FIRST SESSION
INTRODUCTION: WRITING A SCRIPT AS PROCESS AND PRODUCT
Your goal ultimately will be to research a topic efficiently, draft a useful statement
conforming to the requirements of the task in terms of resources available, rehearse
that statement until it becomes second nature, and deliver your results to a group.
MANAGING YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY
FLUENCY OF EXPRESSION
CHOOSING YOUR SCRIPTWRITING PROJECT
FLUENCY
Many people procrastinate, putting off their script-writing until the last minute.
Some even say that they write best under pressure.
Such notions about the writing process serve only to inhibit the flow of ideas.
OBJECTIVES
To discover the source of your creative thinking.
To promote fluency
To overcome writer's block
PROCEDURE
For this exercise, do not worry about spelling or grammar.
Step 1
Write nonstop on any topic for 5 minutes. If no topic comes to mind,
just keep a flow of words coming out of your pen, pencil, or word processor.
DO NOT STOP WRITING
Even "I can't think what to write" or "blah,blah,blah," works fine for this exercise.
Nonsense is better than stopping.
Step 2
At the end of the writing period, find and underline the "center of gravity." (Instructor will explain.)
TIME MANAGEMENT
Writers need to know approximately how much time to spend
on each phase of the writing process required for a successful speaking script.
OBJECTIVE
To manage script-writing time more effectively.
PROCEDURE
Draw a pie graph to show how you allocate your time for each stage
of your process in writing your script.
Use your own words to label what you do.
CHOOSE YOUR TOPIC
During this exercise, as we go through the steps in the script-writing process,
you will be working on various projects. In any case, either choose your own
topic or use one of the following suggestions:
Report on some project (personal or work related)
which you have completed or have yet to complete.
Write a status report on progress (or lack thereof) on some
proposed new product or new approach to solving some problem.
Recommend a change in policy or procedure.
Summarization is the restating of the main ideas of the text
in as few words as possible.
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SESSION TWO
CLARIFYING YOUR PURPOSE
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR SCRIPT
WRITING A FLUENT FIRST DRAFT
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CLARIFY YOUR PURPOSE
Every speech should strongly imply its purpose through a clear statement
of the central point and a careful marshalling of supporting points.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify your purpose so that the script has direction and force.
PROCEDURE
In one sentence, write the purpose of the script you will be working on.
Do not write your central point, write the purpose – your reason for writing,
your expectation of what your script should produce or reveal.
Be sure that you write your sentence in the active voice and that it answers the question--
What do I want my listener (s) to know (if you are informing primarily) or to do
(if you are persuading primarily) after hearing my ideas and assertions on this topic ?
My purpose in writing this script is to ( inform / persuade ) X ( your audience )
about Y (your topic) so that ( they will be more aware / they will do something )
as a result of listening to my speech.
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AUDIENCE AWARENESS
Careless script-writing often overlooks the audience.
Making conscious decisions about your listener(s) is
an important step in the inventing stage of your work.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the listener (s) needs and expectations.
PROCEDURE
Before doing your rough draft of the script, write your answers
to the following questions.
1. Who will your primary listener (s) be? Name them.
2. Who else may hear your speech? If possible, name them.
3. What does each listener know or need to know about your topic?
4. How do your listener (s) feel about this subject?
5. How much authority do the listener (s) have to respond ?
How do you want them to respond after hearing this ?
6. What questions will listener (s) ask about this topic after hearing you ?
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INVENTING: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
PROCEDURE
1. Write in brief note form the answers to the following questions:
What has to be done?
Where should it take place?
Why should it be done?
How is the best way to proceed to get it done?
When is the best time, exactly, to do it?
Who should take action?
Does anything else come to mind that you need to cover?
2. Take a few minutes to jot down your responses.
3. Eliminate answers that are irrelevant to your SCRIPT.
4. Arrange your answers in the order of priority,
either logically or chronologically, as is appropriate
Seventeen Questions to Ask Yourself in Order to Get Started
Note that MOST of the following will
prove irrelevant to your argument
but that considering the
answers to these questions should help your comprehension
of your
topic.
1. How can x be described?
2. How did x happen?
3. What is my reaction to x?
4. What are the facts about x?
5. How can x be summarized?
6. What does x mean?
7. What is the essential function of x ?
8. What are the components of x?
9. How is x made or done?
10. What are the causes of x?
11. What are the consequences of x?
12. What are the types of x?
13. How does x compare to y?
14. What is the status of x?
15. How should x be interpreted?
16. What is the value of x?
17. What case can be made for or against x
INVENTING: THE STRUCTURED TECHNIQUE
Use this technique for generating and organizing ideas for your script.
OBJECTIVES
To begin the script-writing process
To overcome writer's block a fluency issue related to so-called “stage fright”
PROCEDURE
Step 1 Using the topic you have chosen, list ideas in random order, as they occur.
