Midterm Assignment: Storyline (6 Fundamental Elements of Story) & Three-Act Structure OUTLINE
***NOTE: I have required you to read scene descriptions from studio-produced screenplays and to complete an exercise to prepare you for and to provide you with a demonstrated example of how to write scenes in which you are “showing”/communicating your “vision” of a scene. This is the style of writing most utilized in writing for the screen but is also a utilized tool in writing literature and novels.
A scene description puts a clear image of what’s “happening” in the reader’s head.
10 Great Websites to Download Scripts:https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/ Links to an external site.
**NOTE: DO NOT APPROACH THIS MIDTERM EXAM ASSIGNMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE SCENE DESCRIPTION READING AND EXERCISE AND COMPLETED THE VIEWING ASSIGNMENT BOTH DUE on MARCH 3RD.
Part I
Identify each of the 6 Fundamental Elements of a dramatic narrative/story idea that you have with YOU as the main character. After you have identified these elements, you will then have a storyline for your story idea.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND: Reread and revisit the Storytelling: Dramatization and 3-Act Structure handout if needed to ensure you understand specifically what those FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS of a story are. ***BE CAREFUL*** IF you do not understand by now what the fundamental elements of any story are and you use other elements of a story, you will not have a proper storyline, and Part II of this assignment will also be incorrect. This will cause a failing grade on this assignment. We have discussed and clarified in our last Zoom Class meeting what these elements are. Moreover, they are explicitly stated in your assigned reading.
Part II – NOTE: ALL scenes MUST be written in PROPER SCENE DESCRIPTION FORMAT as referenced and resourced above.
Outline IN 3 Act Structure of your DRAMATIC NARRATIVE STORYLINE, which you have composed in Part I of this assignment by explicitly identifying the major plot points in each act such as the inciting incident and the major climax in Act 1, at least 3 obstacles/conflict for your main character in Act II, the next major climax that occurs in Act 2, and how your narrative/story resolves in Act 3.
This is “just” an OUTLINE that describes KEY SCENES/BEATS within your story. You do not have to attempt to think through or describe any other filler scenes within this story journey.
Comprehensive Outline Structure Template
Act I
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that introduces the main character to the story
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that introduces what your story is about
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the Inciting Incident/First Climax in the story – propels the story into the next Act. This should also reveal the want/goal/desire of the main character that will drive the storyline for the rest of the story.
Act II
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the main character in conflict/dealing with an obstacle.
Write another scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the main character in conflict/dealing with another obstacle – this time the obstacle is more intense than in the last scene.
Write a scene that “shows” the emotional peak/next biggest climax “point of no return moment” for the main character in the story.
Act III
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the greatest climax within this entire story journey, the “do or die moment” for main character. This scene drives toward a resolution.
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that resolves the story – the main character achieves does not achieve their goal within the entire story. Midterm Assignment: Storyline (6 Fundamental Elements of Story) & Three-Act Structure OUTLINE
***NOTE: I have required you to read scene descriptions from studio-produced screenplays and to complete an exercise to prepare you for and to provide you with a demonstrated example of how to write scenes in which you are “showing”/communicating your “vision” of a scene. This is the style of writing most utilized in writing for the screen but is also a utilized tool in writing literature and novels.
A scene description puts a clear image of what’s “happening” in the reader’s head.
10 Great Websites to Download Scripts: https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-download-movie-scripts/ Links to an external site.
**NOTE: DO NOT APPROACH THIS MIDTERM EXAM ASSIGNMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE SCENE DESCRIPTION READING AND EXERCISE AND COMPLETED THE VIEWING ASSIGNMENT BOTH DUE on MARCH 3RD.
Part I
Identify each of the 6 Fundamental Elements of a dramatic narrative/story idea that you have with YOU as the main character. After you have identified these elements, you will then have a storyline for your story idea.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND: Reread and revisit the Storytelling: Dramatization and 3-Act Structure handout if needed to ensure you understand specifically what those FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS of a story are. ***BE CAREFUL*** IF you do not understand by now what the fundamental elements of any story are and you use other elements of a story, you will not have a proper storyline, and Part II of this assignment will also be incorrect. This will cause a failing grade on this assignment. We have discussed and clarified in our last Zoom Class meeting what these elements are. Moreover, they are explicitly stated in your assigned reading.
Part II – NOTE: ALL scenes MUST be written in PROPER SCENE DESCRIPTION FORMAT as referenced and resourced above.
Outline IN 3 Act Structure of your DRAMATIC NARRATIVE STORYLINE, which you have composed in Part I of this assignment by explicitly identifying the major plot points in each act such as the inciting incident and the major climax in Act 1, at least 3 obstacles/conflict for your main character in Act II, the next major climax that occurs in Act 2, and how your narrative/story resolves in Act 3.
This is “just” an OUTLINE that describes KEY SCENES/BEATS within your story. You do not have to attempt to think through or describe any other filler scenes within this story journey.
Comprehensive Outline Structure Template
Act I
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that introduces the main character to the story
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that introduces what your story is about
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the Inciting Incident/First Climax in the story – propels the story into the next Act. This should also reveal the want/goal/desire of the main character that will drive the storyline for the rest of the story.
Act II
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the main character in conflict/dealing with an obstacle.
Write another scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the main character in conflict/dealing with another obstacle – this time the obstacle is more intense than in the last scene.
Write a scene that “shows” the emotional peak/next biggest climax “point of no return moment” for the main character in the story.
Act III
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that shows the greatest climax within this entire story journey, the “do or die moment” for main character. This scene drives toward a resolution.
Write a scene description for ONE SCENE that resolves the story – the main character achieves does not achieve their goal within the entire story.
The link below may or may not work but these are examples of the assignment
https://edpuzzle.com/assignments/63fd32036b232f41a8eb65e6/watchhttps://edpuzzle.com/assignments/63fd32036b232f41a8eb65e6/watchhttps://edpuzzle.com/assignments/63fd32036b232f41a8eb65e6/watchhttps://edpuzzle.com/assignments/63fd32036b232f41a8eb65e6/watchhttps://edpuzzle.com/assignments/63fd32036b232f41a8eb65e6/watch
