Module Catalogue

SEL2228 : Screenwriting Workshop

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Available for Study Abroad and Exchange students, subject to proof of pre-requisite knowledge.
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Tina Gharavi
  • Teaching Assistant: Mr Richard Stockwell
  • Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

1. Appreciation of the basic elements of fiction storytelling in screenwriting e.g. story arc, plot, narrative point of view, characterisation.
2. Development of voice and style to produce a short piece of screenwriting fiction with consideration of intended audience.
3. Develop reading and writing skills in screenwriting fiction.
4. Develop imaginative skills in relation to own creative work.
5. Experience in drafting and revising in response to a range of feedback and reading.

Outline Of Syllabus

Week 1-11
The module consists of weekly 2 hour lectures and the continuing weekly 1 hour seminars.

There will also be individual quarter hour tutorials to be scheduled throughout the semester by teaching staff, at which each student may present a passage of their own writing for constructive criticism from their tutor, or submission plans may be discussed.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture112:0022:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion1166:45166:45N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching111:0011:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops10:150:15Individual tutorial with each student
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The weekly lecture introduces the students to formal questions about creative screenwriting, and sets tasks and exercises to help them write.
The weekly seminar workshops enable the general principles of the course to be applied through close reading, or set exercises, or in practical critique of individual pieces of writing, led by the tutor.

The individual tutorial focuses the student’s attention on the revision process, leading in the commentary to an overview of techniques, and themes, and a contextualisation of their work in relation to contemporary writing.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Portfolio2A1002,500 words (approx 10 pages) of script plus self-reflexive commentary of 1500 words or the equivalent in continuous assessment.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will submit 2,500 words (approx 10 pages) of original creative screenwriting. A critical commentary of 1500 words will also be submitted. In this students should discuss their drafting process, and their principles of selection. They should also discuss any relevant information about genre, influences and themes explored in their work. It must include a bibliography of books read and events attended as part of this module.

The submission of creative work allows students to develop the range of skills and knowledge associated with the course. The accompanying commentary enables to student reflect critically upon their own creative processes, and to relate these to contemporary literature and screenwriting.

Reading Lists

Timetable