Writing for the Screen

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Learn the fundamentals of writing for the screen, including characterization, structure, theme, dialogue, setting, format, and style.
• Improve analytical skills when applied to scripts.
• Write multiple short original script.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
5 Weekly Scripts	10%
2 Revised Scripts	20%
Class Participation (which includes revision comments made in class)	10%

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance is mandatory and will follow the standard Department of Media Studies attendance policy. This course meets twice a week for one and one quarter hours per session. You are allowed to miss two class sessions without penalty, so two absences count as having missed one whole week of classes.

From a pedagogical perspective, you cannot reasonably expect to succeed in this course—or any other course—unless you attend class regularly. If, due to other personal or professional (job, for instance) obligations, regular attendance will be an issue for you, you should drop the course immediately.

Specifically, regarding the strictly enforced policy, students are allowed to miss two class sessions without penalty. For each additional missed class, the student’s course grade will be reduced by a half-letter grade. Upon missing six class meetings, the student will fail the course—or will be eligible to withdraw, (student’s responsibility, not the instructor’s) if before the official UNCG deadline for course withdrawal without incurring a WF (withdraw failing) grade.

If a student misses six class sessions, the Instructor will drop the student from the class, regardless of when this occurs in the semester.

Note: Course failure due to poor attendance may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. For details related to withdrawal deadlines and financial aid rules/regulations, it is the student’s responsibility to investigate, confirm and comply, not the instructor’s.

Legitimate reasons for absences: Serious medical or family emergency (documentation must be provided), or religious holidays (for which you must notify me two weeks in advance). Unless you have documentation to support your request for an exception, please do not bother to contact me with various excuses. I have heard them all and you will just be wasting our mutual time. Simply take your absence and come to class the following session. Students missing class are responsible for finding out what they missed (or obtaining notes) from a classmate, although classmates are in no way obligated to provide this information. It’s this simple: if you want to pass this course, come to class.

Do not e-mail me asking what you missed. We cannot be expected in an e-mail to replicate what was covered in an hour and 15 minutes.

Punctuality: Unless you have a serious medical or family emergency, there is no excuse for tardiness. We are all adults, have chosen to take part in this course, and it is our responsibility to arrive on time. Students arriving late disrupt and distract classmates (who arrived on time) from the lecture, screening, or our discussions. It is rude, disrespectful, and unprofessional to be tardy.

If you anticipate having difficulty arriving on time for the class meetings due to some other obligation, drop the course now.

Leaving class early—if you must leave class early, the only legitimate excuses are the same as for absence and tardiness, and you must let me know before class begins. Otherwise, you will be penalized the equivalent of one half of an absence. If you arrive late and leave early on the same day, you will be counted as absent.

Sleeping in Class: Seriously, it does happen, is extremely rude and disrespectful, to say the least, and will not be tolerated. If you fall asleep in class, you will be asked to leave and counted absent for that day.

Class Etiquette (in general): For successful teaching and learning, our classroom must be an arena of free thought, speech, and respect. Respect one another. Lively discussion/debate is one of our goals, but mutual respect is a requirement. Do not interrupt one another. I do not tolerate language that is sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise offensive (and neither does the university, per the student handbook). Each of us is entitled to our point of view, but we will not use discriminatory language.

Disruptive Behavior Policy: Disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. If you are disruptive in the classroom, you will be asked to leave, counted absent for that day, and the Dean of Students Office will be notified. This policy is included in UNCG’s Student Policy Handbook: http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/policies/

E-mail (and other written communication) etiquette  If you e-mail me, you will address me as “Prof. Barrionuevo”. Don’t address me as “Hey” or just launch into your e-mail.

Title IX UNCG is committed to fostering a safe, productive, learning environment. Title IX and our school’s policy prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment, which includes gender-based harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, is prohibited. We encourage anyone who has experienced sexual harassment to speak with someone and get the support and resources they need. I, because of my role with the University and University policy, am an Official with Authority and must report any knowledge of sexual harassment or allegations of sexual harassment to the University Title IX Coordinator (Tina Chestnut) or any University official who has the authority to institute corrective measures (i.e., Dean of Students Office). Please be aware that if you share a situation related to interpersonal violence with an Official with Authority, they are required to share that information with the University’s Title IX Coordinator.

UNCG has confidential staff members trained to support students in navigating campus life, understanding reporting options, accessing health and counseling services, and more. Confidential support services include; Campus Violence Response Center (CVRC) located on the ground floor of Gove Student Health Center or UNCG’s Student Health Services (SHS), Counseling & Psychological Services (336-334-5874), and Spartan Well-Being located in the Gove Student Health Center.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.