Documentary- Script Draft

Learning Target(s):

  • Select and apply appropriate strategies in a variety of contexts to guide inquiry, extend thinking, and comprehend texts
  • Use writing and design processes to plan, develop, and create engaging and meaningful texts for a variety of purposes and audiences 
  • Respond to text in personal, creative, and critical ways

Writing is a collaborative process and all steps are equally valuable - from the planning, to the draft writing, to the editing. Here is your chance to submit a draft of your script for your documentary.

Organizing your Information

"The most important element of a documentary is a great script. Remember that narration should always drive the visual images. In order to organize your documentary, consider the following:

Segment your information. You are telling a story, so you want to make sure that you have clear and distinct parts:

  • Introduction: Make sure people understand where and when this is happening and include your thesis
  • Background Information: What will people need to understand your main argument and the importance of your topic?
  • Main Argument: Fully explain your topic and argument.
  • Conclusion: Address the impact your topic has had in history and sum up its importance.

Write your script first. Trying to put images together first often results in disaster and despair. If you know where you are going with your project, it is much easier to find images that fit your ideas than ideas to fit your images. Use a storyboard to add images that fit later on. It is likely that you will need about 100 images in total." 

Some tips for nailing a script:

  • Let your writing style and personality shine through
  • Make sure spelling, grammar and format are perfect
  • Write the way you normally talk (this will help the script sound more natural)
  • If you are having difficulty pronouncing something, spell it out phonetically
  • Keep an eye on your word count and make sure it’s under your desired run time
  • Edit, refine, repeat. Keep working on your script until your 100% happy with it

Be sure to cite all sources of information using the MLA format

Choose one of the following topics:

  • Explore the Indigenous themes or symbolism you noticed in the film you watched, present your findings in an 8-10 minute documentary. 
  • Choose a stereotype or untrue belief you had previously held about Indigenous people and debunk it in an 8-10 minute documentary. 
  • Discuss an alternative topic with your teacher.

Please view the following document for examples and visuals to help you plan your documentary:  Documentary Handout

Remember:

Keep in mind your language is very important. 

Terms to refer to all the Indigenous people in Canada are First Peoples or Indigenous 

Consider that even though First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples may share similarities in pedagogy, world views, and certain aspects of culture, each nation is a distinct group of people who have developed their own unique ways of life as well.  There is a range of ownership protocols around song, dance, oral narratives and oral histories depending on the peoples you are considering. 

Review the last item of the First Peoples Principles of Learning "Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations."

Read Jo Chrona’s Learning Involves Recognizing that Some Knowledge is Sacred and Only Shared with Permission and/or In Certain Situations

Hand in a script and your properly formatted reference list.

Sources:

 https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/documents/NHD/Documentary-Handout.pdf May 2020

https://www.rode.com/blog/all/a-guide-to-planning-out-a-podcast-episode March 2020

This is where you will upload your assignment to your teacher for marking. 

You will upload the file containing your assignment.  

Name the file with your name and the title.  eg. Sally Brown Infographic Response

    • Click Add submission.

    • The Online Text box is used for brief comments or to paste your link to a shareable document. If you are using google docs, please select 'get shareable link' and then 'anyone with link can edit' and then 'copy link'. Use the chain icon in the online text box to create a hyperlink. Do not use the online text box to paste your whole assignment. 

    • Or, upload the file containing your assignment under File submission. 

    • Click Save changes.