ALW227 - Scriptwriting: Character, Action and Reaction
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Patrick West |
| Prerequisite: | Students must have passed one level 1 unit prior to enrolling in this unit |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Students will examine the fundamentals of dramatic writing as these apply across a range of scriptwriting genres, with a focus on advanced storytelling strategies for local, national and international audiences. Scriptwriting elements covered include structure, plot, turning points, character, dialogue, scenes, setting, and subtext. Particular attention is devoted to writing film scripts. More broadly, students are encouraged to experiment in a range of genre styles, and to develop a reflective awareness of the collaborative nature of scriptwriting. Presentation of work-in-progress, intensive workshopping, and subsequent redrafting, provides training in audience awareness skills, while attention to international story-telling strategies reflects the increasing significance of international co-productions and cross-cultural audiences to contemporary scriptwriting careers. The major assessment item is either a complete short film script or the first act or third act of a longer film script.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Engage in creative and critical thinking in developing dramatic works using narrative technique, character development, dialogue and subtext | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Apply relevant research, experience and materials from a variety of sources to create dramatic works | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Give and receive constructive critique that focusses on the intention of the writer, the specified audience, and the demands of the medium. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO4 | Utilise scriptwriting technology, research and feedback to compose, redraft, analyse and critically evaluate scripts | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Exercise - Exploring Dialogue and Characters Through Scenes | 1200 words | 30% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2: Exercise - Plot Summary and Workshopping Reflection | 800 words | 20% | Week 10 |
| Assessment 3: Exercise - Writing a Film Script | 2000 words | 50% | Week 12 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ALW227 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.