Course Title: Write for online platforms

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2023

Course Code: COMM7413C

Course Title: Write for online platforms

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.

 

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6180 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting

Course Contact: Alan Woodruff

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4307

Course Contact Email: alan.woodruff@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher:

Kath Dolheguy

katherine.dolheguy@rmit.edu.au

 

Nominal Hours: 85

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

The unit applies to scriptwriters either working freelance on their own projects, or who have been commissioned to develop concepts and short branding or advertising scripts for a range of social media and online platform videos, including developing short form narratives and content.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

NAT11115008 Write for online platforms

Element:

1. Establish online engagement requirements

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify direction and scope of any essential content requirements, the online platform to be used, and theme and brand/s to be featured 1.2 Identify target audience for online engagement 1.3 Conduct research to identify and analyse characteristics and online habits of the target audience to create content aligned to intended style 1.4 Identify and analyse target audience's common responses to triggers, interventions, and preferred and avoided behaviours on online platforms and applications 1.5 Clarify and confirm requirements with relevant individuals as required

Element:

2. Develop concept for online platform

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Develop story that conveys the main theme and message of the desired content 2.2 Clarify story and character elements 2.3 Confirm content is appropriate to the online and other cross-platform applications 2.4 Consider any industry standards, regulatory and social and cultural impacts 2.5 Develop the basic concept of the scripts

Element:

3. Outline the short script/s

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Collaborate with other screenwriters or other relevant people to plot the narrative short form material to online engagement requirements, using effective story structure, characters, character arcs and story conventions 3.2 Write script outlines that clearly convey plot, character arcs, story conventions and style or call to action for branded content 3.3 Complete script outline/s to required timelines

Element:

4. Develop and finalise short script/s and recording

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Write scenes that incorporate plot, characters and character arcs as agreed in script outlines 4.2 Confirm the dialogue is character-specific, scenes advance the narrative and the exposition is dramatically integrated 4.3 Check theme/s and branding are creatively integrated into the narrative 4.4 Make recordings of script/s using required cast and digital technology 4.5 Consult with colleagues or other relevant people for feedback, and apply relevant feedback 4.6 Complete script/s and recording to requirements, ensuring that any industry standards, regulatory and social and cultural impacts are addressed

Learning Outcomes


On completion of this unit,  you will be able to plot narrative short form material to online engagement requirements, using effective story structure, characters, character arcs and story conventions.


Details of Learning Activities

1. In-class activities: 

  • lectures  
  • teacher directed group activities/projects  
  • class exercises to review discussions/lectures  
  • peer teaching and class presentations  
  • group discussion  
  • class exercises to review discussions/lectures  
  • analysis/critique of students’ writings 

 
2. Out-of-class activities: 

  • independent project based work  
  • writing and reading assignments  
  • online and other research  
  • independent study 


Teaching Schedule

Note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of resources.

Week

Content

Assessment due

1

Introduction to the semester’s work and 3 x assessment tasks.

What makes a good concept for online delivery?

You explore an online personality/brand

Conventions of Online Content Part 1 

Case Studies - Part 1

 

2

Your 60 second script for a current online personality or brand - discussion

Conventions of Online Content Part 2

Case Studies - Part 1

Types of Scripts 

Let's use the gimbals/lights/green screen/sound 

Guest to chat DJI Gimbals & basic lighting - TBC 

 

3

Case Studies - Part 2

Draft your ideas - bullet point drafts/alternate lines 

We workshop your 60 second scripts in draft form 

Feedback Clusters 

We complete most of Template 1.

 

4

Case Studies - Part 3

You will present your research subject & your 60 second script to the class - this is the requirement for AT1. 

Finalise your script.

Finish Template 1.

Record if you are ready. 

Assessment 1 due

5

AT2 Begins

Client briefing for your 30-60 second script - requirements of the client brief

Each student will take notes for Template 2

Complete as much as you can 

 

6

Presenting your drafts to a client - what to present/what questions to ask/how to take feedback/navigating clients 

Workshopping - interim drafts

We complete most of Template 2.

