Course Title: Write simple stories

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2015

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: Clare Strahan
Email: clare.strahan@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
2. Identify purpose of dialogue, characters, point of view and setting to help structure storylines
3. Discuss with relevant personnel possible visual and aural storytelling structures that would meet the requirements of briefs

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
5. Use information sources to research subject areas
6. Experiment with linear and non-linear storyline structures
7. Use imagination to develop ideas for characters, plots and settings
8. Develop ideas for scenarios, contexts and situations in which characters act, react and resolve
9. Select story structure and content that best meet requirements of briefs
10. Seek feedback from relevant personnel on proposed story and refine approach as required

Element:

3. Draft stories

Performance Criteria:

                           

 

11. Use a creative writing style appropriate to specified stories
12. Use tools to draft stories
13. Use correct grammar, appropriate punctuation and accurate spelling
14. Proofread copy to check for spelling, grammatical, typographic and other errors
15. Submit draft stories to relevant personnel for feedback and amend as required

Element:

4. Refine stories

Performance Criteria:

16. Participate in the testing of stories in line with agreed criteria
17. Discuss and confirm with relevant personnel additional requirements or modifications to stories
18. Complete necessary amendments within agreed timelines


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 
  CUFWRT302A - 1, 2 

 
3
 

Sourcing: Fairy Tales
Reading: Little Red Riding Hood, The Sleeping Beauty, Charles Perrault, Fairy Tales
Story Structure: Characters
Story workshop processes, conventions and ethics

  CUFWRT302A – 1, 2 
 
4
 
Sourcing: Fairy Tales (cont’d)
Reading: Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella
Story Structure: Inciting incidents 
Story workshops
Write Simple Stories
Assessment 1: First draft of story due
Assessment 1: Workshopping

CUFWRT302A – 1, 2,

 

 

5
 
Sourcing: Classical theatre
Reading: Aristotle, Aristophanes, E M Forster, Linda Aronson
Story Structure: Conflict 
Story workshops
 Write a Simple Story Assessment 1: Workshopping CUFWRT302A – 1, 2, 3 

 
6
 
Sourcing: Myth
Reading: Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler
Story Structure: Climax
Story workshops
 Write a Simple Story Assessment 1: Workshopping CUFWRT302A - 1, 2, 3 
CUFWRT402A 2, 3, 4 
 
7
 

Sourcing: Allegory
Reading: Plato’s The Cave
Story Structure: Endings  
Story workshops

Write a Simple Story Assessment 1: Workshopping

CUFWRT302A
1, 2, 3 
CUFWRT402A - 2, 3, 4 
             

8
 
Sourcing: Place
Viewing: North By Northwest
Story Structure: Emplacement
Story workshops

 Write a Simple Story

Assessment 2: Final version of story due

 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

 

CUFWRT302A - 1, 2, 3, 4 
 
10
 

Sourcing: Travel
Extended Story Structure: Time, Analypsis 
Reading: Helen Garner, Lisa Dethridge 
Story workshops             

 


 

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 

 



Write an Extended Story
Assessment 1: First draft of story
Assessment 1: Workshopping
 


 

CUFWRT402A -
1, 2, 3
 

  Mid-semester break: Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October inclusive.    

12

 

Extended Story Structure: Mystery, Suspense, Irony 
Reading: Robert McKee
Story workshops
Write an Extended Story
Assessment 1: Workshopping
 
 
CUFWRT402A -
1, 2, 3 
 
13
 
Sourcing: Imagery
Extended Story Structure: Upping the Stakes
Stories for feature film
Reading: Barbara Baynton
Story workshops 
 Write an Extended Story
Assessment 1: Workshopping
 
           

CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3
             

14
 
Action, Stillness 
Extended Story Structure: Sub-text, suspension of action 
Reading: Colm Toíbín, Adrian Martin 
Story workshops
 Write an Extended Story
Assessment 1: Workshopping
 
 

CUFWRT402A -
1, 2, 3
 
15
 

Point of view in story.

Review of course.



           

CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3
             

16  No Classes

Write an Extended Story
Assessment 2 - Final Version of Story Due

CUFWRT402A - 1, 2, 3, 4


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

The Storytelling Course Reader will be available at the beginning of the semester both in hard copy and as a digital copy on blackboard.


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

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessments to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment (refer to Blackboard for assessment criteria).

CUFWRT302A Write a Simple Story
For the assessment, you will write a story of between 1000 and 1500 words, present it for workshopping in class and develop it into a final version. The subject of your story will be ‘the extraordinary in the ordinary’.

Assessment 1: Workshop a Story. First draft of story due: Week 4 (28 July) Workshopping: Weeks 4–7 (28 July, 4, 11, 18 August)
Workshop dates are to be confirmed with your teacher early on in the semester. Submit a single-sided hard copy version of your story on Week 4. Your story will then be workshopped in class, through a structured feedback process facilitated by the teacher, and undertaken to agreed guidelines.

Assessment 2: Redraft a Story. Due: Tuesday 25 August
For this assessment, you will present a 1000-1500 word redraft of your first story that incorporates the feedback you received in the workshop, and further develops its themes, plot, characters, language and ideas. You will also submit 200-word statement that reflects on the story’s development.

CUFWRT402A Write an Extended Story
In this unit you will be challenged to write stories that integrate character with theme and plot in greater depth. For the assessment, you will write a story of between 1800 and 2500 words, present it for workshopping in class and develop it into a final version. The subject of your story will be ‘a suspenseful tale’.

Assessment 1: Workshop Story. First draft of story due: Week 11 (15 September) Workshopping: Weeks 11–14 (15 September, 6, 13, 20 October)
Workshop dates are to be confirmed with your teacher early on in the semester. Submit a single-sided hard copy version of your story on Week 4. Your story will then be workshopped in class, through a structured feedback process facilitated by the teacher, and undertaken to agreed guidelines.

Assessment 2: Redraft Story. Due Tuesday 3 November (NB: There will be no class this week. Stories to be emailed to teacher on this date.)
For this assessment, you will present a 1800 to 2500 word redraft of your first story that incorporates the feedback you received in the workshop, and further develops its themes, plot, characters, language and ideas. You will also submit 200-word statement that reflects on the story’s development.

Once you have demonstrated competency, your final stories will be graded (refer to Blackboard for grading rubric).

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.


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: rmit.edu.au/students 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
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.

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (web link)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process through which people can gain entry to, or credit in, recognised courses based on competencies gained. The competencies may have been gained through experience in the workplace, in voluntary work, in social or domestic activities or through informal or formal training or other life experiences. Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) applies if a student has previously successfully completed the requirements of a unit of competency or module and is now required to be reassessed to ensure that the competency has been maintained.

Assessment and Feedback (web link)
You will receive verbal feedback during scheduled class times, and written feedback from teachers on your work . Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Student Progress (web link)
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential.

Special consideration for Late Submission (web link)
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 will need to apply for special consideration.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism (web link)
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview