Curriculum
Six modules that follow the working order of a live segment script, from writing for the ear through to drafting and revision rounds.
Module guide
Six modules, each built around a practical writing task
Each module has one clear purpose and one main activity. You can read them in order, which is how the course is designed, or look ahead to see where a particular skill is taught. Demonstration scripts on neutral educational and cultural topics support every stage.
- 01
Writing for the Ear
You rewrite stiff, written-style paragraphs into short sentences with natural rhythm and plain wording. Each rewrite is read aloud and marked where a presenter would stumble, run out of breath or lose the thread. By the end you can hear problems on the page before anyone speaks the line.
- 02
Briefing and Outline Approval
You practise gathering audience, topic and target duration from a briefing, including the questions to ask when details are missing. You then turn your notes into a one-page outline with an opening, a sequence of points and a close, in a form a producer can read quickly and approve.
- 03
Presenter Introductions
You write concise openings and interview introductions that welcome the audience and set up a guest accurately. Research habits are part of the work: checking facts, confirming how a name is said and choosing a tone that suits the occasion without overstating a guest's background.
- 04
Programme Transitions
You build links between segments so a programme moves from one topic to the next without jarring gaps. Working from sample running orders, you write handovers that close one item cleanly, signal what follows and keep the presenter's voice consistent across the whole programme.
- 05
Timing and Live Flexibility
You convert word counts into seconds, mark optional cuts and prepare lines that can stretch if a segment runs short. The exercise is to deliver one script in two lengths, with clear markings so a presenter can adjust on the day without losing the sense of the piece.
- 06
Drafting and Revisions
You take a complete script through a full draft, receive written feedback and revise it in clear rounds. The demonstration samples show how a draft changes between rounds. You finish with a revised script and a short note recording what changed and why.
What to bring and what the course expects
There are no formal prerequisites. You should be comfortable writing in English, willing to read your own work aloud and ready to accept feedback and revise. A basic idea of the kind of live segment you want to write helps, but it is not required. Study takes place through writing tasks and revision rounds, and outcomes are practical: scripts you have drafted, timed and revised. The course is taught from Fresno, California.
Teaching ApproachStudy questions
These answers cover how the course is organised and what to expect from it. If your question is not here, the contact page is the quickest way to ask.
Do I need broadcast experience to take the course?
No. The course starts with writing for the ear and builds from there. Some learners already work near live production and others are new to it. What matters is that you are willing to write short drafts, read them aloud and revise them after feedback.
In what order should I take the modules?
The modules are designed to be read in the order shown, because each one uses skills from the one before. Writing for the Ear comes first and Drafting and Revisions comes last. If you already have experience, you can ask us which module suits you as a starting point.
What kind of scripts will I write?
You write presenter introductions, guest introductions, segment scripts and links between items. Subjects are neutral educational and cultural topics, so the focus stays on spoken language, structure and timing rather than on specialist knowledge of any one field.
Are the demonstration scripts real programmes?
The demonstration scripts are short original pieces written for teaching. They show how an outline becomes a draft and how a draft changes through revision. They are there to be studied and compared with your own work, not copied.
How does feedback and revision work?
You submit a draft, receive written comments from an instructor and revise in clear rounds. Comments concentrate on clarity, rhythm, accuracy and timing. Each round has a defined purpose, so you always know what the next version needs to improve.
Who teaches the course?
Marianne Kowalski leads the briefing and drafting modules. Daniel Okafor teaches timing, cuts and segment links, and Rebecca Alvarez guides interview introductions, including research, accuracy and tone. Their backgrounds are in live educational programmes, studio production and cultural talks.
What will I have at the end?
You will have a set of written scripts that you have outlined, drafted, timed and revised, along with a clearer method for approaching any live segment. The course does not promise employment or earnings, and it does not issue certificates.
How do I ask about enrolling or my own project?
Use the contact form to tell us about your audience, topic and target duration, or to describe your experience. We will reply with a suggestion for where to start. The site does not take enrolments or payments directly.
