2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM1890 Screen Narrative

20 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Sarah Lahm
Email: S.Lahm@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is an introduction into screen narrative in film and television. Students learn how stories are constructed by examining characters and common dramatic structures across these forms of media. Students also learn how to use scriptwriting software and undertake screenwriting exercises in seminars. Knowledge and understanding is demonstrated through an assessed essay and through a short script project.

Objectives

The module introduces the theories behind, and the practices of, constructing narrative for film and television media. It aims to:
1. Introduce students to key narrative principles in screen storytelling through lectures
2. Give an overview of common narrative structures in film and television outputs and discuss specific examples in seminars
3. Summarise generic conventions in film and television and identify these from within the set screenings
4. Outline the principles and layout of a professional script using screenwriting software

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Describe the conventions of screen narrative and explain how they relate to dramatic structure and industry screenwriting practices
2. Interpret film and television theory to analyse media text(s)
3. Create a short script that applies narrative conventions and showcases awareness of industry screenwriting practices

Skills learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Academic writing – the ability to write in a clear, concise, focused and structured manner in response to essay questions on the conventions of screen narrative.
5. Creativity – the ability to generate ideas and demonstrate originality when planning and writing an original script.
6. Critical thinking – the ability to gather information from a range of academic sources on film and television and use supporting evidence to form arguments.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Film Screenings	10	2.00	20.00
Lectures	10	1.50	15.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			155.00
Total Contact hours			45.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress and understanding is monitored in seminars through weekly discussions of the film and/or television show and through engagement with the reading material. It can also be monitored through discussions with the module leader during office hours. For the script assignment, student progress is monitored through the submission of two premises to the module leader for constructive criticism. This can then be fed forward into their script.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Essay 2,500 words	50.00
Assignment	Script 10 pages	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit of original assessment available.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/06/2024 10:40:41

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