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ENG-10076 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

ENG-10076 - Writing Scripts
Coordinator: Freddie Machin
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module will introduce you to the key dramatic principles required to write scripts for stage and screen. Drawing on texts from contemporary theatre, film and television, and taught by experienced professional writers, you will gain fundamental skills, developing your understanding of character, dialogue, and structure. You will engage in a combination of lectures, seminar groups, and practical writing workshops, and guided by feedback from peers and tutors alike, you will work towards writing your own original script.  

Aims
This module is designed to explore how the mechanics of dramatic narrative-driven storytelling function, and how it differs from prose and poetry. The module will introduce students to the threshold concepts of writing drama, need, obstacle, causation and how a character's motivation not only generates plot but also reveals character and determines meaning in a dramatic work. The module will give students the theoretical knowledge that underpins these ideas, it will support them in identifying them in extant works and most importantly offer the opportunity to apply that knowledge in practical writing workshops.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate their own writing as well as the work of others according to the threshold concepts outlined in the module: 2
apply threshold concepts to their own dramatic writing: 1
create a new piece of dramatic writing built on the principles of need, obstacle, causation and character: 1

Study hours

6 hours - lectures
6 hours - practical writing workshops
12 hours - seminar groups
12 hours - formative mini-assignment script writing
12 hours - reading each others work ahead of seminar
39 hours - lecture pre-reading
12 hours - assessment writing
51 hours - wider reading

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 80%
write an original script
write an original 3-5 minute playtext or screenplay built on the principles of drama and character outlined in the module

2: Assignment weighted 20%
commentary
write a 500 word reflective commentary to accompany the original script highlighting the use of threshold concepts studied in the module and how they function

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025