FT1ITS: Introduction to Scriptwriting

Module code: FT1ITS

Module provider: Film, Theatre and TV; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Lucy Tyler, email: l.s.tyler@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Adam O'Brien, email: adam.obrien@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 18 July 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will enhance students' scriptwriting skills, providing them with the creative and intellectual tools that will support their wider ambitions of making outstanding film/television or theatre/performance projects during their degree, as well as beyond graduation.Students will develop a detailed knowledge of scriptwriting, and analytical skills that they can apply to their own and others’ creative work.The module is creatively enabling, encouraging the exploration of personal storytelling.The module develops informed scriptwriting, with students critically aware of the cultural and intellectual context of their creative work.While the learning content will include the study of long-form screen scripts, students’ creative work will focus on short-form project work. A key understanding of this module is that scriptwriting extends beyond the final draft, developing throughout the creative experience of production, and students will be encouraged to take some of their formative scriptwriting work forward into production modules. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Construct an original, coherent screen or stage narrative, in line with the conventions of the discipline  
2. Demonstrate critical understanding of short form storytelling in film/television or theatre/performance.  
3. Demonstrate awareness of global trends and critical approaches to scriptwriting.  
4. Develop an understanding of major script themes of narrative, character, dialogue, and world-building through their own practice as well as close reading of texts.

Module content

Themodule will examine a series of scriptwriting case studies, developing their understanding of short-form and long-form scripts and story structure. Students will apply the knowledge gained from these case studies and develop their own screen writing skills in a series of group and individual writing tasks, for which they will receive tutor and peer feedback.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Reading of scripts and writing tasks will recur on a basis, with students delivering short writing exercises both in class and as independent learning.   

• Short lectures covering key aspects of scriptwriting will be combined with challenging workshop-based learning, in which students will develop skills in devising and presenting creative ideas, as well as providing informed peer feedback. 
• Screenings of the studied film/television texts or recordings of theatre performances will reveal the interpretative possibilities arising from the originating script. 
• Project work will relate to students’ ongoing practice in other modules. 
• Real-world briefs will be set, challenging students to write for the constraints of low-budget short film or theatre productions. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative exercises in class

Reassessment

Additional costs