Course coordinator
Mr Oliver Gough
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Ever wanted to write a hit 10-minute play and never thought you could? This is the course for you! The first half of the semester will see students build their playwriting skills and develop a thorough understanding of the various roles dramaturgs can have in the development of new work. In the second half, students will be responsible for writing their own original short work for the stage; they will also be assigned to a fellow student's play as dramaturg. Theatre is a collaborative artform, and this course is structured to mirror real-life industry approaches to the development of new work.
Students will study how to be both playwright AND dramaturg during this seminar-based learning program. In the first section of the course, students will be introduced to the principles of dramaturgy and playwriting; in the second section of the course, they will put these principles into practice. Each student will also act as dramaturg for another student on their play.
Course requirements
Assumed background
As this is a third year course, there is an assumed background of the student having undertaken a major in either Drama or Writing as part of their BA.
Incoming Exchange Studies students are exempt from the requirement to have successfully completed DRAM1010.ﾠ
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Drama Students: taking this course should be in their final year and completed DRAM1010. Writing students: must have completed 6 units of Writing courses, 2 units of which must be WRIT1110 or WRIT2120.
Restrictions
NOTE: Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.
Course contact
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to introduce students to the practical requirements of the crafts of both playwriting and dramaturgy, and to provide students with tangible 'marketplace' skills in the theatre sector. Such skills, aside from playwriting and dramaturgy themselves, include industry networking, identification of key writing competitions and opportunities, and project pitching. ﾠ Students will learn what makes writing for live performance a distinct discipline that is unlike writing for television, film or prose narrative forms. ﾠ Students will also act as script dramaturg for each others' plays. This dual role - of writer and of external 'eye' andﾠeditor - is designed to provide students with practical experienceﾠin a range of facets of writing for contemporary performance. ﾠ Students are additionally expected to familiarise themselves with the contemporary live theatre industry, both as an aspiring professional writer and as an informed viewer/audient.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the craft involved in writing for the stage more comprehensively.
LO2.
Display knowledge of contemporary writing practices for live performance, and how this intersects with local industry.
LO3.
Demonstrate independent thinking, research and critical reasoning.
LO4.
Understand more intimately the craft required to help another person write and develop a new piece of live theatre performance.
As part of this process, you will learn to respectfully and ethically provide written and spoken feedback to your peers on the merit of their work; and to receive and process this feedback in relation to your own work.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Writer's Date - One Page Report | 10% 500 words |
18/03/2025 4:00 pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Participation
|
20% |
Week 2 - Week 12
In-class activity |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Script Dramaturgy Report
|
30% 3-page report |
Week 7 - Week 12
Due by 4pm of the Tuesday following your playwright's allocated public reading |
| Project | Short Play Script | 40% 10 minutes |
30/05/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Writer's Date - One Page Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 10% 500 words
- Due date
18/03/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
You will write a 500 word (one page) report on the Writer's Date task handed out to you in Week 2.
This is an observational exercise to be done outside of class time. It involves taking yourself to an unfamiliar venue in town and observing the location and people around you in a writerly way. Full details and prompt questions can be found in the assignment brief in the Assessment Folder in Blackboard entitled 'Assessment Task One - Writer's Date Report'.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Week 2 - Week 12
In-class activity
Task description
Participation in all seminars is considered mandatory.
Students are assessed on their active participation in seminar discussions and workshop sessions. Participation is assessed according to the level of students' active engagement in class discussions; engagement in activities taking place within seminars, whether that be the work presented by themselves or by other students; and the alertness, enthusiasm and sophistication of analysis students bring to the full range of activities across the course. A writing seminar provides, in a certain sense, a sacrosanct space in which students expose their work to each other for public scrutiny and analysis. There is a degree of vulnerability and risk involved that demands respectful consideration and behaviour from the group at all times. Disrespectful and/or demeaning responses to students' creative work will be penalised with heavy deductions to the participation grade.
Participation in out-of-hours class activities - such as play readings or theatre attendance or formative writing exercises - whilst not 'compulsory' is considered to be part of the 'spirit of the course' to which students are committed to immersing themselves.
Participation will be assessed out of two marks per class, commencing Week 2 and concluding in Week 12. The total will be a mark out of 20. (Note: this span of weeks amounts to 11 classes where participation is assessed. Only students' 10 best results count toward the final tally of 20 marks.)
Lateness, because it disrupts group concentration and tight scheduling during writing workshops, will be penalised automatically with a half mark deduction to that week's participation grade.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person, in class. This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
In-class activity
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: this is a class assessment item and students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal. Please contact your course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this assessment.
Script Dramaturgy Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30% 3-page report
- Due date
Week 7 - Week 12
Due by 4pm of the Tuesday following your playwright's allocated public reading
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Peer assessment factor.
Task description
Meet up with your playwright in the weeks prior to their in-class presentation and have an informal dramaturgical conversation with them. Guidelines presented in class in Weeks 3 and 4 are designed to help you instigate and understand this process.
