CONTACT INFORMATION

Catalog Course Code: ECW 3211

Three-Letter Course Abbreviation: LG2-O

Instructor: Sidney Williams

Telephone: 407.679.0100 ext. 3178

Email: sgwilliams@fullsail.com

iChat: sgwilliams@jabber.fullsail.com

Hours: M–Th 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST) F 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (EST) Email preferred

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Literary Genre II: Horror, Mystery, and Suspense Course introduces students to the conventions and techniques of horror, mystery, and suspense writing and to the relevance of these styles to all forms of writing. Understanding what drives mysteries; the tension that defines suspense; and the fear of death, failure, and the unknown that makes hor-ror piquant is useful knowledge to every genre. This course presents the works of key creators of these stories in media from the short story to the monster movie to survival-themed games.

COURSE MATERIALSyy MacBook Pro

yy Safari

yy Microsoft Word

yy Final Draft

yy Horror Screenwriting: The Nature of Fear, Devin Watson, Michael Wiese Productions

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will accomplish these course objectives by com-pleting the milestones specified:

yy Analyze short stories, films, feature scripts, and other works

yy Identify key genre conventions

yy Pinpoint techniques and tropes used in horror, mys-tery, and suspense films and games

yy Observe points of innovation in common story structures

yy Note mythic story components deployed in different ways to differing ends

yy Devise a story with a simple twist

yy Observe mystery story elements in film and scripts

yy Note the interdependence of small details

yy Devise a story with a twist of some type

yy Prepare readers for the twist with hints and suggestions

yy Develop an idea for a film by examining conventions, sub-genres, or trends

yy Research the topic using Full Sail Library resources

yy Develop a feature film treatment for possible later de-velopment as a spec script

yy Create a short film script and a comic-book script using elements from one of the course genres

yy Develop a genre-oriented logline

yy Demonstrate how the masterwork’s story will unfold by creating a synopsis

yy Write a first draft

yy Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the work

yy Revise the story based on instructor feedback and peer review and modify the genre clichés

yy Adapt the first draft into a comic book–style script

yy Develop and nurture the creative muse

COURSE OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

yy Create a masterwork for the degree portfolio

yy Develop a short piece of fiction with the goal of submit-ting it to online or print markets

yy Recognize how elements of mystery, suspense, and hor-ror can be used in new and innovative ways to connect with modern audiences

LITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE

COURSE SYLLABUS

yy Understand the development of threads that lead from myth through fiction, from the early cinema to the pres-ent day

yy Utilize mystery in contemporary entertainment

yy Develop horror for stories or games

yy Build suspense

DEGREE CONNECTION

This course will provide students with important tools to use in any work of fiction in any medium. Students’ creative work in this course will contribute an important showpiece to their portfolio. The art and craft of writing for entertainment re-quires great emphasis on building suspense and introducing twists, revelations, and other elements that engage audi-ences. This knowledge will benefit students as they work on future projects. They will also be able to draw upon research, world-building, and screenwriting skills from early courses. A basic idea of how to introduce surprises, excitement, and scares will equip students to develop further as writers and hone skills they might employ in professional-writing assignments.

INDUSTRY CONNECTION

Mystery, suspense, and horror remain among the most popular and consistently produced genres in mainstream and independent entertainment. They are also popular in the world of gaming and graphic novels. Graduates will be equipped to tackle writing in these genres and prepared to channel their skills in useful and commercial directions in the industry.

RESEARCH COMPONENT

Exercises in this course are designed to help students har-ness research skills in courses they experienced previously. They will be encouraged to research monsters and myth and to critique short films and other pieces, all with an eye to-ward improving their own work

ADDITIONAL RESOURCESyy https://duotrope.com/

yy http://www.simplyscripts.com

yy http://www.newyorker.com/online/podcasts/fiction

yy http://www.vimeo.com

yy http://www.comicbookresources.com/

yy http://www.fandor.com/blog/primer-horror

yy http://outofthepast.libsyn.com/

TOPICS COVEREDyy Horror Types and Techniques

yy Suspense-Building Techniques

yy Monster Building

yy Mystery Clues and Twists

yy Reinventing Themes and Genre Tropes

yy Analysis of Genre Films

LITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE Course Outcomes

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Video LessonsEach week, students will view one (usually brief) video les-son. The video will provide an overview of the week’s focus and instructions and inspiration for completing the assign-ments for the week. In addition, students will view one short film and one feature film each week.

ReadingStudents will be assigned short stories, comics, and com-plete screenplays and teleplays. These readings will be crucial to students’ understanding of genre storytelling and how tropes are revitalized and reinvented. After completing the readings, students will be given follow-up assignments.

DiscussionsDiscussion questions will be answered thoroughly each week. Students will provide critiques of the week’s work (film or reading) and discuss how the work ties into the ideas of the course. They will also complete creative discussion posts to utilize techniques mentioned in lessons and works studied.

