Directing - film technique and aesthetics, by Micheal Rabiger (Focal Press, 2003)
The Creative Writing Coursebook, by Julia Bell and Andrew Motion (Macmillan Reference, 2001)
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, by Renni Browne and Dave King (Harper, 2004)
The Courage to Create, by Rollo May (W.W.Norton & Co. 1994)
Keeble, R.: 'The Newspaper Handbook' (London Routledge, 1994)
Collinson, D., Kirkup, G., Kyd, R. & Slocombe, L. 'Plain English' (Open University Press, 1992)
Truss, Lynne: 'Eats, Shoots & Leaves' (Profile Books, 2003)
McKee, Robert: 'Story' (Methuen, 1999)
Aulier, Dan: 'Hitchcock's Secret Notebooks'
Field, Syd: 'Screenplay' (DTP, 1984)
Cowgill, Linda: 'Writing Short Films' (Lone Eagle, 1997)
Crook, Tim: 'Radio Drama' (Routledge, 1999)
Forster, E. M.: 'Aspects of the Nove' (Penguin 2002)
Lodge, David: 'The Art of Fiction' (Penguin 1992)
George, Elizabeth: 'Write Away' (HarperCollins, 2004)

Familiarisation with media writing genres through lectures, set exercises, group discussion and independent learning. There will be seminar presentations of various media products with reference to their writing; a group project to produce a magazine; formal exercises in creative and technical aspects of scriptwriting; formal exercises in prose writing; exercises in presentation of ideas; creative thinking/ideas workshops; student presentations of set exercises and `pitching¿ of ideas to class.
There is a high level of independent learning and all seminar exercises will be supported by Blackboard.

Key Information Set:
Learning & Teaching: 16% scheduled activities, 84% guided independent learning.

One item of assessment:

100% (LO 1, 2) A Portfolio of scripts, comprising:

a) A Group Project dossier containing a broad spectrum of journalistic writing presented in the form of a magazine. (4000 words)

b) EITHER a complete short script for a film/radio or TV programme (8 - 12 pages/equivalent to 1500-2000 words) OR a complete short story (1500 - 2000 words)

Key Information Set:
Assessments: 100% Coursework

This module is designed as a foundation course in writing for the media. It deals in broad terms with all aspects of writing in the modern world, from tabloid newspaper and TV Soap to literary novel and feature film. It is equally concerned with creative, technical and theoretical aspects. It is also designed to foster, at an early stage, an appreciation of the vital importance of editorial work, proof-reading and redrafting. It is also concerned with language usage in the modern context. Topics covered include:
-Writing styles/formal conventions in different media
-Language in the modern world
-Basic editorial skills (proof-reading, re-writing, polishing)
-The message - cultural/social/philosophical approaches and analysis
-Screenwriting basics - visual storytelling/juxtaposition of images/tool for propaganda/silent film/the place of dialogue in screenwriting/story and plot/setting/structure/characterisation
-Familiarisation with various script formats (film, TV, Radio, documentary script, news report)
-The basics of prose narrative style
-Narrative in the news (truth & fiction)
-Ideas, themes, approaches (how to recognise and develop ideas)

Blackboard access
Library resources
Screenplays, newspapers, out-of-copyright works of literature available online.