Course Title: Write simple stories
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
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: 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 Extended Stories (CUFWRT402A)
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 to meet requirements of brief. |
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’ 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
| 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. SEMESTER 1 |
| Week starting | Class content | Assessment due | Competency and Elements |
| Week 1 |
Introduction to Storytelling. Explanation of course content and overview of assessment |
CUFWRT302A - 1
|
|
| Week 2 |
Sourcing: Looking for stories that matter Story Structure: Beginning, Middle and End Story workshop: One Afternoon |
CUFWRT302A - 2 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
| Week 3 |
Sourcing: Fairy Tales Reading: Little Red Riding Hood, The Sleeping Beauty Reports: Charles Perrault, Fairy Tales |
CUFWRT302A – 2,3 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
| Week 4 |
Sourcing: Fairy Tales (cont’d) Reading: Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella Reports: The Grimm Brothers Story workshop: Found Stories |
CUFWRT302A – 2, 3 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
|
| Week 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 |
| Week 6 |
Sourcing: The Power of Myth |
Assessment #1 due
|
CUFWRT302A - 2 CUFWRT402A - 1 |
| Week 7 |
Storytellers in the Screen Industry: The Early Days Viewing: Frances Marion Reading/Reports: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daniel Fuchs Story workshops |
|
CUFWRT302A – 2 CUFWRT402A - 2 |
| Week 8 |
Sourcing: A Sense of Place |
|
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -2 |
| Week 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 |
| Week 10 |
Sourcing: Road Tales Storytellers in the Screen Industry: David Goodis Reading/Reports: Syd Field, Helen Garner Story workshops |
Assessment #2 due
|
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -3 |
| Week 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 |
|
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A -3 |
| Week 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 |
| Week 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 |
|
| Week 14 |
Sourcing: The Story Within Extended Story Structure: Emotion - Beyond Story Reading/Reports: Tom Hanlin, Colm Toíbín, Adrian Martin Story workshops |
Assessment #3 due
|
CUFWRT402A - 4 |
| Week 15 |
Sourcing: Family Ties/Valued Objects Extended Story Structure: dramatic action Reading/Reports: Writing For Children |
|
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A - 4 |
| Week 16 |
Sourcing: True Crime Extended Story Structure: Crisis, Conflict, Climax Reading: Australian Police Journal, Henning Mankell |
|
CUFWRT302A - 3 CUFWRT402A - 4 |
| Week 17 |
Assessment Week - no classes |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
The Storytelling Course Reader 2012 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 also 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, workshopping, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.
Assessment Tasks
This course will be delivered and assessed in conjunction with Write Extended Stories .You will be assessed on your knowledge and ability to write simple stories that engage the target audience and meet the requirements or purpose of a storytelling concept, brief or project. To demonstrate competency, you will need to complete the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.
Assessment Tasks:
Assessment for this course involves writing 3 stories. Archetypal stories (the prodigal son), myths (Oedipus) and fairy tales (Cinderella) are useful starting points for new stories. However, adaptations from works by an author other than yourself will not be accepted.
Assessment 1: Story 1- A Fairy Tale: A Magical Object or Happening
(1500 words) Due in class Week 6 (Week beginning 12 March)
30% of total mark
Assessment 2: Story 2 - The Extraordinary within the Ordinary
(2000 words) Due in class Week 10 (Week beginning 16 April)
30% of total mark
Assessment 3: Story 3 - A Suspenseful Tale
(2500 words) Due in class Week 14 (Week beginning 14 May)
30% of total mark
Assessment 4: Workshopping of written material
10% of total mark
Grades used in this course are as follows:
80 – 100% HD High Distinction
70 – 79% DI Distinction
60 – 69% CR Credit
50 – 59% PA Pass
Under 50% NN Fail
For further details on these assessment tasks and the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.
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
Copyright and Ethics
This course offers you an opportunity to create your own work, and as a result, generate copyright. Ideas cannot be copyrighted; however, they can be honoured and acknowledged. In this course, you will share ideas constantly. Students are expected to act responsibly and generously in this process. If you wish to adapt another’s idea, seek their permission first.
Submission of Assessment Tasks
You are required to submit all assessment tasks in hard copy with a completed School of Media and Communication cover sheet. You are expected to keep a copy of all assignments submitted.
Late Submissions
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension before that due date.
Please refer to the course blackboard site for information on late submissions and on applying for an extension.
Feedback
You will receive both spoken and written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is about the honest presentation of your academic work. Presenting work that fails to acknowledge other people’s work within yours can compromise academic integrity. For further information on academic integrity and plagiarism, please refer to the following URL. http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kkc202lwe1yv
Special Consideration Policy
Please refer to the following URL for information on applying for special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1
Course Overview: Access Course Overview