Scriptwriting Web Forum

Course Description
P: COM 251. Study of forms and materials suitable for the electronic mass media; practice in selection, adaptation, and organization of program materials. Cr. 3.

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Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

1. To select appropriate materials as content for fiction television and film production;
2. To use the proper script formats for video and film;
3. To use the proper production terminology where necessary; and
4. To apply the principles of dramatic form in order to conceive and write stories for television and film.

Texts

• Television and Screen Writing, fourth Edition. by Richard Blum
• The understructure of writing for film & television by Ben Brady and Lance Lee
• Twenty One Rules for Screenwriters
• Media Communication Terms
• Internet Resources for Scriptwriters
• Script Registration with the Writers Guild
• Additional readings as listed in syllabus are on REZexpress available through the Helmke Library home page

Assignments
All assignment must be completed.

1. Dramatic analysis: Each student will analyse the dramatic structure of an hour-long television drama.
2. Adaptation proposal: Each student will propose a literary work for adaptation to a long form production format (theatrical motion picture or made-for-television miniseries).
3. Final Script: Each student team will complete a script in appropriate film or television format for a one-hour film or television program. Students will submit a scenario, step sheets, a scene in appropriate format, and a final script. Students will receive one final grade for the script, but each successive assignment will be given a provisional grade so that the student will have a sense of his/her progress.
4. Media Analyses: Each student will complete three Media Analyses of current media productions.
5. Class participation: An admittedly subjective assessment of the student's active participation in class discussion, critiques and the listserv.

Grading
Course assignments will be weighted as follows:

Dramatic Analysis Due February 6	100 points
Adaptation Proposal Due April 3	300 points
Media Analyses (50 points each) Due February 11 March 18 April 15	150 points
Script Scenario Due February 4 Step Sheets Due March 3-5 Scene Due March 27 Final Script Due April 22	400 points
Class Participation	50 points
Total	1000 points

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The final grade will be based on the following scale:

Points	Grade
1000-890 points	A
889-790 points	B
789-700 points	C
699-600 points	D
599 points-below	F

Course Policies
1. You are expected to attend class.
2. All assignments must be turned in. Failure to turn in an assigment will result in a grade of F for the course.
3. No late assignments will be accepted. Due dates are stated in the syllabus.
4. No handwritten assignments will be accepted.

Campus Services
1. If you have or aquire a disability and would like to find out what special services may be available to you, contact Services for Students with Disabilities in WU 118 & 218 (481-6657, voice/TTY).
2. The IPFW Writing Center: Click here for information about the Writing Center. Return to Table of Contents

URL=http://users.ipfw.edu/tankel/syllabi/Spring2003/com436.htm
Revised: 7 January 2003