Familiarise yourself with the writer's project and encourage them to talk about it. This initial meeting constitutes the informal, 'verbal' part of your dramaturgical service to your playwright.
By way of 'formal' dramaturgical service, please provide your playwright with a 3 page dramaturgical report by way of response to the public (i.e. in-class) reading of the first draft of their play script. Using techniques introduced to you during the course, you are to read your playwright's script, and provide them with a detailed feedback report that provides useful practical information about how to make the script better in further redrafts. As well as providing your own detailed textual analysis and suggestions, you need to collate and summarise the seminar reading group's feedback in the week that your playwright's script is read aloud. Present this summarised information of class feedback (of approximately one page) AND your own 2 page report to the playwright no later than a week after their play is read aloud to the group.
This report is to be submitted to the tutor via Turnitin in the same week that you hand it to your playwright.
The tutor will provide you with a mark out of 25.
There is also a peer assessed component to this grade: your playwright will also provide you with a mark out of 5, justifying their grade and explaining how it reflects the usefulness and efficacy of your report. The student's grade will be added to the tutor's giving you a final grade out of 30.
PLAYWRIGHTS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR ASSIGNED DRAMATURG IN THE FIRST INSTANCE TO SET UP THIS MEETING; DRAMATURGS OR PLAYWRIGHTS WHO FAIL TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PRE-PRESENTATION PART OF THE PROCESS WILL BE PENALISED WITH A MARK OF ZERO OUT OF FIVE FOR PEER ASSESSMENT AND WILL ALSO LOSE MARKS AGAINST THE CRITERIA OF THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT.
For a sample Dramaturgical Report that scored strongly against all of these criteria, see the Assessment folder in Blackboard.
A detailed assignment brief is also available in the Assessment folder in Blackboard.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard following your playwright's allocated public reading.
Playwrights will be issued a survey in class that tutors will convert to a peer assessment mark out of 5 that gets added to the total grade for the assignment.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Extensions for this item can only be granted in negotiation with the tutor and the playwright for whom you are providing the report.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Short Play Script
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 40% 10 minutes
- Due date
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
Students will be required to write a short play of 10 minutes playing length. Typically, this will fall in a word count band of 2100-2400 words, and 8-10 pages depending on lay-out and spacing.
In-class exercises are designed to provide students with stimuli and ideas for getting started. We explore a range of elements of craft such as place/location, dialogue, character or theme as starting points for students' own projects.
Students will have the play read aloud in class, allowing them to time the work, receive the group's feedback, and receive a separate detailed dramaturgical report from another student assigned to that task.
For those students who are unfamiliar with standard play lay-out, please see the 'Sample' I have provided on Black Board in 'Learning Resources'. Please use 12pt Times Roman font or similar and 1.5 spacing and remember to provide page numbers.
A detailed assignment brief is available in the Assessment folder in Blackboard.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
In addition to the reading and research students will be expected to complete from the listed resources, you are also encouraged to get out and see as much new live theatre performance as possible.
We will be readingﾠarticles and plays in class to act as stimuli and inspiration for students' own writing.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 1: Getting Started Introduction to course. Discussion of aims, objectives and assessment. Defining terminology. Introducing themes and parameters. Generative writing exercises. Understanding dramatic form and structure. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 2: Building Character and Location Readings and discussions based on Course Reader. |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 3: No Classes |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 4: Developing Dialogue This week's focus element of craft is dialogue. We'll also do 'getting started' exercises for generating ideas, and provide practical advice on dramaturgy. More readings from Course Reader |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 5: Developing Theme Discuss our writing projects. Discussions of elements of structure and drama. Focused element of craft: Developing theme. Readings from Course Reader. Generative play writing exercises. |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 6: Developing Subtext and Structure More 'getting started' writing exercises. Reading more short plays out loud. Focused element of craft: Developing subtext; considering structure |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 7: Creative Development Session 1 Playwriting/Dramaturgy Workshop. Scripts read aloud in class. Group to provide feedback. Dramaturgs to collate and present feedback to playwrights. |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 8: Creative Development Session 2 Playwriting/Dramaturgy Workshop. Scripts read aloud in class. Group to provide feedback. Dramaturgs to collate and present feedback to playwrights. |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK No classes this week. |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Week 9: Creative Development Session 3 Playwriting/Dramaturgy Workshop. Scripts read aloud in class. Group to provide feedback. Dramaturgs to collate and present feedback to playwrights. |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Week 10: Creative Development Session 4 Playwriting/Dramaturgy Workshop. Scripts read aloud in class. Group to provide feedback. Dramaturgs to collate and present feedback to playwrights. |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Week 11: Creative Development Session 5 Playwriting/Dramaturgy Workshop. Scripts read aloud in class. Group to provide feedback. Dramaturgs to collate and present feedback to playwrights. |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Week 12: Creative Development Session 6 Playwriting/Dramaturgy Workshop. Scripts read aloud in class. Group to provide feedback. Dramaturgs to collate and present feedback to playwrights. |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 13: NO CLASSES |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.