Weekly Schedule

Week One
25 August	Telling a Story Introduction to the Class. Writing for Multimedia In-class exercises: a) What is Interaction? b) The Vital Verb (if we have time)
For Week Three	Read: Timothy Garrand, Writing for Multimedia and the Web (hereafter Garrand), Chapters 1 & 2, plus (very short) Chapter 4 AND Mark Stephen Meadows, Pause and Effect: the art of interactive narrative (hereafter Meadows), pp. 2 - 36 Research: Over the next two weeks, read and compare the main news stories (just one or two) in either the New York Times or the Washington Post (broadsheet newspapers) AND in the New York Post (tabloid). What kinds of openings or leads does each use? What are the differences between the tabloid and broadsheet headlines and leads. Bring an example from each paper of a good opening or lead to class next week.
Week Two
1 September	No Class - Labor Day Holiday
Week Three
8 September	Writing the Lead Classifying the Lead In-class Exercises: a) Leading the Reader b) Planning the Story
For Week Four	Write: Mini-Assignment #1: News Story Read: Garrand, Chapters 4 & 6 (both very short)
Week Four
15 September	Due: Mini-Assignment #1: News Story Clear, Dazzling, Precise Writing with Detail In-class Exercises: a) Except in the Details & the solo exercise
For Week Five	Research: Listen to All Things Considered and/or Morning Edition on NPR (available daily on WAMU - 88.5FM or WETA - 90.9FM) and online (current and archive versions). Concentrate on those stories that 'tell as story' and use interview material from participants. Note down the different elements in this kind of story. For example, what is the purpose of the commentary from the reporter? And what do the direct voices of those interviewed contribute. If you want to examine British radio for a change, listen to The World Today on the BBC World Service and ask the same questions.
Week Five
22 September	Hearing Voices (and why they're important) Demo: Audio script Tips: Writing for audio In-class exercises:a) radio ad. b) news bulletin
For Week Six	Write: Mini-Assignment #2: Audio Story & Group Project Proposal Read: Meadows, pp. 39 - 69
Week Six
29 September	Due: Group Project Proposal & Mini-Assignment #2: Audio Story Interactivity Workshop Details to be announced
For Week Seven	Read: Meadows, pp. 72 - 108 and Garrand, Chapter 7 Research: Building on your readings in the textbooks, your experiential learning and our work in class on 29 September, draft a 2 - 3 page (typed, please) summary (with evidence to back up your ideas) of your understanding of interactivity in complex interactive multimedia. You might include the following: definitions of interactivity; essential ingredients of interactivity, structures of interactivity, routes to enhancing interactivity, and so on.
Week Seven
6 October	Information Structure In-class exercises: a) active vs passive (powerpoint)
For Week Eight	Write: Group Project Treatment
Week Eight
14 October Tuesday Class	Due: Group Project Treatment Adding the Visual Writing with video In-class exercises: a) wordy sentences b) documentary script format c) create the two-column script format d) wordy sentences (powerpoint)
For Week Nine	Research: View and take notes on the footage for Mini-Assignment #3. Itemize the main elements of the story as you see them. No more than five or six! Bring your shot notes to class and send me an electronic copy. Sample shot list & terminology crib sheet
Week Nine
20 October	Writing in Three Dimensions The Treatment In-class exercises: a) scenes
For Week Ten	Write: Mini-Assignment #3: Video Story Read: Meadows, pp. 116 - 123 and one interview from section 2.5 (assignment list) Bring your notes to class.
Week Ten
27 October	Due: Mini-Assignment #3: Video Story Web Words In-class exercises: a) Web Words b) student informational multimedia sample
For Week Eleven	Read: Meadows, pp. 152 - 179
Week Eleven
3 November	Interactivity In-class Exercises: a) creating interaction b) flowcharting
For Week Twelve	Write: Script #1: Informational Multimedia Read: Garrand, Chapters 8, 18 & 19
Week Twelve
10 November	Due: Script #1: Informational Multimedia Telling Real Stories In-class Exercises: Scene-Numbering (printable document in case you lose the handout)
For Week Thirteen	Read: Meadows, Chapter 3, one case study interview and exploration AND Garrand, one narrative multimedia case study (individual assignments)
Week Thirteen
17 November	Structure and Story Analysis Who, What, When, Where, Why & How: The Structure of Narrative: Sit-Coms, Soaps and Prime-Time Drama In-class exercises: Grammar Practice
For Week Fourteen	Write: Group Script
Week Fourteen
24 November	Due: Group Script (no incomplete versions, please) Workshop Group Review Schedule; Troubleshooting Narrative Multimedia Ideas
For Week Fifteen	Write: Make sure that you return detailed comments on your assigned group script by midnight on 30 November.
Week Fifteen
1 December	Press Release & Troubleshooting Individual and Group Scripts
For 7 December	Due: Script #2: Narrative Multimedia & Experiential Learning: Part III (the interview) Deliver by midnight!
For 15 December	Complete: Perfected Group Script & Press Release for Project.

|| syllabus || || schedule || || assignments || || experiential learning ||
lesley smith: fall 2003
new century college
in the
college of arts and sciences
george mason university
fairfax va 22030
last updated: 1 december 2003