COMM 342WIdea Development and Media Writing

3 credits · Communications · Penn State

Introduction to various modalities of idea development and written expression for media production. COMM 342 Idea Development and Media Writing (3) This writing-intensive course is designed to introduce students to various modalities of idea development and expression for audio-visual projects. Writing as an ideational, descriptive or reflexive tool is an integral element of each modality. Learning objectives encompass the development of skills in the following areas: Conceptualization, Visualization, Decision-making, Intellectual articulation and Manifestation. Emphasis will be placed on using written work as an integral part of the creative process. As a designated W course, students will gain experience in the writing of media criticism and analysis as well as learning the writing styles specific to the profession. Writing assignments will include informal writing such as exercises in intuitive and timed writing, one minute response papers and collective story telling. Formal writing assignments will include observational essays, descriptive essays or stylistic "treatments", formal narrative proposals, analytic and editorial story reports, and self-reflexive critique papers. Students will progress through a series of creative exercises that support the development of the above skills consisting of short (200-500 word) written and oral exercises, exercises in visual thinking, visual storytelling and image composition and longer (750-1500 word) written assignments in various forms (descriptive, persuasive, analytical, editorial and critical) tailored to the professional requirements of the film-video major; these include descriptive essays or stylistic "treatments" formal narrative proposals, analytic and editorial story reports, and self-reflexive critique papers. Written feedback from the instructor will be provided on a regular basis, as well as in class peer critique and story workshops. Students will be required to redraft and rewrite assignments as needed.