Course Dates
Course details
Academic team
Key Features
Aims of the course:
- To introduce students to the art of dramatic writing for the stage.
- To examine and interpret the dramatic stories, characters, situations, devices and dialogue used in a range of play texts.
- To encourage and guide students' own experiments in playwriting through practical writing exercises and critical feedback.
Course content overview:
- This course will explore the nature, purpose and features of dramatic writing.
- Students will examine and interpret dramatic stories, characters and situations.
- The course will focus on dramatic dialogue and devices
Welcome week (Week 0)
Purpose:
- personal introductions
- introducing the course
- useful reading
- personal objectives
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week, the students should have:
- become familiar with navigating around the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and from VLE to links and back
- test your ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sort out any problems with the help of the Technology Enhanced Learning team
- learn how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
- contribute to a discussion forum to introduce yourself to other students and discuss why you are interested in the course and what you hope to get out of your studies
Week 1
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week the students should have:
- A better understanding of what drama does, and what it is for
- A better understanding of some of the basic features of dramatic writing
- Generated ideas for dramatic stories
Week 2
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week the students should have:
- A better understanding of dramatic story arcs
- A better understanding of what makes a dramatic character
- Created compelling dramatic characters
Week 3
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week the students should have:
- A better understanding of what makes a dramatic situation
- A better understanding of the importance of complications and different agendas
- Come up with ideas of dramatic ways to write an opening scene
Week 4
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week the students should have:
- A better understanding of the interplay between the literal meaning of the words that are spoken and what they actually mean
- Created dialogue that does several things at once
Week 5
Learning outcomes:
By studying this week the students should have:
- A better understanding of a range of dramatic devices
- Methods for re-thinking, re-drafting and re-writing scenes and sequences
Week 6: what next?
- Assessment of student learning
- Assessment of student satisfaction
- Encouragement of further play writing and further study
Fees
The course fee includes access to the course on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), personal feedback on your work from an expert tutor, a Certification of Participation (if you complete work and take part in discussions), and access to the class resources for two years after your course finishes.
VAT does not apply to course fees and there is no service charge (gratuities to domestic staff are left to your discretion).
Concessions
For more information on available concessions, please visit the Concessions information page on our website.
Alison Fordham Bursary
The Institute is proud to offer the Alison Fordham bursary, which is awarded to students who wish to study on one of our short online courses via our virtual learning platform, reducing the fee paid by 50%. The bursary is limited to a single award for each set of online courses.
Application criteria:
- Applicants should set out their personal learning motivations since priority will be given to those who are returning to learning after an extended break, or have not previously engaged with fully online learning, or are seeking to use the online short course as a bridge towards undergraduate award-bearing study.
- Applicants who can demonstrate financial need.
- Apply here
This course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.
Our short courses are designed especially for adult learners who want to advance their personal or professional development. They are taught by tutors who are expert in both their subjects and in teaching students of all ages and experiences.
Please note that all teaching is in English. You should have near-native command of the English language to get the maximum benefit from the course.
Fees
The course fee includes access to the course on our VLE, personal feedback on your work from an expert tutor, a certificate of participation (if you complete work and take part in discussions), and access to the class resources for two years after your course finishes.
Concessions
For more information, please see our concessions information page.
Alison Fordham Bursary
University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education is proud to offer the Alison Fordham bursary, which is awarded to students who wish to study on one of our short online courses via our VLE, reducing the fee paid by 50%. The bursary is limited to a single award for each set of online courses.
Application criteria:
- applicants should set out their personal learning motivations since priority will be given to those who are returning to learning after an extended break, or have not previously engaged with fully online learning, or are seeking to use the online short course as a bridge towards undergraduate award-bearing study
- applicants who can demonstrate financial need
For more information, please see our bursaries information page.
A certificate of participation and a digital credential will be awarded to those who contribute constructively to weekly discussions, exercises and assignments for the duration of the course.
