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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Storytelling (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 1523-01

Course: ENGL 1523-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: English
CRN: 31530

Course Description

A formal exploration and analysis of the fundamental structures of stories and the elements of storytelling. Students also explore the impact of storytelling on culture and history across a variety of media. Students create and share original stories in a variety of modes and mediums. Central to the course is the study of the history and function of storytelling across Western and non-Western cultures.

Required Texts

  • The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human by Jonathan Gottschall 978-0-544-00234-0

Learning Outcomes

You can see what learning outcomes (LOs) are associated with which assignments by looking for the LO number (e.g. LO #2) in the full assignment description.

LO #1 – Professional Vocabulary

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the common elements and professional vocabulary of storytelling and of the interaction of these elements..

LO #2 – Expressive Use of Time

Students will demonstrate an understanding how stories make use of time as an expressive design consideration.

LO #3 – Necessary Elements

Students will coordinate story-related project elements necessary for later stages of the production process.

Course Requirements

Storyteller's Notebook

You'll keep a small notebook for capturing story ideas, developing them, and performing other tasks. The purpose is to build an observation and recording habit, which is common to storytellers. You will keep notes in the notebook, then scan those notes into a multi-page PDF for electronic submission. I will show you the inexpensive notebook I will require for this class. I want them to be the same so grading is equitable.

Pop Quizzes

I will give random pop quizzes over the reading. These take place in class, on paper. They are open note but not open book. If you miss class a pop quiz cannot be made up, unless you have an excused absence. If you do have an excused absence, you'll get a different but comparable task.

Tell a Story

You will tell a short true story, live in class, under five minutes, no notes. This is in the style of stories told at Moth events. This will happen right away, in the first couple weeks of class.

A Short Comic

You will tell a short story in the form of a comic. You must draw the images. This project can be as short as a half dozen panels, or up to a couple of pages. The sky is the limit for subject matter because when you're drawing you don't have any budget restrictions. If you can't draw, don't worry. But remember, drawing is a foundational skill for the filmmaking BFA. It's why we require Drawing I. So, this assignment will give you some practice.

Audio Story

You will create an audio essay/story in the style of the radio documentary program This American Life. This will involve listening to episodes of the program to learn the style. You'll write a simple script, then record yourself performing the script. After that you'll select music to support the story, then edit the music into the breaks in the narrative to support the pacing. When everything is mixed, you'll export a file for submission, often called "a bounce."

Idea for a Short Film

You will pitch an idea for a short (5-7 minute) film, then write the log line, synopsis, and beat sheet for that film. The subject matter is open to you with a few caveats: you have to be able to make that film with available resources and a very tight shooting schedule. You will submit all documents as a slide deck in the form of a multi page PDF.

Course Reflection

At the end of the course, you'll write a reflection on the assignments, the reading, your experience keeping a storyteller's notebook. The reflection will begin in class with a series of guided questions, which you will revise and expand on your own. You'll submit a final proofread PDF document.

Course Outline

This brief schedule of the course is broken down by week, and it is subject to change. The information contained here is not a substitute for attending. More information on the schedule will be given in class throughout the semester. This plan for the semester is an abstract idea of what will happen. Things will undoubtedly change. When this happens, I'll inform you. 

As I mentioned in the course overview above, the content in this class is not predetermined, except in a general way. The content of class comes in response to our discussions, your individual projects, and me looking for patterns of need. Assignment due dates are attached to the assignments.

Week 01

During the first week of classes, we'll go over the syllabus and talk through how class will run. I will unveil the first project, which is to tell a live story in class with no notes, in the style of stories told in Moth events. You'll go find three stories on the website that you like and come back and report about them. We'll discuss story fundamentals and I'll introduce the book we're reading this semester.

Week 02

Monday is Labor Day, so you have a little extra time to get your story together. But for the rest of the week, you'll share your stories in class and we'll discuss what we heard. You'll also share what you learned putting the story together. I will introduce the next project: telling a story visually, through a comic. Next week we dive into Gottschall Chapter 01. I will also preview the This American Life assignment and tell you to start exploring their website and listening to episodes that interest you.

Week 03

I'll introduce concepts connected to visual storytelling, and we'll discuss Gottschall Chapter 01. As we discuss the book, use the reading schedule that will come as a Canvas announcement. This week we'll also focus on the part of creative process called ideation. You'll generate lots of possibilities then narrow those possibilities down to one project you'll commit to. During the middle of this week, you'll pitch your idea to the class, which is practice for something filmmakers have to do all the time in the professional world. Reminder: be listening to This American Life episodes to learn the form.

Week 04

Early in the week you turn in a synopsis and then we discuss the ideas on Gottschall Chapter 02. I will try to turn around the grading of your synopsis as soon as possible so you can start drafting. We'll talk about story beats, the KISHŌTENKESTU sequence will be our focus, along with traditional beginning, middle, and end. Another reminder to listen to This American Life episodes. If your audio essay project isn't in the style of This American Life, you'll lose points.

Week 05

My hope is that you used the weekend to get your comic drafted because mid-week you'll bring in a print of your comic to share so we can practice our in-class critiques. You'll do this in small groups, to help ease you into it. You'll have a couple days to make changes, then your comic is due at the end of the week. I'll answer technical questions on Monday and Wednesday.   Once the project is turned in, we'll have an after-project reflection and I'll introduce the next assignment: A This American Life-style audio essay. You should know what that is because you've been listening, right? Right?

