Download
1 / 17
170 likes | 414 Views
Ku 121 Seminar 3 –Discovery and Pre-Writing. Professor Darlene Pomponio Agenda: The Writing Process Discussion – Dream Jobs Pre-Writing Unit 3 Project Review and Questions Materials for this presentation courtesy of Kaplan University’s Ku 121 Course and the KUWC.
E N D
Ku 121 Seminar 3 –Discovery and Pre-Writing Professor Darlene Pomponio Agenda: The Writing Process Discussion – Dream Jobs Pre-Writing Unit 3 Project Review and Questions Materials for this presentation courtesy of Kaplan University’s Ku 121 Course and the KUWC
Types of Pre-Writing • Jot lists – Like a grocery list or word association, a jot list includes key words that come to mind about your subject. At this point, don’t worry about spelling; just quickly write down as soon new thoughts enter your mind. You can even go back and expand on some ideas as you create the list. • Free-writing - Here you sit down either at a computer or with paper and pen and simply begins writing as quickly as possible without stopping. Don’t worry about sentences, spelling or anything grammatical at this point (we’ll get to those later). Right now, just keep the ideas running and capture as many of them as you can. • Mapping – A visual tool that looks something like a spider web, mapping allows you to make connections to ideas and to see how they relate to each other. If you like free-writing and find yourself making connections between ideas as you go, this is a good option. • Tape recorders or voice to text software – This is an ideal tool if you find that you think better out loud, expressing ideas verbally. Speak into a recorder then transcribe your ideas or use voice to text software. Imagine you’re exploring these ideas with your best friend and tell her everything you can think of
Samples of Pre-Writing (Jot List/Brainstorming) • Jot List/Brainstorming • Shows – ST:OS; ST:NG, Babylon 5, Forever Knight, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Highlander: The Series, Charmed, Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi version), Blood Ties, Moonlight • Flawed Heroes and Heroines –Kirk, Picard, Sheridan (B5), Nick Knight, Buffy, Angel, Duncan MacCleod, Piper, Prue, Pheobe, Paige, Lee Adama, Kira Thrace, Adama, Roslin, Vicky Nelson, Mick St. John • Conflict –Big Bad, save the world, save their world, save their friends, save/protect something greater, escape, get home • Moral Dilemmas – little black and white; is torture okay? Become evil to defeat evil? When to walk away? • Angst – worry; take on too much; think to hard; guilt, brood; try to protect others by distancing • Relationships that never work – Kirk and the female of the week, Picard and Vash, and Sheridan and D`Lenn (almost derailed by his dead wife), Nick and Natalie, Buffy and Angel, Buffy and Spike, Angel and Cordelia, Duncan and Tessa, Duncan and Amanda, Prue and Andy, Piper and Leo (eventually worked), Phoebe and Cole, Lee and Kira, Adama and Roslin, Henry and Vicky??, Vicky and Mike??? Mick and Beth • Enigmas – Spock, Q, Guinan, Londo, G`Kar, Lennier, LaCroix, Spike, Methos, the Elders, Cole, Tigh, Baltar, Six, Henry, Josef • No closure – audience wants more; even the ends are not ends; episodes lead to others; backstory never fully explored; Last Knight – ultimate lack of closure; still prompts fan discussion 10 years later
Samples of Pre-Writing (Free-Writing) Science fiction television seems to ebb and flow in popularity but the best shows are the ones that have all the elements yet leave the audience wanting more. What makes a good sci fi show? Look at the ones that work – the original Trek, ST NG, Babylon 5 (the Boxleitner Years), Forever Knight (cult hit if not a ratings one), Highlander the Series (is Duncan versus Connor EVEN a debate??), Buffy, Angel, Charmed (the Rose McGowan years – Prue was too much the center), the newer version of Battlestar Galactica (a case study in what works compared to the original which NEVER worked), Lifetimes vampire series Blood Ties, Moonlight on CBS – newer shows that are WORKING and developing; Shows have the flawed hero (Angel, Nick Knight, Mick St. John all drink BLOOD; Duncan MacCleod and Buffy kill to live; Picard is emotionally distant; the Halliwells all have issues;) What about sources of conflict – not just the typical big bad but internal conflict as well; constant moral dilemmas – victory at ALL costs?? What won’t they sacrifice – themselves always but their honor??? Others?? The greater good??? Angst is a huge part – Hamlet size angst; always worrying, always thinking, brooding, taking on too much; Relationships are never easy or without PAIN – Buffy Angelus??? Nick may have killed Nat at the end; the story tells us Sheridan dies on D’Lenn; Mick can’t have Beth; If Henry turns Vicky they can’t be together; Tessa was murdered; Cole was vanquished; Piper lost Leo many times; Andy died. What about enigmas – characters that we are not sure about but love anyway. Best line “I don’t know who or what you are.” Spock?? Human or Vulcan?? Q??? Evil or just ??? What about Londo and G`Kar – they come through!!! LaCroix – what he does he does for love of his son. Spike – loves the Slayer – not as bad as he wants. Methos – see the line (after 5000 years all types of shades of gray there); The Elders – do they have a plan or do they just like controlling things to their way??? Baltar – easy in the original – John Colicos was PURE evil. What about six – her other versions are NOT evil – is it just the version in Baltar’s mind??? Henry – what does he want? To help Vicky or to have Vicky? Josef – opportunist!!! There is no closure – no episodes or series end neatly. Last Knight – still sparking talk 10 years later?? Babylon 5 – (what did happen to the Vorlons? To Sheridan??) Did Buffy move to Cleveland? Charmed – more closure than MOST but stayed a year too long - decided on the happy ending route; Sometimes we NEVER know – left to speculate, to think, to dream
Questions?Remember, you can also:Email me at dpomponio@kaplan.eduPost a question to Course QuestionsVisit Office Hours (See the syllabus ) I’ll see you in Discussion and in Seminar next week .Have a great week! !
