Grammar for Writing: Level Orange — Chapter 11

Women in Aviation Amelia Earhart checks her flight plan before making the first ever solo flight from Hawaii to the United States in 1935. Ever since a couple of bicycle mechanics named Orville and Wilbur Wright took off in their flying machine, women's eyes have been set on the sky. From a barnstorming aviatrix to a space-walking astronaut, women too have conquered the heavens. Write a minidocumentary film about women in aviation. Focus on one woman or several, a particular period in aviation, or aviation history in general. Plan your script to run roughly three to four minutes. A documentary film script includes every scene you see and every sound you hear. As you research your topic, look for the best pictures to use and music that would be appropriate for various parts of the film. STEP 1: Initial Search Begin your research with visits to the following websites: Women in Aviation Resource Center Search: Various topics Women in Aviation International Search: Various topics The Ninety-Nines - Museum of Women Pilots Biographies of women aviators Google Search for careers in aviation that women can pursue Search for information about women in aviation. Take notes on the roles women have played in aviation, biographies of female pilots, and general information about women who enjoy flying. STEP 2: Focus Your Search Focus your documentary script on a specific period, or one or more women in aviation history. Use cluster diagrams to organize the details you have discovered, then choose the key elements that most interest you. (See Grammar for Writing, Level Orange, pages 11-12.) Search the Internet for additional information on the subject of your documentary and explore other resources, such as books, an encyclopedia, newspaper and magazine articles, and the website below. Aviation Week Collect facts about key aviation events, quotes about or from female pilots, and information on the types of planes women flew. STEP 3: Define Your Audience Make your information interesting to a diverse audience. Your audience may know something about Amelia Earhart, but probably knows very little about the role played by other women in aviation. Write in a serious, informative style; include intriguing facts that will capture and hold viewers' interest. STEP 4: Write an Outline Write an outline of the material you intend to include in your minidocumentary. Ask yourself: "What will appear on-screen as the narration unfolds?" Think about pictures, classic film footage, and newspaper articles on the topic. Chapter 11 in Grammar for Writing, Level Orange, deals with using pronouns. Be sure you are using the correct feminine form of pronouns in your film. In addition, be careful that the pronouns agree in number and type. (See pages 203-208.) Writing a script is very different from writing an essay. Most scriptwriters use a format similar to that shown below; applying that format to your project will be to your advantage. The numbers in the chart below represent scenes. The video portion of the minidocumentary is what viewers see. Visual elements include graphic headlines, photos, and archival footage from movies or newsreels. The audio portion is what viewers hear, including sound effects, music, and narration. Video Audio FADE UP TO: 1. Graphic headline: Women of the Skies Music: "Up, Up and Away" SFX (sound effects): Antique plane flying. 2. DISSOLVE to FOOTAGE: Stunt flying using old-fashioned planes: barrel rolls, loops, stalls, and so on. ZOOM in on female pilot. Narrator: Since the early days of Wilbur and Orville Wright, women have looked to the skies for thrills, chills, and entertainment. STEP 5: Organize Your Ideas and Write Your Script Use the format shown to help you organize your ideas. In a three-and-a-half-minute script, you will want to use 10-15 seconds for an introduction and another 10-15 seconds for a conclusion. That leaves three minutes. Before you start writing, decide how much time you will spend on each aspect of your outline. Then, write a rough draft according to the time frame. You don't have to have "talking" for every second, but you do need something in the video portion; viewers won't want to watch a blank screen. Concord (NH) High School teacher Christa McAuliffe prepares for the flight of the space shuttle Challenger. On January 26, 1986, she was one of seven astronauts aboard the Challenger when it exploded 73 seconds after lift-off. All seven astronauts died. Many educational facilities and scholarships have since been established in her honor. STEP 6: Revise, Edit, and Proofread Your Script Reread your script aloud, timing yourself. For sections with video but no audio, count the seconds needed to show the material. Make sure that each section of narration is clear, crisp, and informative. Add details, anecdotes, or quotations that make the narration lively and interesting. If you show particular people or planes, be sure to add graphic titles or labels. Edit your script for grammatical errors; then proofread your work carefully for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors. STEP 7: Publish Your Work Present your minidocumentary. Show sample still pictures. If possible, tape your narration and show the pictures along with the audio. Provide typed scripts for class discussion afterward. Copyright ©2007 by William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved.