Start writing plays
On this page
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| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| No examination | No residential school |
Register for the course
| Start | End | Fee | Register |
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No current presentation - see Future availability |
| This course is expected to run until October 2009. | |||
Summary
Have you ever considered writing a play? This 12-week online course develops the skills needed to tell a story on stage, fully realising the potential of the medium. Through exercises, assignments and reading scripts you will learn how to write scenes, create believable characters, understand script layout and gain a practical vocabulary of dramatic terms. The course surveys various types of performance, using activities to spark your imagination and generate ideas. Eventually you will work on your own short play. This course should appeal if you’re interested in dramatic or creative writing, or seeking to strengthen your transferable writing skills.
Course content
The course consists of five blocks:
The Stage: imagination, action, dialogue looks at writing visual narratives, explores what a dramatic action consists of, before moving on to writing dialogue.
Story and character explores character creation, how characters function within a story and how stories are built. Characters from the news and from fairy tales are used to create extended scenes.
Plot, theme and structure has more character work, developing ideas of status, attitude and point of view. It also considers how to create causality and conflict, and how to structure a plot and establish an overarching theme.
Style and genre samples a range of theatrical genres and styles, including naturalism, expressionism and absurdism, and looks at how you can find your individual voice.
Re-drafting and editing emphasises the importance of continually reassessing a script and making sure the layout and story telling are clear. How to write a synopsis and scenario.
These five blocks are taught online via the course website, where you can access most of the course materials, and supplemented by an audio CD, a set book and a printed course guide. You are encouraged to participate in an online forum through which you can interact with other students and with your tutor.
For further information visit the Start Writing website.
Entry
There are no entry requirements for this course.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
A176 is a optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is suitable for a BA. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Audio cassettes and transcripts are available. If you use special hardware or software you should find out, well before the beginning of the course, whether it is compatible with the course software. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course website, online forum, online library access, audio CD, CD-ROM, and printed course guide.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
Your tutor will mark and comment on your written assignments. You can contact your tutor through email and the online forum. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor will be particularly concerned to help you with your study methods.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
The second TMA builds on the skills developed in the first one.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2009 when it will be available for the last time. A replacement course is not planned.
How to register
We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.
About this page
An undergraduate course.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
I didn't enjoy this as much as I had hoped I would. I did not enjoy several of the set ...
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I completed this course shortly after doing a third level course on Shakespeare (AA306) and a second level course on ...
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