Step 2 Group or cluster ideas.
Step 3 Eliminate ideas that don't fit.
Step 4 Review each cluster and add missing ideas.
Step 5 Arrange groups in order of importance.
ROUGH DRAFT
Using the experience of the fluency exercise ( which you did during the first session)
write a rough draft of your script.
The free flow of ideas into words automatically evolves into your rough draft
of your script. Your point of view and fresh ideas will emerge from the flow of language.
But you must allow nonsense or irrelevant language to assert itself whenever
it wants to. Remember, not all of your ideas will be gems, and much ore must
be mined to produce any treasure.
A disorganized mess is a good first draft. A neat, accurate draft may mean
that you attempted to produce a final product too early in the script-writing process.
OBJECTIVES
To begin the script-writing process
To overcome writer's block
To produce a useful rough draft of your script
To practice brainstorming as an idea generator
PROCEDURE
1. With your topic in mind, start at once.
Do not rush but keep producing a steady flow of words.
2. Write on every other line and only on one side of the page.
3. Do not stop to edit.
4. If your mind goes blank before you
finish the draft, revert to writing
anything rather than
nothing.
5. Keep noticing whatever resistance you have to writing
a free flow draft and keep writing.
6. When you finish, count how many words you have written.
Write the number here.
SESSION THREE
DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS
TAKING ANOTHER LOOK: THE IMPORTANCE OF REVISING
REVISING YOUR SCRIPT
REVISING EXERCISE
Select one piece of writing, either a "finished" piece or one in draft form.
Working with another writer, revise it fully.
PROCEDURE
Step 1
Move key concept or central point to the top of your script.
Be sure that you can state it in one sentence.
Step 2
Isolate your major secondary points. Number them in order of importance
Step 3
Cut and tape to put all information in logical and most effective order.
Step 4
Focus on one idea per section. Introduce subheadings where appropriate.
Use bullets where appropriate.
Step 5
Add or delete ideas. Use additional sheets of paper for extended revisions.
Step 6
Determine if you need further revising.
REVISE YOUR SCRIPT
You now have a rough draft of your script. If you have a "good" first draft,
it is very messy and disorganized; however, it may have some flashes of insight
and patches of strong logic and clear thinking. You can now move on
to revising your rough draft.
PROCEDURE
Step 1
Determine your key concept. What is the bottom line of your communication?
It may be the center of gravity.
Step 2
Move key concept to the top of your document.
Be sure that you can state it in one sentence.
Step 3
Isolate your major secondary points. Number them in order of importance.
Step 4
Cut and tape to put all information in logical and most effective order.
Step 5
Focus on one idea per section. Introduce subheadings where appropriate.
Use bullets where appropriate.
Step 6
Add or delete ideas. Use additional sheets of paper for extended revisions.
Step 7
Determine if you need further revising. If yes, repeat key steps or prepare outline.
OUTLINE MODULE
Most people make the mistake of assuming that they should write a once-and-
for-all outline before the first draft of a script. Actually, many have discovered
that while structured or unstructured pre-writing is useful before the first draft,
elaborate outlining is more productive after the first draft and before extensive revising.
PROCEDURE
If you still need to do some revising, outline the material for effective organization.
During and after writing the outline, use the following checklist to stimulate ideas.
1. What is this speech about? Have I stated its purpose ?
2. What new ideas does this speech contribute?
3. What are my conclusions and recommendations ?
Where have I put them in the outline ?
4. What is the significance of the conclusions? Where have I answered the question ?
5. What actions do I propose ? Why ? By whom ? When ? How ?
Have I stipulated short-term or long-range goals ?
6. Have I taken the various members of my audience into consideration ?
When your outline is complete, revise your script based on the outline
SESSION FOUR
REVISING AND EDITING
EDITING SENTENCES: CONCISE, CLEAR, AND DIRECT STATEMENTS
EDIT YOUR PRACTICE SCRIPT
Edit your practice script for problems with
* passive voice
* weak prepositional phrases
* unnecessary forms of the verb "to be"
* hidden verbs
REHEARSING YOUR FINISHED SCRIPT
Two techniques to help you remember:
This link discusses the mnemonic strategies of chunking, combining,
using graphics, and making stories for memory enhancement.
This link discusses paraphrasing (as distinct from summarizing)
A paraphrase is a restatement of an idea into your own words.
You turn a sentence you have read or heard into about the same number
of your own words. Different words, same meaning.
ALWAYS BE PREPARED AT THE LAST MINUTE
TO CHANGE YOUR SCRIPT PRIOR TO DELIVERY.
Access reliable news sources before you
deliver your
speech to assure your audience that your information
“hot off the press.”
Your awareness of the topicality or
timeliness of your
information you present is critical to your
credibility.
Late breaking news or the latest survey or report on your subject
should be news you share with your audience, NOT vice-versa.