2 |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
The Storytelling Course Reader 2014 will be available at the beginning of the semester both in hard copy and as a digital copy on blackboard. Most readings referred to in the weekly teaching schedule will be found in this reader. |
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 COMM5910C Write Simple Stories is delivered with COMM5911C Write Extended Stories. However each unit will be assessed separately. You will be assessed on your knowledge and ability to write 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.
To demonstrate competency, you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
There are two formative assessment tasks for each of the units delivered in this course.
CUFWRT302A Write a Simple Story
- Assessment #1: Sourcing and developing story ideas (Due Wed 23 July)
For this assessment you will do a series of in-class exercises designed to help you think imaginatively about sourcing and generating story ideas.
- Assessment #2: Story workshops (As scheduled)
For this assessment, you will present a story for workshopping. It may be the story you intend to submit for your summative assessment in this unit, or it may be another piece of work.
Workshop dates to be confirmed with your teacher early in the semester.
The story will be between 1500 and 2000 words. It is to be emailed to your teacher one week prior to the workshop date, for timely distribution to other students.
CUFWRT402A Write an Extended Story
- Assessment #3 Developing conflict (Due Wed 10 September)
Conflict is often one of the most difficult aspects of story writing. This in-class assessment is designed to not only generate conflict in a story but escalate it.
- Assessment #4: Story workshops (As scheduled)
For this assessment, you will present a story for workshopping. It may be the story you intend to submit for your summative assessment in this unit, or it could be another piece of work.
Workshop dates to be confirmed with your teacher early in the semester.
The story will be between 1500 and 2500 words. It is to be emailed to your teacher one week prior to the workshop date, for timely distribution to other students.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
There are two summative assessments, one for each of the course units in Storytelling.
Summative Assessment 1: CUFWRT302A Write a Simple Story. Theme: The Ordinary in the Extraordinary
Due: Wednesday 27 August
Description of Assessment:
For this assessment, you will write a story that finds something extraordinary in an ordinary situation.
Length: 2000 words.
Details of Assessment:
You will:
- respond imaginatively to this story brief
- produce a powerful premise, concept and theme
- create characters that are deeply and imaginatively integrated into the story
- produce a structure that effectively supports premise, concept, theme and character
- explore language that is rich and deeply integrated
You will have an opportunity to present this story for workshopping prior to submitting it for assessment. Your written story will be read and assessed by teacher against the standards described in the rubric.
Assessment Submission:
Your story must be emailed to your teacher as a double-spaced digital attachment in either Word or RTF.
It must be accompanied by a digitally signed cover sheet. Cover sheets are available on blackboard, along with instructions on how to set up and use a digital signature.
You are also requested to submit a hard copy of your stories for assessment.
Summative Assessment 2: CUFWRT402A Write an Extended Story. Theme: A Suspenseful Tale
Due: Wednesday 22 October
Description of Assessment:
For this assessment, you will write a story that uses suspense and surprise to engage your reader’s curiosity.
Length: 2500 words.
Details of Assessment
You will:
- respond imaginatively to this brief.
- take risks and experiment with narrative structure
- explore character in depth
- use language that enriches and deepens the story
- identify five aspects of the story that you might explore in a subsequent draft. Include these points at the end of your story.
You will have an opportunity to present this story for workshopping prior to submitting it for assessment. Your written story will be read and assessed by teacher against the standards described in the rubric.
Assessment Submission:
Your story must be emailed to your teacher as a double-spaced digital attachment in either Word or RTF.
It must be accompanied by a digitally signed cover sheet. Cover sheets are available on blackboard, along with instructions on how to set up and use a digital signature.
You are also requested to submit a hard copy of your stories for assessment.
Workshopping Guidelines
- You will have the opportunity to have at least two stories workshopped in class time over the duration of the course.
- Workshop times will be scheduled with your teacher early on in the semester.
- One story can be between 1000 and 2000 words in length, the other between 1000 and 2500 words in length.
- You can choose to workshop the story you plan to submit for summative assessment, or a different story altogether. The choice is yours.
- To have a story workshopped, you will email it to your teacher one week prior to the workshop date. The teacher will distribute the story to the class prior to the workshop, to enable students to read and reflect on it.
- Workshops are facilitated according to conditions and rules that will be negotiated and agreed upon at the commencement of the course.
- Workshop times are limited. If you are unable to workshop on the scheduled date, please notify your teacher as soon as possible so that there is enough time for another student to be scheduled in your place.
Grades used in this unit are as follows:
- CHD 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 COMM5910C Write Simple Stories.
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 you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency
Cover Sheet for Submissions
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications. This cover sheet is to be signed and submitted digitally along with your assessments.
Feedback
You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects. Student feedback at RMIT
Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Academic progress
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. You can apply in writing for up to a week’s extension from your course teacher. If you need a longer extension, you wil need to apply for special consideration. Special consideration, appeals and discipline
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Academic integrity and plagiarism
Work Placement
It is a requirement of this program that all students participate in authentic work related tasks. These may be either simulated or in a real work environment. On occasion, we are approached by industry and given opportunities for students to apply for short term placements. When these placement opportunities arise, students are required to negotiate the specific details with the relevant program coordinator or teacher. All industry placements require students, RMIT staff and host organisations to sign a written agreement prior to the commencement of the placement.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview