X-11
Advanced Fiction Writing:
Screenwriting, Part One
Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade
In this hands-on writing course, practice your advanced writing skills and learn how to design stories for film—including how to build characters, write dialogue, learn what makes a good movie, and craft scenes that make sense and engage the viewer. This course is for all writers who want advanced writing skills -- especially for those who want to explore writing as a part- or full-time career.
Your Course Description
In your Advanced Fiction Writing Introduction to Screenwriting course, you’ll learn all of the key foundations of screenwriting and creating scripts for movies. Find out what goes into designing stories for film, including how to craft excellent character development and create a powerful storyline. While learning and practicing the special skills of writing for film, you will read through screenplays; watch and analyze classic and current films; watch additional videos related to learning the craft; discuss the conventions of good movies; learn how to craft masterful dialogue; and craft your own scenes and screenplay.
Your Course Outline
Class 1: Screenplay fundamentals: What is a screenplay? How does a screenplay differ in story from other fiction?
Class 2: What is the format of a screenplay? (Foreword, Introduction)
Class 3: What is a logline? (Chapter One)
Class 4: Crafting loglines and reading scripts
Class 5: The Ten Genres of Film, Part 1 (Chapter Two)
Class 6: The Ten Genres of Film, Part 2 (Chapter Two)
Class 7: Archetypes and Film (Chapter Three)
Class 8: The Beat Sheet (Chapter Four)
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: Bring along a thirst to create — and a love of story in movies! There are no course prerequisites. However, it is helpful to either have completed some of the Fiction Writing courses or to be in any of the LIVE fiction courses while taking the Screenwriting course. Take the foundational Fiction Writing courses LIVE or through Unlimited Access.
Required Materials:
1) Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
2) Book
The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition, by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez. Get the book here: http://amzn.to/2DzkE1W
3) Book 2: Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting that You’ll Ever Need, by Blake Snyder, ISBN-10: 1932907009, ISBN-13: 978-1932907001 (http://amzn.to/2GwDM3n or bookfinder.com)
NOTE: The same books are used in both Screenwriting courses (Parts 1 and 2).
Suggested Credit: Two-third (2/3) full semester of Screenwriting or Creative Writing.
How this course fits with your other High School Writing Excellence courses...
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIC WRITING | |||
| X-5 Punctuation/Grammar II | COLL-1 Mastering College Essay Writing | ||
| ADVANCED FICTION WRITING & LITERARY FORM | |||
| X-9 Hero's Journey, Part 1 | X-10 Hero's Journey, Part 2 | ||
| X-11 Screenwriting, Part 1 | X-12 Screenwriting, Part 2 | ||
| 11-6 Authoring a Book, Part 1 | 11-8 Authoring a Book, Part 2 | ||
| 11-7 Writing the Short Story | X-19 SF/Fantasy Short Story | ||
| X-15 Fiction Writing Workshop | X-16 Screenwriting Workshop | ||
| CREATIVE WRITING: EXPRESSIVE & POETIC FORMS | |||
| X-17 Comedy Writing, Part 1 | X-18 Comedy Writing, Part 2 | ||
| X-13 Intro to Poetry | X-14 Poetry: Joining the Great Tradition | ||
| BUSINESS WRITING | |||
| 11-9 Pro Business Writing Essentials | 11-10 Foundations of Journalism | ||
** The x-11 and X-12 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full year of High School Writing at the advanced level, sign up for both courses together.
Your Instructor
LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSES
This course is offered in alternating years with the Hero’s Journey and Mythic Structure for Writers courses. It is available Fall of 2020 (and alternating years thereafter). Click here to view LIVE course offerings and sign up for a LIVE course.
RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).
Three Sign Up Options (Choose One)
1. LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSE
This course is offered LIVE on alternating years. The next LIVE course is offered Fall, 2020, and alternates years following. Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework and weekly quizzes; the quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Your instructor gives feedback on assignments and grades student work; the instructor is available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be one to three hours per week, depending on your student’s skills.
2. UNLIMITED ACCESS: RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
This course is always available in Unlimited Access recording. When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. The homework’s weekly quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, and parents grade all other work. There is an estimated one to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
3. UNLIMITED ACCESS WITH INSTRUCTOR ACCESS GRADING SERVICES
Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, the Instructor Access instructor grades the work, gives feedback for improvement, and is available during the week for one-on-one help via email. There is an estimated one to three hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required?
This course is a Writing Excellence course and is an “above and beyond” course from the FOUNDATIONS-DEVELOPMENT-ADVANCED series of 9-12th grade courses. If you want advanced writing skills, this course is for you.
Who should take the Advanced Fiction Writing courses?
Some say that these Advanced Fiction Writing courses are “magic” — giving your student a love of writing that no other type of writing can bring. If your student needs to kindle the fire of an enjoyment of writing, then this course is for you.
For creatives who dream of being in the film industry or being published as a novel writer, this course is essential — a lifeline to professional foundations and secrets to success. Taught by writers who are authors and screenwriters (film and TV) with terminal degrees in Creative Writing/Genre Fiction, this course is designed especially for the student who wants to be ahead in college literature and writing, the professional performance-based fields of study such as theater and film, and students who want to pursue any part of the creative storytelling industry. A number of students who have taken the advanced courses are now published writers and authors.
Can I take another writing course at the same time?
Yes! With the shorter, single-area courses here at Aquinas Writing Advantage, many students take two separate writing courses during a semester.
Courses that “fit well” with this course include the foundational fiction courses, advanced fiction courses (The Hero’s Journey, Comedy Writing, and Poetry), the High School Punctuation and Grammar 2 course (to ensure strong punctuation and grammar skills), Journalism, and Business Writing. Students planning on moving directly to a career or vocational training will benefit from the Business Writing course.
Is this course considered an English, Writing, or Literature Analysis course?
This course is considered an English, Writing, and Story Analysis (under Literature) course that prepares your student for college-level writing.
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