EWC April 2015
Writing for the Spoken Word Assignment
You may work alone or in a group. Working with partners increases the word count of the finished product. Ask the teacher for guidelines. You should also indicate who did what portions of the task.
Fiction options: (approximately 5-7 pages in script format)
1. play (one act; one person; excerpt of longer piece + plot summary/arc);
2. excerpt of t.v. show (already existing or original creation) + plot summary/arc);
3. excerpt of a movie + plot summary/arc)
4. other – to be discussed with teacher
Guidelines: The following are guidelines for the assignment based on the content of the article “Write a Screenplay” by M.L. Cornish on page 303 of Thinking Through Your Writing Process, “Screenplays” from The Writer, and an analysis of “The Pen of My Aunt” and episode 11 of season one of Big Bang Theory.
- 1 page should equal about 1 minute of dialogue
- Include some directions for tone of voice (not necessary for every line – generally where there might be ambiguity or a shift / switch mid-speech)
- Include brief notations of props needed
- you can assume the general content of the room as it usually appears on an already running show
- add things that are specific to the action of this episode – e.g. the ear thermometer for Big Bang Theory
- Make notations as needed for scene changes, sets, etc.
- Show character and plot through the dialogue – not through long italicized description that would not be read aloud
- Dialogue should be realistic, but not real (avoid “uhms”)
- Stay in character – where the dialogue both suits and creates the character.
- Have a conflict and show growth through its resolution
- Consider the Act I, Act II, Act III structure, and the use of reversals towards the ends of the first two acts
- In terms of formatting, use italics or bold or brackets consistently to indicate non-spoken or direction information
- Do not include camera angles
Non-Fiction options: (approximately 5-7 minutes of speaking)
An excerpt of (+ summary of rest of piece if appropriate)
1. a TED Talk
2. a rant (extended)
3. a Moth piece
4. a podcast
5. other – to be discussed with teacher
Guidelines: consult the various handouts and examples we studied in class. If unsure, ask the teacher.
Writing for the Spoken Word Assignment
Describe your finished piece:
1. Circle appropriate answer: Fiction or Non-Fiction
2. Type of writing (e.g. play, movie excerpt, TED Talk, podcast, etc.): ______
______
3. Purpose (e.g. entertain, inform, call to action, inspire, educate, etc.):
______
______
4. Content Summary (+indication of what section you wrote / who wrote what – if appropriate): submit on separate paper
Marking Scheme
Strand / Insufficient / Level 1 / Level 2 / Level 3 / Level 4B2. Drafting & Revising
2. 1 Content - selecting ideas & info appropriate for purpose & audience
2.2 Style
* syntax and word choice
* form & style appropriate to communicate ideas & experiences
* character creation / personal voice
2. 3 Revising
Writing process (planning, process, drafts, editing, revision)
Note: short pieces or those underdeveloped will receive reduced marks / Content (plot &/or information) suits stated purpose & audience
Diction & Sentence structure suits &/or creates the character / form / style
Writing process work is very thin, inconsistent with finished product, not submitted. / Content (plot &/or information) poorly suits stated purpose & audience
Diction & Sentence structure poorly suits &/or creates the character / form / style
Applies the writing process with limited effectiveness / Content (plot &/or information) mostly or unevenly suits stated purpose & audience
Diction & Sentence structure unevenly suits &/or creates the character / form / style
Applies the writing process with some effectiveness or unevenness with most stages of the process submitted / Content (plot &/or information) suits stated purpose & audience
Diction & Sentence structure suits &/or creates the character / form / style
Applies the writing process effectively with all stages of the process submitted / Content (plot &/or information) suits stated purpose & audience with sophistication and nuance
Diction & Sentence structure suits &/or creates the character / form / style with subtlety and exactitude
Applies the writing process with skill for a desired effect with all stages of the process submitted
B3. Editing, Proofreading
Sp., Gr., Dialogue punctuation / No evidence of editing; errors impede meaning or detract from piece / Applies grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation with limited accuracy and effectiveness / Applies grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation with some accuracy and effectiveness / Applies grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation with considerable accuracy and effectiveness / Applies grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation with a high degree of accuracy and effectiveness
B4. Collaborative Writing – on peer editing sheet
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