MDIA 1006 - Story/Technology: Writing Techniques

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

This course looks at the development and uses of digital stories. Digital story has become an avenue of expression leading to new forms of social networking and a means through which story is re-made for different media. The course examines techniques of writing for a range of media which will lead to the development and production of materials by students. The capacity for digital storytelling has developed through the availability of convergent communication technologies. The availabilities of these technologies has meant that new skills and techniques of writing are necessary which fit with computer screen technologies and other parameters of these new media forms. The subject will cover the relatively short history of this new field of media production linking it to older forms of story-telling in terms of connection to comparative and indigenous precursors and uses. The course will cover an analysis of the 'new prosumer' as an autonomous media producer and the development of a computer mediated aesthetics. Theories of narrative form, subjectivity and identity will form part of the course with an examination of forms of collective and political engagement that develop out of digital story. New mainstream genres which grow out of older forms such as the diary or the journal will be discussed. The course has a practical component which will encourage the production of new forms of narrative through exercises and the use of these techniques.

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Course Details

Course Code	MDIA 1006
Course	Story/Technology: Writing Techniques
Coordinating Unit	Media
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Restrictions	Available to B Media students only
Assessment	tutorial presentation 25%, script development exercise 25%, digital story draft 20%, final submission of digital story 30%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Ming Cheung

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles and concepts of framing, composition, visual storytelling, visual persuasion and story and culture
2	Demonstrate a sense of aesthetics and skills in communicating through both static and moving images
3	Demonstrate creativity and originality in effectively developing and managing a visual story production and a TV/YouTube commercial production
4	Communicate and critique project ideas with audience in consultations and screenings
5	Enhance passion in visual production as a profession and as an interest

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2, 3
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	1, 3
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	4
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	2, 3
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	5
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	3, 4, 5
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	1, 4, 5

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Bordwell, D. and Thompson, K. 2004. Film Art: An Introduction, 7th Edition. New York: McGraw- Hill.

Grove, E. 2009. Beginning Filmmaking: 100 Easy Steps from Script to Screen. London: Methuen Drama.

Mollison, M. 1999. Producing Videos: A Complete Guide. St. Leonards: Allen & Unwin.

Rabiger, M. 2003. Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics, 3rd Edition. Burlington, MA: Focal Press.

Tomaric, J. 2011. Filmmaking: Direct Your Movie from Script to Screen Using Proven Hollywood Techniques. Burlington, MA: Focal Press.

Recommended Resources

A list of multimedia references will be provided by the course coordinator during the semester.

Online Learning

All course documents will be uploaded to MyUni.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures supported by problem-solving workshops which develop lecture material. The workshops will have a focus on task-based hands-on learning.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

1 x 1-hour lecture (or equivalent) per week	12 hours per semester
1 x 2-hour workshop (or equivalent) per week	24 hours per semester
6 hours reading per week	72 hours per semester
2 hours research per week	24 hours per semester
2 hours assignment preparation per week	24 hours per semester
TOTAL WORKLOAD	156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
Week 1	Introduction
Week 2	Types and Stages of Production
Week 3	Language of Storyboards
Week 4	Storyboard Design
Week 5	Visual Storytelling
Week 6	Framing
Week 7	Composition
Week 8	Visual Persuasion 1
Week 9	Project work
Week 10	Visual Persuasion 2
Week 11	Visual Persuasion 3
Week 12	Project work

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	CLOs
Production of a visual story (individual)* Task 1: Synopsis Task 2: Storyboard Task 3: Rough-cut and Production Task 4: Screening	40%	CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4
Production of a TV/YouTube commercial (individual)* Task 1: Story and scriptwriting Task 2: Storyboard Task 3: Rough-cut and production Task 4: Screening	40%	CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4
Attendance and participation (individual)	10%	CLO4, CLO5
Classwork and creative exercises (individual)	10%	CLO4, CLO5

Assessment Related Requirements

Compulsory attendance in workshops

Assessment Detail

The aim of Assignment 1 is for each student to develop his or her visual storytelling skills through the completion of a 60-second video. He or she will learn how to use a camera and to edit using non-linear post-production techniques in Adobe Premiere. There is a focus on planning for production, screen composition and editing techniques. His or her story can follow a traditional structure or a more experimental visual style. It can be of whatever genre. On the whole, he or she needs to demonstrate his or her understanding and mastery of principles and concepts of visual elements covered in the lectures and workshops of Weeks 1-7. The aim of Assignment 2 is for each student to develop his or her visual storytelling skills through the completion of a 60-second TV/YouTube commercial. The commercial should focus on a public education or service theme. Examples include “Don’t drink and drive”, “Smoking is hazardous to health”, “Safe sex”, “No racial discrimination”, “Equal job opportunity”, “Save the environment”, “No mobile addicts”, etc. In the project, the student needs to demonstrate his or her understanding and mastery of principles and concepts of visual elements as well as persuasive appeals covered in the lectures and workshops of this course.

Submission

All the assignment tasks will be submitted electronically during workshops. For late submission, 5 marks will be deducted from that task for each 24-hour late submission. In case an extension to a due date is needed for a particular assignment task, the student should email the course coordinator in advance to seek prior approval and provide the necessary evidence to justify the request. Feedback on how to improve assignment tasks will be given during consultation sessions with students.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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