C E R R I T O S C O L L E G E. Norwalk, California COURSE OUTLINE ENGLISH 241 SCREENWRITING. Reviewed by:

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1 C E R R I T O S C O L L E G E Norwalk, California COURSE OUTLINE ENGLISH 241 SCREENWRITING Approved by the Curriculum Committee on: February 23, 2006 Chad Greene Associate Professor, English Reviewed by: Dr. Stephen Clifford Department Chair, English David Fabish Instructional Dean, Liberal Arts Rick Miranda Vice-President of Academic Affairs/ Assistant Superintendent Revised/reviewed: 5/88, 12/8/94, 2/22/96, 1/27/00, 2/24/00, 10/24/02, 1/22/04, 2/23/06, 9/30/11, 2/8/18 Content review: 2/22/96, 10/24/02, 1/22/04

2 ENGL 241 SCREENWRITING 2 I. Catalog description A. Course description This course provides an opportunity for students to develop a screenplay for television or motion pictures. Students learn the craft of screenwriting by studying published scripts, movies, and TV shows and by writing synopses, treatments, scenes, and a production-worthy screenplay. This course may be taken a maximum of 2 times. B. Class hours: 3.0 Lecture Units: 3 C. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or ENGL 52, ENGL 72, ESL 152, or equivalent with a grade of Pass or C or higher. D. Co-requisite: None E. Recommendation: None II. Texts and other instructional materials A. Required texts The instructor may choose from the following or other Board-approved texts: Field, Syd. Screenplay. New York: Delta, Goldman, William. Adventures in the Screen Trade. New York: Time Warner, Hauge, Michael. Writing Screenplays That Sell. New York: Harper Collins, Hunter, Lew. Lew Hunter s Screenwriting 434. New York: Tarcher-Perigee, McKee, Robert. Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting. New York: Harper-Collins, Snyder, Blake. Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You ll Ever Need. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Production, B. References Aristotle. Poetics. London: Penguin Classics, Belton, John. American Cinema/American Culture. New York: McGraw Hill, Braudy, Leo, and Marshall Cohen, ed. Film Theory and Criticism. New York: Oxford University Press, Dick, Bernard F. Anatomy of Film. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, Giannetti, Louis, and Scott Eyman. Flashback: A Brief History of Film. Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, Thompson, Kristin, and David Bordwell. Film History: An Introduction. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009.

3 ENGL 241 SCREENWRITING 3 III. IV. Course content A. Writing a synopsis of a screenplay B. Writing a treatment for a screenplay C. Creating a working draft which abides by the screenplay format D. Developing main and supporting characters E. Revealing character through dialogue F. Developing a plot G. Evaluating a synopsis, a treatment, a working draft H. Evaluating dialogue and scene development I. Revising in response to criticism J. Evaluating a screenplay K. Offering constructive criticism L. Preparing work to submit to an agent Course objectives A. Developing reading and writing skills B. Being conversant with screenwriting as a medium of literature C. Creating an original treatment and scenes toward a full length feature film IV. Course objectives - continued D. Developing critical thinking skills by analyzing and evaluating the work of other students, published work, and the student s own work E. Learning how to submit work for production V. Assignments A. Reading Required text as well as screenwriting produced by professionals and by the students B. Writing or problem solving or skill attainment 1. Students will develop a synopsis, a treatment, and a working draft of a full length screenplay for TV or film 2. Students will modify, integrate, organize, rewrite, and revise the assignments in response to peer and instructor evaluations C. Critical thinking 1. Analyzing screenplays and the visual results by professional in terms of technique and craftsmanship 2. Analyzing and evaluating work in progress by students in terms of technique and craftsmanship 3. Writing critiques of student and professional work

4 ENGL 241 SCREENWRITING 4 4. Contributing suggestions for improvement of fellow students writing 5. Brainstorming ideas for characters, scenes, plots 6. Drafting 7. Creatively using conventions of the screenplay format 8. Revising working drafts in response to critiques 9. Analysis of cultural diversity through material presented VI. VI. VII. Methods of instruction may include A. Lecture to introduce the screenplay format; to define terms of screenwriting; to prompt discussions; to model critical discourse B. Class discussion to evaluate work presented in workshop, to test suggestions for revision, to engage students in critical reading and writing C. Instructional multimedia (viewing/listening/researching) used to show how screenwriting is rendered on film D. Reading assignments of three kinds: texts that describe the processes and conventions of screenwriting; student works to which students respond in workshop and/or in writing; and published screenplays E. Prewriting tasks to generate topics and material for writing Methods of instruction may include - continued F. Writing assignments that engage the student in the processes of screenwriting G. Instructor-student conferences which offer the opportunity for individualized instruction H. Workshops (cooperative learning) which offer the opportunity for students to develop their verbal communication skills and to apply their critical reading and writing skills I. Technologically mediated instruction which could include online, televised, or other delivery methods For a disabled student, the instructor will make available alternative methods of instruction that are compatible with that student s disability. Methods of evaluation A. Screenwriting 1. Credible dialogue 2. Round characters 3. Sustaining conflict 4. Abiding by screenplay format 5. Frequency of grammar and spelling errors

5 ENGL 241 SCREENWRITING 5 6. Vividness and clarity of language 7. Methods of evaluation (continued) 8. Brevity and clarity of synopsis and treatment B. Class participation features considered are: 1. Contributions to class discussions 2. Quality of critiques 3. Preparation for class 4. Presentations and projects C. Midterm D. Final Examination based on student work presented in class. VIII. Student Learning Outcome 1. Analyze the attributes of screenwriting structure in terms of structure, plot, character, and mise en scene that create and sustain suspense 2. Identify screenwriting styles, referencing specific cinematic periods and cultures 3. Analyze genres of screenwriting similarities and differences 4. Create development documents such as a synopsis, a treatment, a step outline, and/or a set of scene cards according to motion picture industry standards 5. Write scenes that reveal character through action and dialogue 6. Write a screenplay that evidences mature character development and narrative complexity with sound dramatic structure, adhering strictly to motion picture industry standards

6 ENGL 241 SCREENWRITING 6 MULTICULTURAL STATEMENT This course investigates issues relating to race, gender, and class as well as the effects of politics and society on the production and reception of television and film. Genres, topics and teaching methods include artistry and a variety of techniques to enhance learning styles exhibited by our students.

C E R R I T O S C O L L E G E. Norwalk, California COURSE OUTLINE ENGLISH 234 READINGS IN SHORT FICTION

C E R R I T O S C O L L E G E. Norwalk, California COURSE OUTLINE ENGLISH 234 READINGS IN SHORT FICTION C E R R I T O S C O L L E G E Norwalk, California COURSE OUTLINE ENGLISH 234 READINGS IN SHORT Approved by the Curriculum Committee on: September 25, 2003 Dr. Steve Clifford Joana Mootz-Gonzales Lynn Serwin