Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: FLMC-2335 (Section: 71, CRN: 93223) Screenwriting for Features, Shorts and Documentaries |
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Instructor Information | |||||||||
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Instructor | Danielle Nicholson | ||||||||
nicholsondm@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
Phone | (409) 681-4312 | ||||||||
Office | Press Building - Room: 105C | ||||||||
Office Hours | Mondays: 11 am - 3 pm Tuesdays: 2:30 - 3 pm Wednesdays: 11 am - 3 pm Thursdays: 2:30 - 3 pm Fridays: 11 am - 3 pm |
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Additional Contact Information | See Blackboard for additional contact information. | ||||||||
Course Information | |||||||||
Description | Advanced concepts and applied screenwriting techniques for feature length film or video work and related new media storytelling. | ||||||||
Required Textbooks |
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
You will be reading excerpts from the following titles in Blackboard. You are welcome to buy the following titles in print if you prefer the print reading experience.
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Additional Materials/Resources |
Additional readings, videos, etc. will be available in Blackboard. |
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Corequisites/Prerequisites | None | ||||||||
Learning Outcomes |
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Program Student Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
Lecture Topics Outline |
Introduction to Screenwriting
Understanding Story Script Formatting Writing Writing for Genres Pitching Your Script Final Project |
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Major Assignments Schedule |
Week 1 – Aug 25 – Connect course structure to outcomes; Why screenplays matter as both art and craft Week 2 – Sep 1 – Overview of screenwriting as a profession and creative discipline Week 3 – Sep 8 – Elements of story: premise, theme, conflict Week 4 – Sep 15 – Story arcs and narrative structures (three-act, hero’s journey, episodic) Week 5 – Sep 22 – World-building and dramatic tension; Building treatment outlines Week 6 – Sep 29 – Introduction to screenwriting software; Formatting conventions (slug lines, dialogue, action) Week 7 – Oct 6 – Formatting practice and peer review Week 8 – Oct 13 – Writing scenes: dialogue, pacing, character motivation Week 9 – Oct 20 – Sequencing scenes and building acts Week 10 – Oct 27 – Genre conventions: drama, comedy, thriller, documentary Week 11 – Nov 3 – Cross-genre blending and creative risks; Adapting a concept into a new genre Week 12 – Nov 10 – Writing loglines, synopses, and elevator pitches; Practice video pitches Week 13 – Nov 17 – Submit full screenplay draft Week 14 – Dec 1 – Deliver final pitch presentations; Peer and instructor feedback |
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Final Exam Date | December 1, 2025 - 12:0 AM Through December 5, 2025 - 11:59 PM | ||||||||
Grading Scale |
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Determination of Final Grade |
The course is made up of weekly assignments. Your final grade is an average of your weekly assignment grades. Weekly Assignments: 100% |
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Course Policies | |||||||||
Instructor Policies | |||||||||
Attendance Policy |
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Additional Information |
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Institutional Policies | |||||||||
MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA. | ||||||||
Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||
ADA Considerations | The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. | ||||||||
COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||
Facility Policies | No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited. | ||||||||
HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect | As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual. | ||||||||
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct | LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website. | ||||||||
Clery Act Crime Reporting |
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website. |
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Grievance / Complaint / Concern | If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair. | ||||||||
Department Information |
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