Course Title: Write for children's television
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2017
Course Code: COMM7324
Course Title: Write for children's television
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6125 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact: Program Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254815
Course Contact Email: mcvet@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Cameron Clarke
Phone: 9925 4908
Email: cameron.clarke@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 70
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
Required Prior Study
At RMIT, you are required to have completed all first year core competencies before enrolling in this elective course.
Course Description
Write for Children’s Television covers the concept and practice of writing television programmes specifically for the “C” classification age group (14 years and under).
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
ASWCTV611A Write for children's television |
Element: |
1. Create a concept for a children’s television series |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Sustainable premise is established suitable for a younger audience |
Element: |
2. Further develop concept |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 A writing team is formed with clear goals and common vision |
Element: |
3. Write a script |
Performance Criteria: |
3.2 Scenes are written effectively and engagingly |
Element: |
4. Develop another draft |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Areas needing further development are identified in conjunction with other team members |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- translate text stories into television narrative
- work up story concepts for children’s television series using the story conferencing process
- write television scripts of a stipulated length for existing or proposed children’s television series
- compile a comprehensive, professional quality folio of work to take into the children’s television marketplace.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• class exercises
• individual and group project work
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
2. Out-of-class activities:
• independent and group project based work
• online and other research
• discussion and comment via blackboard
• independent study
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Content | Assessment due |
| 1 | Traditional stories – fairytales etc. Contemporary fairytales Tradition and the evolution of storytelling for children Violence |
|
| 2 |
Parameters – fantasy and reality in story telling for children. Children's genres
|
|
| 3 | The series bible Brainstorming / concept generation and story conferencing / Originating and developing ideas Creating a visual style Forms of presentation – puppets, animation, live action… |
|
| 4 | Theme |
|
| 5 | Synopses |
|
| 6 | Devising a non-narrative children’s show |
Assessment #1 due |
| 7 | Adaptation |
|
| 8 | Synopsis, treatment, scene breakdown |
|
| 9 | Character and story arcs |
|
| 10 | Identifying and resolving the A and B stories |
Assessment # 2 due |
| 11 | Setups and Payoffs |
|
Mid-semester break: 18–29 September |
||
| 12 | Dialogue for children |
|
| 13 | Scenes and sequences |
|
| 14 | Pitching Formatting Animation |
|
| 15 | Final draft workshop |
Assessment #3 due |
| 16 | Semester review |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Any prescribed reading material will be distributed in class |
References
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. |
Other Resources
You will require access to a computer and to the internet.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is on going throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class discussion and exercises and through the application of learned skills and insights to your written projects.
Assessment Tasks
To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all assessment (refer to Blackboard for assessment criteria). Once you have achieved competency, your final assessment task (#3) will be graded (refer to Blackboard for grading rubric).
Assessment #1: Mini Bible – Part A (Due Friday 11 August)
Working in groups, develop an original concept for a children’s television series including synopsis, characters, and pilot episode storyline.
Assessment #2: Mini Bible – Part B (Due Friday 8 September)
Working in groups, complete mini bibles with five further storylines and key moments in the series arc.
Assessment #3: Pilot Script (Due Friday 27 October)(graded)
You will write a 24-minute pilot script for the proposed series. The script should work with the conventions and narrative requirements of the series and draw from the concept and bible you develop during the course. You will also have an opportunity to workshop and further develop your script during the class. Your script should be formatted according to the standards explained at the beginning of the course.
You will email your script as a digital attachment to your teacher, along with an attached, signed cover sheet. Cover sheets, along with instructions on how to set up and use a digital signature, are included on the program blackboard site.
Grading
Graded assessment in this course uses the following grades:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CID Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment
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
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students
How to submit work
Your assessment brief will specify how you should submit your work – as hard copy, digital copy or electronically through Blackboard. When you submit your work, you must include a declaration of authorship.
For submissions on Blackboard, you need to agree to an assessment declaration when you submit.
For all other submissions, you must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=x3ddsmsrwa1hz
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. We strongly advise that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
We request that you speak to your teacher if regular attendance becomes difficult.
Assessment feedback
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1
Student progress
Monitoring academic progress is helps us to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-progress
Adjustments to assessment
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.
Academic integrity and plagiarism
Academic integrity is about the honest presentation of work that is your own. RMIT University has a clear policy on plagiarism (see web page for more detail).
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Credit Transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit
Course Overview: Access Course Overview