Course: Prof. Rowell Script Writing | Spring ’26

This course focuses on writing fundamentals for visual media and specifically focuses on the short form. Students study storytelling basics such as protagonist, want, obstacles, antagonist, complication / rising action, climax, along with three-act structure, which is common to screenplays.

With assignments in both fiction and non-fiction scriptwriting, the class covers such areas as:

Basic research methods
How to create character and story
How to SHOW action, rather than TELL it
How to write outlines and treatments
How to format both
Nonfiction A/V scripts and
Fiction screenplays
Learning how writing is rewriting.

Designed as a workshop in which students will develop multiple drafts for the fiction and nonfiction scripts, the course also teaches how to give and receive good criticism on peers’ work. The aim of the course is to help students develop basic skills necessary to write and revise scripts for upper-level VAT production classes and beyond.