Students
MMCC1025 – Screenwriting
2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Karen Pearlman
Contact via karen.pearlman@mq.edu.au
10 Hadenfeld Ave (10HA) room 193H
Mondays 1 to 2pm or 10 to 11 am by appointment
Tutor
Miro Bilbrough
Contact via miro.bilbrough@mq.edu.au
tutor
Sam Allen
Contact via samuel.allen@mq.edu.au
tutor
Alicia Walsh
Contact via alicia.walsh@mq.edu.au
tutor
Michael James Rowland
Contact via michael.rowland@mq.edu.au
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces writing for screen media. Students encounter strategies for generating, researching, and developing their own creative ideas. They work on particular aspects of screen storytelling such as character, world, and cinematic metaphor. Students may choose to develop scripts for fiction, non-fiction, animation, interactive narrative, or hybrid forms. This unit combines creative writing projects with critical analysis of selected screenworks and screenplays. Students do not need prior knowledge to do this unit, and is relevant to those interested in screen and sound media, writing, and the creative process. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: analyse a range of screenwriting approaches and methodologies.
- ULO2: generate story ideas and material suited to screen media.
- ULO3: apply independent research and script writing skills to a creative project.
- ULO4: evaluate screenwriting and creative work in progress.
- ULO5: demonstrate the ability to reflect in action.
General Assessment Information
All assignments of this unit are aligned to the standards outlined in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and- governance/university- policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment). Marking rubric for each of the assignments is available on the iLearn. Students are expected to read the rubric before working on the assignment.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply - two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date - and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (including weekends) after the original submission deadline, No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments - eg quizzes, online tests.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Online Quizzes | 20% | No | weekly |
| Script Outline | 35% | No | 04 April, 11:59pm |
| Script, Synopsis & Reflection | 45% | No | 30 May, 11:59pm |
Weekly Online Quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: weekly
Weighting: 20%
Quizzes on the materials posted weekly on iLearn in weeks 1 to 10. Students will be required to do the reading and watch the films online via links provided and then respond to questions about content of each. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- analyse a range of screenwriting approaches and methodologies.
- evaluate screenwriting and creative work in progress.
- demonstrate the ability to reflect in action.
Script Outline
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 37 hours
Due: 04 April, 11:59pm
Weighting: 35%
Drawing on material generated through weekly tutorial and iLearn exercises, select two ideas, one fiction, one documentary. Write short outlines for each of them. Details on assessment scope and examples will be discussed in tutorials. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- analyse a range of screenwriting approaches and methodologies.
- generate story ideas and material suited to screen media.
- apply independent research and script writing skills to a creative project.
- evaluate screenwriting and creative work in progress.
- demonstrate the ability to reflect in action.
Script, Synopsis & Reflection
Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 30 May, 11:59pm
Weighting: 45%
Consolidate your work and learning this semester into a script for a short fictional or documentary screen production. Details on assessment scope and examples will be discussed in tutorials. Refer to iLearn for further information.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- analyse a range of screenwriting approaches and methodologies.
- generate story ideas and material suited to screen media.
- apply independent research and script writing skills to a creative project.
- evaluate screenwriting and creative work in progress.
- demonstrate the ability to reflect in action.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Delivery and Resources E-Readings:
e-readings for this course will be available via the Library. The e-readings contain information necessary to completing assignments for this course.
Videos:
Key videos relevant to assignments will be available through the MMCC 1025 iLearn page. They form part of the lecture material.
Technologies/resources required:
Students will be required to use their own computers for research, development and writing of assignments in this unit. It is recommended that MMCC1025 students become familiar with Celtx (free script software)or other industry standard script formatting tools, which will be discussed in class or in information on ilearn. Microsoft Word can be used for scriptwriting, however it is not as effective a tool.
Unit Schedule
Lectures are online via Zoom at 1pm on Tuesdays
Students are expected to attend (or, if the streaming option is selected, watch online) lectures for MMCC 1025. Lectures are not optional: they deliver important content and are a central component of meeting the learning outcomes in this unit. Students who elect to not attend/watch lectures will miss out on unit content, and do so at their own risk.
Tutorials will be on Thursdays or Fridays depending on your enrolment - one hour
Tutorials begin in week 1. Tutorials in this unit are an opportunity for you to further develop concepts introduced in the lecture and apply them to your own work. In tutorials, you will have the opportunity to receive informal feedback from tutors and peers on the tutorial writing exercises which are designed as scaffolding for assignments. Students are expected to have watched/attended the weekly lectures and completed all required reading before attending each week’s workshop. Not attending workshops will likely jeopardise your performance in this unit.
Weekly quizzes will open at 5pm on Fridays and close at midnight the following Friday. However, best practice for developing skills and creative ideas will always be to do the readings and quizzes BEFORE your tutorials.
You are also encouraged to use the time in between lectures (on Tuesdays) and tutorials (on Thursday or Friday) for the creative exercises provided online.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook