Screenwriting for Television (9992.1)

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 

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

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.

• Semester 1, 2017, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (149636)