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Introduction to Screenwriting - Course Syllabus

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY                                                   

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES                                    

FACULTY/ DEPARTMENT LITERATURE AND LINGUISTICS

                                                                       

Course Syllabus

  1. General information of the course:
  1. Course Name: Introduction to Screenwriting
  2. Course Code
  3. Course Type
  • General:                         □
  • Basic:                                 
  • Foundation/intermediate: 
  • Compulsory/core:               
  • Optional/elective:                
  • Specialized/specialisation:  
  1. Course Credit: 2

 

  1. Level: second-year student, third-year student, final-year student
  1. Time allocation: 30 periods
    1. Lectures/Theories: 15 periods  
    2. Seminars/Students’ presentation/Practice: 10 periods
    3. Other activities: 5 periods

 

  1. Course Prerequisites: Students are expected to have completed 

Foundation course(s): Introduction to film studies    Knowledge: general courses               Skills: not required

  1. Course Overview

- Introducing to the general knowledge of movie scripts and skills for students to analysis to film structure to learn how to write film scripts from the cinema and television celebrities.

- Guiding students to discuss the script, the script ideas and give the most importantly skills which could help them to write a filmed script.

7. Course Aim

      The Aim of this Course is to provide the theory and practice of film screenwriting. This course will help the students to explore the basic theory and formal aspects of story structure, character development, use of conflict, scene writing and dialogue. And then they could apply these basic dramatic principles to the development of their own original material. Since much of the work of screenwriting is done before the actual drafting, this class will focus on the process of screenwriting: from the initial premise, through character exploration, to treatments and step-outlines, then writing their first draft. With the help of their peers in workshop, they will leave this course with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of screenwriting.

  1. Course Learning Outcomes: On completion of the course, students will be able to
    1. Understand the skills to write a script
    2. Analyze the structure of the script
    3. Apply the knowledge to write a short film script, sitcom, TV drama, screen play and so on
    4. Have a good attitude with this course.

8. Linking between course learning outcomes, teaching & learning strategies, course assessment and program learning outcomes

STT

(No.)

Course learning outcomes Teaching & learning activities Course assessment Program learning outcomes
Knowledge Skills Attitude
 

Understand the skills to write a script

Analyze the structure of the script.

Apply the knowledge to write a short film script, sitcom, TV drama, screen play and so on

Have a good attitude with this course.

   

X

F

PLO1

PLO1-F

VD: X

  M

 PLO2

PLO2-M

VD: X

P

 PLO3

PLO3-P

             
  1. Texts and Materials

 

      Key Reading /Required texts and materials

Screenplay: the foundations of screenwriting by Syd Field

      Reference /Supplementary texts and materials

The Screenwriters Roadmap: 21 Ways to Jumpstart Your Story by Neil Landau

The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters by Karl Iglesias

Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

      Web pages /CDs

www.wordplayer.com

 www.mypdfscripts.com

www.imsdb.com

www.avclub.com

www.filmcrithulk.wordpress.com

www.imdb.com

www.script-o-rama.com

www.JohnAugust.com

www.filmmakermagazine.com

www.deadline.com

www.filmsite.org

www.thewrap.com

 

  1. Learning Assessment

 

Assessment criteria Percent Score Percent of final grade

Class Participation: 20%

Other Assignments: 20%

Growth: 10%

50%

Midterm score

50%

Screenplay: 50%

      50%

 

100%

Final score

50%

     

100%

(10/10)

 

Passing grade: 5/10

 

 Guidelines for format and grading criteria/scoring scheme

 

-  Exercises: three exercises, every exercise is 30 minutes.

-  Mid-term test/Final test:      Mid term (attendance + exercises + homework), Final test (script or short film)

            -  Script: about over 5 pages

 - Short film: about over 5 minutes.

Example: Screen writing

content 30%  
structure/organization 30%  
grammar 20%  
Spelling, punctuation 20%  
Style, quality of expression 10%  

                                                                                      100%

  1. Course policies

Be on time and prepared for class every day. Being prepared means having a pen/pencil, notebook with folder, and any other necessary materials with them every day.  Unprepared students will lose class participation points.

Absolutely NO food or drink allowed. (Water bottles are permitted)

Respect the classroom environment.

Follow all school rules as outlined in the Student Handbook

They must ACTIVELY watch each film. This class (and their grades) relies heavily on discussion of viewed films and exercises; therefore, all students must ardently participate in the viewing and discussing of films.

Read and abide by the school’s academic integrity policy (in your handbook.)  All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported.

View and discuss with an open mind. The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to different film genres and the skills to write a scripts.

All students must do is think, talk and write critically about the films watched as well as practice to write a script. Insensitive remarks about the films or one’s classmates, teachers, or oneself will not be tolerated in this classroom.

They will also be asked to leave the class if you decide to ruin the viewing experience of the class with inappropriate remarks during the movie. Save those ideas for their response journals.

Students will be able to bring in registered technology to use in class for academic purposes. Instructor will notify students when it is a “technology day.” Any technology found being used in an inappropriate manner will be confiscated.

Turn off and store away all electronic devices on all “non-technology days.”

  1. Course detail
Chapter Main content/topic

Supplement topics

Reading materials

1

The Principles of Dramatic Wring Introduction to Screenwriting The Basics: Character, Story, Structure The Premise: Story Spine

Finding the Story How to Format a Script How to Write a Short Outline

Workshop: Premises Due: 3-5 Premises Reading: Seger chp. 1, 7 Howard p. 1-39

2

Three Act Structure: Putting It All Together “The Godfather”: Beginnings, Middles, and Ends

Treatment: 5 Key Moments

Workshop: Short Outlines Due: Short Outlines

*Bring notes for classmates to every workshop.

Reading: “The Godfather” Seger Chp. 2

3

Exploring Character

Dramatizing Character Proper Script Formatting

Reading: “Schindler’s List” Seger chp. 9-12 Howard p. 41-76 Due: Treatments
4

Scenes: Form and Function

The Role of Conflict Dialogue & Descriptives Option “C” Film Analysis Character & Plot

Reading: “The 6th Sense” Seger Chp. 5 Howard p. 76-94 Workshop: Step Outline – Divide into groups for peer feedback Due: Filmography, 2 Character Interviews

5

Structure and Meaning Idea vs. Counter Idea How to write a Step Outline

Workshop: Group A: Pgs. 1-15, submitted to Blackboard Reading: McKee Chp. 6

 Due: Group A: Pgs. 1-15 submits to eLearning

Group B: Film Analysis

6

Act I & The First Draft

Workshop: Group A: Pgs. 15-45 Due: Group A: Film Analysis Group B: Pgs. 30-45

 

Lecturer in charge

Name: Dao Le Na Degree/Academic Qualification: PhD
Institution Address: 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang Telephone No:
Email: Website:

 

Assistant lecturer

Name: Degree/Academic Qualification:
Institution Address: Telephone No:
Email: Website:
Contact information: Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Classroom:  
Course timetable:  

 Ho Chi Minh city,       ,          , 2016

DEAN OF FACULTY         HEAD OF DEPARTMENT                       THE LECTURER

 

 

 

 

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