 

7

Client feedback sessions

Final presentations of 30-60 second scripts

Finish Template 2. 

Assessment 2 due

 

Mid-semester break: Mon 28 Aug – Fri 1 Sep, inclusive.

 

8 

AT3 Begins!

Group work: multi-part narrative

Form the group you will work in for AT3

Case Studies - Part 4

 

 

 

 

9

Multi-part narrative: discussion and drafting

We discuss creating a multi part narrative - how to plot, track story & revisions

Writers 'rooms' for each group

 

10

*This week each Group must present their project to teacher (maybe class) to get approval to continue* 

Multi-part narrative: discussion and redrafting

Writers 'rooms' for each group

Pre-prod meetings - aesthetic/shooting style/tests & feedback/tonal testing (proofs)

 

11

Multi-part narrative: table readings

In this class you MUST have ALL your scripts ready to read & receive feedback on 

*Approval required to continue to production stage*

 

12

 Multi-part narrative: recording and editing

 

 

13

Final edits - collate and review

Schedule time to see teacher 

Assessment 3 due

14

Each group presents their Multi Part Narrative in class

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

You will require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:

The Learning Lab
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab

The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include participation in class exercises, oral presentations and practical writing tasks. Full assessment briefs will be provided.

 


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task. 

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.

Assessment 1: 1 x 60 second script, due Week 4

For this assessment you will write a 60 second script for a current online personality or brand.   

You will research an online personality or brand who has a strong social media presence.   

After conducting this research, you will write a 60 second script that fits within the brand identity or voice of the personality or brand.   

The 60 second script will be a narrative, sketch or a hybrid of narrative and call to action on behalf of a brand. Depending on the personality or brand, you may write an informational piece.   

You will also need to complete ‘Template 1’ that conveys the concept of the script including main theme and message, identifies the intended target audience and the intended online platform. On the treatment you must identify why this narrative is appropriate for the audience & platform  

You will share your 60 second script in class to receive feedback from your colleagues and redraft. 

Assessment 2: 1 x 30-60 second script, due Week 7

For this assessment you will write ONE script.  In class you will receive a brief that details a ‘CLIENT’ who needs ONE (1) piece of online content created.   

The script will need to align to the requirements of the brief.   

Once you understand the brief, you will conduct research to understand competitors and content that align to your client and their intended outcomes.   

You may choose to emulate or use similar devices to engage audience as your competitors. You may choose to do something different. Whatever you choose to do, you will need to provide a rationale of why you made the choices you did to address the needs of the brief.   

The 30-60 second script will be a narrative, sketch or a hybrid of narrative and call to action on behalf of the client's brand. Depending on the personality or brand, you may write an informational piece.   

You will complete Template 2 that conveys the concept of the script including main theme and message, identifies the intended target audience and the intended online platform. On the treatment you must identify why this narrative is appropriate for the audience & platform  

You will share your 30-60 sec script in class to receive feedback from your colleagues and redraft. 

Assessment 3: Multi-part narrative Group Project, due Week 13

For this assessment you will collaborate to write and record a series of scripts to create a single narrative.   

This project is a multi-part narrative devised, written and recorded by collaboration in groups of 3-4.  As a group you will work together to create an original narrative to be told across several parts of 45-60 seconds in length.   

You will devise and plot your narrative together and then allocate each script to be written individually before taking feedback as a group and then redrafting.    

For this project, you will choose any online platform of your choice.   

The multi-part narrative can be:  

- stand-alone story – straight original fictional narrative   

- narrative content based around a brand - real or self-created  

Each group member will complete and submit Template 3 individually, to identify audience, platform conventions and track your feedback. The template also asks you to reflect on your collaborative process.  

Once you have achieved competency for all assessments in a unit of competency, you will receive an overall result. If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the Program Coordinator. 

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are: 

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did Not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Attendance 
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises 

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. 

Information about your studies 
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. 

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students 

Assessment 
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time): 

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism 
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy. 

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity 

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning 
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification). 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.   

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course. 

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview