ALW103 - Scriptwriting Fundamentals

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2023 unit information

Enrolment modes:

Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online

From 2024:

Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Donna McRae
Cohort rule:Nil
Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: ALWM103
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 2-hour seminar or equivalent per week

Scheduled learning activities - online:

Online independent and collaborative activities, including 1 x 2-hour seminar per week or equivalent

Content

This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of scriptwriting with a focus on developing practical skills and knowledge for a contemporary context. Scriptwriting elements covered include writing on country, writing from the self, adaptation, verbatim, character, action, story and structure. Students will learn how these elements may be used to maximum creative advantage within divergent scriptwriting forms. Understanding the fundamentals to script writing will give the student a grounding in all forms of performance writing, including for theatre, film, series, gaming, and performance art. The unit encourages writers to embrace a flexible definition of scripts in relationship to their wide application in the industry. The unit's focus is very much on understanding and developing practical skills, then applying them in practice. Intensive workshopping ensures the acquisition of the collaborative and audience awareness skills essential to allow students to undertake scriptwriting roles of the future.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Demonstrate understanding of fundamental elements of scriptwriting

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO2

Employ fundamental elements of scriptwriting to produce scripts in different forms

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO7: Teamwork

ULO3

Use scriptwriting software effectively

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Collaborate positively with other writers on scriptwriting projects

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO3: Digital literacy

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO7: Teamwork

GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO5

Demonstrate familiarity with the international and cross-cultural context of contemporary scriptwriting

GLO7: Teamwork

GLO8: Global citizenship

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Story in action (plot and turning points) 800 words or equivalent 20% Week 5
Assessment 2 - Action in dialogue (subtext and emotion) 800 words or equivalent 20% Week 7
Assessment 3 - Workshopping participation 800 words or equivalent 20% Week 9 - 11
Assessment 4 - Script 1600 words or equivalent 40% Week 12

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via ALW103
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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