Assessment Details
Academic Year: 2021-2022 Level: Undergraduate
Campus Department: Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences [UG and Grad]
Program Type: Major [UG] / Program [Grad]
Program Name: Film Studies BA
Description of Data Collection:
Each area has specific outcomes stated on the course syllabus.
ASSESSMENT GOALS FOR 2023: SCREENWRITING PROGRAM
The following is a preliminary step toward Assessment for 2023 using some data gained from the Spring semester of 2022. The Screenwriting part of the Film Major has the components of Screenwriter, From Script to Screen, Advanced Screenwriting I Advanced Screenwriting II, and Independent Study. In general, the scriptwriting process entails these elements:
Plot – Do the events of the story contain conflict, logic, and flow? .Is there a payoff at the conclusion?
Character – Are the characters authentic and unique? Are there sufficient traits to amply describe the character physically and mentally?
Concept –Is the reader taken in by the premise of the narrative?
Originality – How fresh are the story, characters, and ideas? Are clichés avoided?
Structure—Is the standard format used for scene headings, transitions, etc.
Below are samples of several of the courses:
FILM3301 Screenwriter:
Learning Goals:
1. The student will study the fundamental narrative principles of successful screenplays
2. The student will use peer and instructor feedback to build upon the strengths and problem-solve the shortcomings of your work
3. The student will analyze the work of your cohort, showing an appreciation for vision, voice, genre, and intent
4. The student will utilize feedback through thoughtful debate in an open forum
5. The student will employ critical examination of professional work based on qualities of character, tone, genre, style, and structure
6. The student will demonstrate and full understanding of the craft of screenwriting and how it fits into film production
Two short scripts are analyzed here:
1.”Favorite Liar”
Question Rating 1-5
1 Has the student created a solid narrative structure?
Yes, with arc of narrative 5
2 Has the student demonstrated a comprehension of conflict, character and need in the story?
Yes, with a clever twist at the end to offer an unexpected punch. 5
3 Has the student shown the proper use of screenwriting format and conventions such as dialogue, description and action?
Yes, all the details were evident in terms of time, locations, etc.
Several grammatical mistakes and typos detract from the script. 4
4 Has the student shown an understanding of genre?
The goal was a short script, with a rom-com approach. 4.5
5 Has the student been capable of working with the actors to bring out a naturalness in acting? Not applicable
6 Has the student been capable of working in a workshop environment providing peer texts with clear, specific, and respectful feedback?
Yes, peer feedback was essential. 5
7 Has the student grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching? Not applicable
2.”Freedom”
Question Rating 1-5
1 Has the student created a solid narrative structure? 4
2 Has the student demonstrated a comprehension of conflict, character and need in the story?
There appears to be insufficient interior conflict in the protagonist.
Several typos detract from the script. 3
3 Has the student shown the proper use of screenwriting format and conventions such as dialogue, description and action?
Yes, although very verbose. 4
4 Has the student shown an understanding of genre? One writes from what one knows and lives, so the student/youth genre is acceptable, but limited. 4
5 Has the student been capable of working with the actors to bring out a naturalness in acting? Not applicable
6 Has the student been capable of working in a workshop environment providing peer texts with clear, specific, and respectful feedback?
Yes, student feedback is part of the experience of screenwriting in class. 5
7 Has the student grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching?
Not applicable
FILM3304 From Script to Screen
Learning Goals
1. The students will read film scripts and learn to identify moments that are highly cinematic or highly uncinematic, considering the challenges and opportunities of translating the written word to a cinematic state
2. The students will examine books, plays, and other media adapted into film scripts and feature films
3. The students will pitch strategies for filming, complete with storyboards and props
4. The students will analyze film for its execution of complex and abstract ideas and elements
5. The students will write and workshop highly cinematic scenes, considering what makes a memorable piece of audiovisual media
Film3303 Advanced Screenwriting I
Learning Goals
1.Students will apply the basics of screenwriting from previous Screenwriter course
2. Students will develop an outline of a script (90-120 pages) using proper formatting.
3. Students will share their work with fellow students
4. Students will and learn to accept a critique of work with the goal of improvement.
5. Students will develop a first draft of a full screenplay
Two scripts analyzed by faculty members:
A. SCREENPLAY O-Town Blues
Question Rating 1-5
1 Has the student created a solid narrative structure?
She has created a solid narrative structure, with the appropriate logic and flow. One particular problem with the narrative structure, however, is that we never learn the circumstances surrounding Eddie’s death 5
2 Has the student demonstrated a comprehension of conflict, character and need in the story?
The conflict is clearly presented. The main conflict is between a Black young woman and her mother, and the different experiences with racism in America that form them, in the 1950’s and then in the 1970’s. The characters are well delineated. 5
3 Has the student shown the proper use of screenwriting format and conventions such as dialogue, description and action?
Yes, The student has used the proper screenwriting format. 5
4 Has the student shown an understanding of genre?
The screenplay takes place in the 1970’s and the student has done research into that period — he music, the styles of the garments, the art, etc. The language also reflects the era, so she must have read some material treating that topic, or learned it in her own milieu. I can’t judge if it is authentic, but the whole screenplay uses this dialect. I don’t know if it’s appropriate, for instance, if a trained nurse would say something like:
“Depending on your younger sister to
walk you past the boys that work at the movie theater ain’t gon’ help you none…”
Or if someone would say,
“Yea, you bettah have dat tucked behind yo ear girl, yo mama ’bouta kill you smokin’ up this early in the god damn…”
Nor can I judge the particular meaning of the music in the various contexts, but she has obviously pick songs that are meaningful for the scenes 4
5 Has the student been capable of working with the actors to bring out a naturalness in acting? The screenplay has not yet been produced, and so to my knowledge, the student has not worked formally with actors.