MasterworkThe masterwork for this course will be a two-part project consisting of a short film script that will also be adapted into a comic-book script. Throughout the course, students will de-velop, edit, and hone their project much like they would in a real-world scenario as a hired writer/producer/filmmaker. Each week, students will complete one task for their masterwork. At the end of the course, all masterworks will be considered for submission for Full Sail’s short-film development.

GRADE WEIGHTS

Reading Assignment Critiques/Creative Assignments

50%

Masterwork Steps 20%

Final Masterwork 20%

Professionalism (GPS) 10%

Total 100%

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

yy Focus on understanding the impact that writers can elicit from audiences by utilizing genre techniques.

yy Notice recurring themes and tropes and contemplate ways to reinvent them.

yy Make sure to meet all deadlines and deliver all work. Suc-cess in this class is an indication that you are on the right track to succeed as a writer.

LITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE Learning ActivitiesLITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE Learning ActivitiesLITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE Learning Activities

COURSE-SPECIFIC RUBRICS

Creative Assignments

Criteria 95–100 Points 90–94 Points 85–89 Points 80–84 Points 73–79 Points 70–72 Points 0–69 PointsWork as a Whole Creative

Perfect or near perfect

Professional, solid, engaging, inspiring, and daring

Highly creative

Delivers palpable tension and strong characters, dialogue, and plot

Sets a high bar for the class

Simply stated, work of this level is how careers are created

Strong but needs a few fine tuning

Demonstrates a strong knowledge of course concepts

Demonstrates a keen understanding of the way character, dialogue, and plot all contribute to theme

Original

Covers all bases but never breaks free of clichés or conventions

Plays it too safe and/or lacks inspiration

More time is needed to develop character, plot, and/or conflict

Shows skill and promise

Touches on the necessary elements of character, plot, and conflict but doesn’t deliver on any of them

Does not inspire any response from viewers

Does not take risks

Exhibits enough skill to demonstrate understanding of the assignment

Demonstrates understanding of assignment but fails to deliver on key course concepts

Serious errors/issues need to be addressed

Keep working

Not of acceptable quality and does not demonstrate understanding of key course concepts

Assignment is submitted but either misses the mark entirely or is incomplete

Need to talk with CD

Very little effort is given

Work is not complete

Formatting—Technical

Work shows a masterful touch with screenwriting format

Flawless grammar

Strong formatting and good general screenplay structure

Minor grammatical errors

Good overall

Some formatting issues

Distracting grammatical errors

Poor formatting and lack of adherence to proper screenwriting techniques and transitions

Serious grammatical issues

Poor or no formatting

Disregard for grammar

Not in proper format N/A

Comments:

LITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE Course-Specific Rubrics

Discussions

Criteria Superior 100% Very Good 95% Good 85% Fair 75% Poor 50% Zero CreditIndividual Input Highly original content

Creative and compelling writing

Consistently surpasses expectations

Creative and compelling writing

Meets or exceeds all expectations

Thoughtful writing that at least captures the big picture

One or two places where work is less developed than expected

Competent, comprehensible, and appropriate responses without much detail or creativity

Little sense of effects the film generates

Off-topic or irrelevant answers

No strong or consistent sense of the film’s effect

Consistent underdevelopment of response

Does not complete

Critical Thinking Shows thoughtful insight into the horror effects the film generates and techniques it uses

Explores ideas from the lesson in relation to the film

Adequately explores the film provided with analysis and demonstration of understanding

Interesting discussion that does more than summarize the action of the film

Comprehension of the theory demonstrated

Generally weak or incomplete analysis

Does not reveal even minimal grasp of concepts

No relevant analysis

Does not complete

Sources Responses demonstrate full understanding of the readings, lessons, and links provided

Citations are provided if extensive references are made to outside material

Comprehension of lessons are demonstrated

Citations are provided if extensive references are made to outside material

Responses show understanding of the general meaning of the material

Citations are provided if extensive references are made to outside material

One or more significant flaws in understanding or application of the readings

Work shows little understanding of or engagement with the lessons and the film

Does not complete

Grammar and Punctuation

No significant errors (spelling, grammatical, punctuation, capitalization, structure, and organization)

One or two trivial errors (spelling, grammatical, punctuation, capitalization, structure, and organization)

Generally solid work; few or minor errors (spelling, grammatical, punctuation, capitalization, structure, and organization)

Frequent or major errors (spelling, grammatical, punctuation, capitalization, structure, and organization)

Errors abound to point of distraction (spelling, grammatical, punctuation, capitalization, structure, and organization)

Does not complete

LITERARY GENRE II: HORROR, MYSTERY, AND SUSPENSE—ONLINE Course-Specific Rubrics