Screenwriting (11116.1)

Please note these are the 2024 details for this unit
Home
/
Find your course
/
Screenwriting
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Online
On-campus
Online self-paced
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Arts And Communications Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
This unit introduces students to writing for the ear and eye as a screenplay rather than writing to be read as prose. It concentrates on the principles and practicalities of dramatic writing for the screen with specific application to writing short film. The approach to this is three-pronged: analysis of the theories and principles of narrative drama and how they are applied in screenwriting; screenwriting techniques and practice; and criticism of students' own work and analysis exercises in tutorial workshops.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Analyse and deconstruct screen dramas in terms of structure, character and narrative principles;
2. Apply these principles when creating original dramatic texts for the screen;
3. Use industry production conventions and formats in creating dramatic texts for the screen; and
4. Evaluate and edit their own and others' work.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

8150 Introduction to Screenwriting AND 6879 Scriptwriting 1.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2025 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 Online Dr Diana Clarke
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 On-campus Dr Diana Clarke
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Dr Diana Clarke
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Online self-paced Dr Diana Clarke
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

All texts available on Canvas. 

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

It is anticipated that, in order to be able to pass this unit, students will need to attend at least 80% of the tutorials, particularly those weeks in which the homework items are discussed. Students will also need to engage with 80% of the online materials, including readings, viewings and particularly the lectures. Students attending/engaging less than this amount are likely to have difficulty passing this unit.

Required IT skills

Students are expected to have basic typing and familiarity with word processing programs such as Word. Students are strongly encouraged to download the free screenwriting software "Celtx" at https://www.celtx.com/index.html. Specialist scriptwriting programs such as Final Draft are expensive and not necessary, but useful, especially if students intend to continue with screenwriting in the future.

Students should be familiar with the internet in order to access library materials and script websites. Students must be able to post drafts and final assignments online and access email.

In-unit costs

Since the required films and texts are available from the canvas site and/or the UC Library, there need not be any further cost to the student. However, you may prefer to rent the required or recommended films from commercial outlets and to purchase some of the recommended reading texts.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Next step

Apply now Enquire