SCREENWRITING - 2019/0

Module Overview

The module offers students the opportunity to learn the processes for writing a compelling script for film, television or the web. Through analysing film clips, reading extracts from screenplays, engaging with theoretical concepts, and participating in class discussions and workshops students will be offered a comprehensive overview of the screenwriting process.

At the end of the semester students will produce a professionally formatted script for a short film, or a television or webseries pilot episode alongside a commentary reflecting upon their creative work and/or a critical essay that focusses on two films/ TV or web series’ episodes of their own choice using theories, concepts and practices studied on the module.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

WYNNE-DAVIES Marion (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 40

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the departmental exchange coordinator.

Module content

The following areas are indicative of topics to be covered:

• The three- and five-act structures


• The Protagonist and their journey


• The development of character


• Theme, premise and understanding the role of conflict


• Openings


• Plot and Story


• Scene development


• Dialogue and description


• Feature film


• Shorts


• TV


• Webseries


• Pitching 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the module learning outcomes.

Seminar discussion with ongoing tutor feedback is designed mainly to assess transferable skills in working as part of a group and practical/professional skills in expressing ideas and critical analysis in oral communication. It also assesses subject knowledge in the different forms of screenwriting and cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking and in developing screenplays.

The essay OR the screenplay plus critical commentary assess subject knowledge in the different forms of screenwriting and cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking and in using the theories of screenwriting to analyse scripts. They also assess practical/professional skills in expressing ideas about screenwriting AND/OR writing their own screenplay in written communication and transferable skills in working independently and as part of a group. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

End of semester Creative Piece (2400 words or equivalent in poetry) plus critical essay and commentary (600 words) (100%) OR Critical Essay (3000 words) (100%)

Formative assessment and feedback

Verbal Feedback in class, written and/or verbal feedback on one piece of writing (maximum of 1,000 words).

Formative ‘feed forward’ is provided through seminar discussions, tutor feedback in seminars, and a range of other feedback mechanisms agreed between tutor and students in week 1 of the module, such as seminar contribution and writing exercises.

Module aims

• Develop in students a thorough critical understanding of screenwriting processes for film, television and webseries
• Develop the ability in students to analyse and appraise styles and techniques used in screenwriting and to apply critical insights to their own writing practices and/or the works of other screenwriters
• Facilitate acquiring the detailed knowledge and skills necessary for screenwriting
• Help students attain the ability to apply critical awareness to their own creative writingand/or to the works of others
• Encourage students to work as a group in the production of collaborative work in the workshop context.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Hone and develop students’ writing skills in academic writing, and/or creative writing (screenwriting) by helping students understand the context of film, television and webseries practices


• Assist students in locating screenplays and their critical and/or creative work in historical and cultural contexts by developing a stronger sense of the materials and techniques available, and begin to develop their thinking in the context of screenwriting for film, television and webseries

• Equip students with the research and writing skills they will need to produce critically informed academic writing and/or creative writing (screenplays) and creative criticism by helping them gain significant confidence and ability in critical analysis and thinking OR an ability to use specific compositional skills that will have practical application to their practices as screenwriters

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MFC3034

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.