6 Has the student been capable of working in a workshop environment providing peer texts with clear, specific, and respectful feedback?
Outside of the peer input in class, the screenplay has not yet been produced, and so to my knowledge, the student has not worked formally with actors.
7 Has the student grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching?
She had grasped the fundamentals of log lines and pitching. Also, she has had feedback and has made changes accordingly. 5
B. SCREENPLAY Biawachee (A Native American narrative)
Question Rating 1-5
1 Has the student created a solid narrative structure?
The story does contain logic and flow, and plenty of conflict. However, for me the resolution was not satisfying. It deals with a period in Native American history where brutality and internecine killing were the norm. There is no answer to this killing, even though an attempt is made to see some peaceful resolution to the continuous killing. The story may be true to life for much Native American history, but in my mind the writer could have suggested the future, when such killing stopped. 4
2 Has the student demonstrated a comprehension of conflict, character and need in the story?
The characters are authentic. Two or three of them are particularly well done and convincing. I think the writer did a lot of research to learn something about the kinds of names Gros Ventre and Black Foot Native American would have. He has also learned a lot about their customs, and that gives authenticity to the screenplay. 5
3 Has the student shown the proper use of screenwriting format and conventions such as dialogue, description and action?
Yes. The reader is drawn in to the story and its characters. But then the resolution is so grim 4
4 Has the student shown an understanding of genre?
Yes. The dialogue is often in Native American languages, although sometimes it is in English. 5
5 Has the student been capable of working with the actors to bring out a naturalness in acting?
The screenplay has not yet been produced, and so to my knowledge, the student has not worked formally with actors.
6 Has the student been capable of working in a workshop environment providing peer texts with clear, specific, and respectful feedback?
Outside of the peer critique, there has been no opportunity to work in a workshop environment
7 Has the student grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching?
It is unclear if he has grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching. It is assumed that the professor has given feedback, and he has made changes accordingly.
FILM3396 Advanced Screenwriting II
Learning Goals:
1. Students will apply previous screenwriting knowledge – from Screenwriter and Advanced Screenwriting I (FM301/FM303
2. Students will rewrite an earlier screenplay
3. Students will analyze and discuss assigned films.
4. Students will analyze and give notes to peer work
5. Students will write three short scripts, the final one dealing with a social justice issue
6. Students will complete a new outline, resulting in a submission to an accredited screenwriting competition.
7. Students will also participate in-class workshops to hone students visual writing abilities through instructor and peer evaluation.
FILM4440 Independent Study
Learning Goals:
1. Student will discuss beforehand the parameters of the screenplay
2. Student will utilize standard screenplay format
3. Student will follow the guidance of the professor with historical research
4. Student will submit a final screenplay of 90-120 pages
Screenplay: Virtus, Fides et Pietas: Saint Agnes
Question Rating 1-5
1 Has the student created a solid narrative structure?
Yes, she has created a solid narrative structure. 5
2 Has the student demonstrated a comprehension of conflict, character and need in the story?
The conflict is clearly presented. The story takes place in the early 4th century, when accepting Christianity was punished by death. The conflict revolves around Agnes, one of the first Christian martyrs, and her fight to remain faithful to Jesus. There are some supernatural elements that aid her, but in the end, she loses the battle, and is killed, as history recounts. 5
3 Has the student shown the proper use of screenwriting format and conventions such as dialogue, description and action?
The student has used the proper screenwriting format in all ways: scene number, day or night, interior or exterior, description. The dialogues is placed appropriately as required. . 5
4 Has the student shown an understanding of genre?
Since the screenplay takes place in Rome in the 4th century. The students has taken into account the linguistic elements that would be precluded from such a setting, i.e. the language is straightforward and the characters carefully express the thoughts and feelings consonant with their time. In addition, the student has carefully researched the art-historical material from the time so that the ambiance in which the characters move and the objects they interact with feels authentic. 5
5 Has the student been capable of working with the actors to bring out a naturalness in acting?
The screenplay has not yet been produced, and so to my knowledge, the student has not worked formally with actors.
6 Has the student been capable of working in a workshop environment providing peer texts with clear, specific, and respectful feedback?
There has been no opportunity to work in a workshop environment 5
7 Has the student grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching?
She had grasped the fundamentals of loglines and pitching. Also, she has had feedback and has made changes accordingly 5
Review Process:
The professor in each course assesses the outcome of a narrative thesis or documentary film, full screenplay, or written thesis. The theses films are screened for the faculty and the public. For Documentary Film Production, the professor brings in professionals from PBS. Faculty review will begin in 2023.
With respect to curriculum, the Director of Film Studies discusses with film faculty issues of including or dropping a course. This was done three or so years ago with a discussion of editing. The Avid non-linear editing course was eliminated from the curriculum and the Final Cut program was replaced by the Adobe Premier. Production faculty also had an interest in teaching film history, so that was a decision made in collaboration with the faculty. At the same time, we made certain that all the required film courses were covered for majors and minors.
Web design was taught in Communication Department and film faculty felt that when it was dropped from their curriculum, Studio and Film decided it would be a good fit for both areas.
Resulting Program Changes:
The decision to drop Avid and focus on Adobe Premier has been most beneficial, since many of the positions taken on by film students after graduation include editing. Adobe, and not Final Cut with its myriad issues, and less popular outside of LA, Avid, have proved a standard for editing.
Date of Most Recent Program Review:
The decision to drop Avid and focus on Adobe Premier has been most beneficial, since many of the positions taken on by film students after graduation include editing. Adobe, and not Final Cut with its myriad issues, and less popular outside of LA, Avid, have proved a standard for editing.
Attachments (if available)