EN 235 03C, Fall 2014
Ringling College of Art and Design
EN 235 03C Storytelling
Fall 2014
Instructor: Dr. Alison Watkins
Email: awatkins@ringling.edu
Building/Room: Bookstore/Business Office 115
Meeting Days/Times: Tue-Fri. 2:00-3:15 PM
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Corequisites: None
Course Description: In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of storytelling through the investigation of story structure and scene building. Through reading, writing, film-viewing, and discussion, students will learn how stories and how scenes work, how to plan and evaluate their own scenes, how to study and learn from other writers’ storytelling, and how to cultivate a repertoire of skills for the development of their own story writing.
Course Goals:
· Develop effective characters
· Understand essential elements of good storytelling
· Create engaging stories
· Understand and use elements of scene building
Student Learning Outcomes:
· The ability to think, read and write clearly and effectively
Recommended Textbooks, Readings, and Materials:
Recommended: The Scene Book: A Primer for the Fiction Writer, Sandra Scofield.
Recommended: The Seven Basic Plots, Christopher Booker.
| Library and Learning Resources: |
| · The Seven Basic Plots. Christopher Booker · The Scene Book: A Primer for the Fiction Writer, Sandra Scofiled · Ideas for the Animated Short. Karen Sullivan, Gary Schumer and Kate Alexander · The Writing Experiment, Hazel Smith · Writing Treatments that Sell, Kenneth Atchity and Chi-Li Wong · Writing the Short Film, Pat Cooper and Ken Dancyger · A Garden of Forking Paths, An Anthology, Beth Anstandig & Eric Killough · Interactive Storytelling, Andrew Glasner · Creating Unforgettable Characters, Linda Seger · 20 Master Plots, Ronald Tobias · The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, Christopher Vogler · Writers Guide to Fiction, Elizabeth Lyon · 45 Master Characters, Victoria Schmidt · Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Video Games, Chris Bateman · Developing Story Ideas, Michael Rabiger · Animation Scriptwriting, the Writer’s Road Map, Marilyn Webber · Animation Writing and Development, Jean Ann Wright · Writing for Animation, Comics and Games, Christy Marx · How to Write for Animation, Jeffrey Scott · Now Write, Sherry Ellis
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Projects, Papers, and Assignments:
This course will be graded on the following projects:
Scene writing portfolio 12 scenes @ 7 points each = (84%)
Group Project 2½ scenes, in class = (10%)
Class participation/attendance (6%)
Grading Policies:
Grading Scale:
| Grade | Numerical Equivalent | Percentage Scores* | |
| A | Superior Performance | 4.00 | 94-100 |
| A- |
| 3.67 | 91-93 |
| B+ |
| 3.33 | 88-90 |
| B | Above Average | 3.00 | 84-87 |
| B- |
| 2.67 | 81-83 |
| C+ |
| 2.33 | 78-80 |
| C | Average Performance | 2.00 | 74-77 |
| C- |
| 1.67 | 71-73 |
| D+ |
| 1.33 | 68-70 |
| D | Below Average | 1.00 | 64-67 |
| D- | Lowest Passing Grade | 0.67 | 61-63 |
| F | Failing | 0.00 | 0-60 |
| WF | Withdrew Failing | 0.00 |
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*Scores above .5 will be rounded up to the next full point
| Grades not computed into the GPA | ||
| W | Withdrew Passing | It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to the withdrawal deadline listed in the academic calendar. |
| I | Incomplete | Incompletes are only granted at the discretion of the instructor. See student handbook for more information. |
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Additional Policies and Information
Disabilities Accommodations: The Ringling College of Art and Design makes reasonable accommodations for qualified people with documented disabilities. If you have a learning disability, a chronic illness, or a physical or psychiatric disability that may have some impact on your work for this class and for which you may need accommodations, please notify the Director of the Academic Resource Center (Room 227 Ulla Searing Student Center; 359-7627) preferably before the end of the drop/add period so that appropriate adjustments can be made.
Health and Safety: Ringling College of Art and Design is committed to providing students, faculty, and staff with a safe and healthful learning and work environment and to comply with all applicable safety laws and regulations and safe work practices. Rules and safety guidelines for maintaining a safe working environment in this shop/studio/class will be provided to you at the beginning of the course (i.e. students must wear close-toed shoes, students must wear protective eyewear, students may not eat or drink in the studio, etc.).
Academic Integrity Policy: Academic Integrity is the process of openly acknowledging the sources of your ideas and creations in the building of your personal and public identity as a practitioner in the artistic community. Ringling College expects students to acknowledge their sources of ideas and images in a manner consistent with best professional practices in their field. Your instructor will inform you of appropriate ways to document and acknowledge sources for this course.
Professional Behavior in the Classroom: Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom or studio environment which is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor, students are prohibited from using cellular phones, or other personal electronic devices; from eating or drinking in class, making offensive remarks, sleeping, or engaging in any other behavior that is a potential distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result in, at a minimum, a request to leave the class.