Spring 2023

Screenwriting

Listed in: English, as ENGL-388  |  Film and Media Studies, as FAMS-388

Faculty

Eric Sanders (Section 01.)

Description

(Offered as ENGL 388 and FAMS 240.)

How do screenplays function? What are the elements that combine to engage audiences and convey a compelling story to readers? This course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to analyze and create narrative feature film scripts, series, and shorts, with attention to mechanics and elegant design. Close readings of screenplays and films will seek to reveal how writers are able to grip an audience’s attention by building narrative questions, how plots are structured both within scenes and across an entire work, how resonant dialogue can effectively impart information and create subtext, and how characters relate to plot. Classes will combine textual analysis, writing instruction, and peer review. Students will complete several short scripts in preparation for a longer final screenplay (no more than ten pages), with extensive revision throughout the semester.

Preference will be given to FAMS majors and English majors concentrating in creative writing; seniors, then juniors, then sophomores. Limited to 20 students. Spring semester. Visiting Assistant Professor E. Sanders.

How to handle overenrollment: Preference will be given to FAMS majors and English majors concentrating in creative writing; seniors, then juniors, then sophomores

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: emphasis on written work, readings, independent research, oral presentations, group work, artistic work, audio-visual analysis, revision, self-evaluation.

ENGL 388 - LEC

Section 01.
Tu 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM CONV 209
Th 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM CONV 209

Offerings

Other years: Offered in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2015, Spring 2023, Spring 2025