Writing for an Existing Long-Running TV Drama

SHE level 11
SCQF credit points 15
ECTS credit points 7.5
Module code MMW821940
Module Leader David Cosgrove
School Glasgow School for Business and Society
Subject Media and Journalism
Trimester A (September start)

Summary of content

In this module, students will be provided with the opportunity to develop as part of a team and then individually a 'shadow' storyline for an existing long-running drama on British / Scottish TV: for example, for a soap opera or medical drama. Students will be given an understanding of how the creative and writing process works on such long-running TV dramas, namely through group discussion and story conferences and they will be provided with the opportunity to participate in mock story conferences closely simulating real story conferences within the contemporary TV fiction writing industry. Students will then develop a master scene storyline for the drama.
Delivery is through lectures, story conferences and groupwork and peer review.

Module details

Module structure

Activity Total hours
Lectures 22
Tutorials 10
Practicals 5
Seminars 0
Independent Learning 99.00
Assessment 14
Placement 0

Assessment methods

Component Duration Weighting Threshold Description
Course Work001 0 50 45 CW1: Storylining Document outlining a proposed story within one of the long running shows. 2000 words
Course Work002 50 45 CW2: Scene by Scene Document based on CW1 incorporating feedback from staff 2000 words