Screenwriting for Television (9992.1)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | ||
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Arts And Design |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| Discipline Of Creative And Cultural Practice | Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced 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) |
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:1. Demonstrate an understanding of the various creative and professional practices of writing for series television;
2. Synthesise and analyse advanced screenwriting techniques; and
3. Demonstrate skills and knowledge applicable to the television industry.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
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 - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
Screenwriting 8905Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
NONE.Equivalent units
NO.Assumed knowledge
Students will be assumed to have achieved a Pass in Screenwriting (8905)| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|
Required texts
There is no set text for this unit. There are, however, two recommended texts and CRITICAL weekly readings (please see Moodle for full listings) which will be discussed in the tutorial workshops.
Recommended Readings:
Kallas, Christina, Inside the Writers' Room - conversations with American TV Writers, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2014
Turnbull, Sue, The TV Crime Drama, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2014
ACTUAL SCREENPLAYS – various. As well as the screenplays available as readings on the moodle site, there are bound copies of many scripts in the CLRC and library.
These are just some of the various websites usefulfor the study of TV screenwriting:
http://www.australianscreenwriter.com.au (The Australian Screenwriter - useful first port of call)
http://www.awg.com.au (Australian Writers' Guild – the representative body for screenwriters)
http://www.script-o-rama.com (great archive of tv & feature screenplays)
http://www.dailyscript.com (great archive of tv & feature screenplays)
http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au (screen Australia – premier funding body)
http://www.nfsa.gov.au (National Film and Sound Archive
http://www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Database – free and fun though not always reliable)
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Layout and format for written work:
The screenplay element of Assessment item #3 must:
- follow the mandated house style
- adopt correct margins
- be single-spaced
- have page numbers
- be in 12 point Courier, Courier Final Draft or Courier New
- Work that does not adhere to the house style risks losing points. Please refer to the "standard script layout" if in doubt.
Assessment Item #3's "bible" element should be submitted as a WORD doc. For the "screenplay" element you are advised to use Celtx, free screenwriting software – it will make the formatting much easier and will mean the format stays the same when it is dropped in the drop box (as a PDF). Be sure to create a TypeSet/PDF from your script before submitting (this will give the script all the right formatting) tab found at the bottom of the Celtx page, next to Script.
Handing in assignments:
Submissions should be made according to the submission requirements outlined in section 5b of this unit outline. Deadlines for submissions must be strictly observed. Any requests for extensions must be made at least one week before submission date and should be accompanied by supporting documentation (medical/counselling certificates etc). The University policy on late submission of work will be followed: https://guard.canberra.edu.au/policy/policy.php?pol_id=3351
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 and participate in at least 80% of the tutorial workshops. 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 download the free screenwriting software "Celtx" at https://www.celtx.com/index.html. Specialist scriptwriting programs such as Final Draft are also useful, though they are expensive and celtx offers sufficient flexibility at this stage.
Students should be familiar with the Web in order to access library materials, script websites, and Moodle. Students must be able to post drafts and final assignments and feedback online and access email.
Work placement, internships or practicums
None.