Week 06

Early in the week you'll pitch three separate This American Life ideas, still in small groups, but this time a little bigger. Once you commit to the project, you'll submit that proposal to me. Note: this is one of the few times an assignment is due at night. The sooner you submit that proposal the sooner you'll find out if you've been green-lighted. We'll talk about the story beats This American Life uses: anecdote and reflection and how through alternation these stories are build. By the end of the week you will be developing the script.

Week 07

This week we'll talk about how to make audio stories "visual" through language. How do we create tension and resolution in story to hold attention. We'll talk about how music is used in This American Life stories (hint: it's not just a soundtrack), 

Week 08

It's fall break on Monday, so there's no class. Midweek I'll talk about using royalty free music, in particular why you should do that. I will also walk you through recording, editing, ducking, and bouncing your tracks so you can submit it cleanly through Canvas. On Friday the projects are due, and we'll have a project reflection and pivot to the final project: an idea for a short film.

Week 09

A pattern should be emerging. We'll start with ideation. You'll come to class with three possibilities, and leave with one option that you propose to me. By Wednesday you'll know what's been green-lighted, and you'll move on to creating a beat sheet and then to a synopsis, log line, and title.

Week 10

This week we'll talk about character development and arcs, decision making, and how to generate mood and tone, which leads to theme. This week you should be assembling and refining your slide deck for your presentations. You'll also work on a mood board for the presentation.

Week 11

This is the week where you'll pre-present your ideas to the class, as a kind of practice. On Monday, you'll test your decks in class, so they need to be at least sort of ready. Then the presentations will happen Wednesday and Friday. We're also done with the Gottschall this week. So, reading is done.

Week 12

With ideas you gained from last week, you'll refine and update your ideas, your slide, deck and work on what you're actually going to say when you give your final presentations. I will also spend the week going over some of the big story templates you see in storytelling: Hero's Journey, Save the Cat, Three Act, Five-Act, Harmon Story Cycle. These are important but mostly for features and not for the shorter forms you'll be working in as a Filmmaking BFA student.

Week 13

Thanksgiving Break

Week 14

This week is intended to give you a breather, but if you're off pace and have gotten behind, you may have to dedicate some time to being ready to come in for your story conference.

Week 15

During this week everyone gives their short film idea presentations. On the last day we'll wrap things up and discuss the final reflection assignment.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

As stated in the course policies, if you turn in work late, I will grade it without giving feedback and deduct points for each day it's late. Canvas does this automatically.

As mentioned, my assignments are not due at 11:59 pm, which is simply the Canvas default. Most of the time, assignments are due right before class begins. Be careful to double check each assignment's due date and time in the full write-up.

If you do turn in work late, you'll get a 5% reduction on that assignment's grade for each day that it's late. I will give late work a grade but no feedback.

Assignments will close two weeks after they are due. You may not turn in a closed assignment..

If you have been granted an excused absence, the excuse will detail if you will be allowed to make up any missed work and how you will be required to do so. If you do not have an excused absence, you are not allowed to make up any missed work.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is expected in this course. If a situation arises, you must request an excused absence, which is normally done in writing and in advance.

Surprises obviously can't be worked out in advance. In the event of a surprise or emergency, reach out as soon as possible. In any case, start this process by sending me an email describing the situation and why it is unavoidable. Use your SUU email address only, not Canvas.

Each request will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

There will be no penalty if you are granted an excused absence.  If your absence is not excused, then it's a 4% reduction of your final grade.

Students who have accommodations through the Disability Resources Center (DRC), and who follow correct procedures as outlined in their accommodations, will have access to excused absences through a slightly different process.

Official university absences, as defined by SUU policy 6.30Links to an external site., will count as excused absences as long as university policies and procedures are followed. You still have to reach out to me and formally request the excused absence. It's not automatic.

If you miss any class, excused or not, it is your responsibility to reach out and connect with a classmate to get notes and other information that will allow you to come to class prepared.

Course Fees

$12.00 Course Fee.

Course Policies

  Discussions about grades, late work, and other class policy matters must be done in person.

Face-To-Face Modality

This course is only taught face-to-face. There is no distance or remote option.

Stow Your Phones

Research shows that having your phone visible creates distraction, even if you don't use it. I'm asking you to follow the science and put your phone out of sight..

Class Communication & Canvas Use

Make sure that you have a classmate you can reach out to if you need help or information. All assignments must be submitted through Canvas unless there are explicit instructions otherwise.

  Please note that I do not use the Canvas default due time of 11:59 pm. Yes, I am aware how often this bit of information appears in the syllabus.    

Use SUU email to contact me and not Canvas Inbox. I will normally go through my email once each morning at the start of the day, then again toward the end of the day.

SUU Email Addresses Only

To ensure that I am communicating with the correct person, I will only respond to emails sent from an SUU email address. (This one also appears often in the syllabus, so it isn't missed.)

People's email addresses are often not identifiable with a name, and they can be easily spoofed. This is primarily a cybersecurity issue, but also a privacy one.

  If you contact me through Canvas Inbox, there is a good chance I won't see it immediately. Use your SUU email to contact me at petersent@suu.edu.

Nothing is perfect, but this is the most secure option available.

Academic Dishonesty & No-AI Use

Your work must be the result of your own efforts. Writing an AI prompt does not constitute sufficient effort to earn a grade.

I consider any use of generative AI tools, large language models, and the like to be a violation of SUU's Academic Integrity Policy 6.33Links to an external site., which defines plagiarism as "intentionally or carelessly presenting the work of another as one's own." Since AI works because it has scraped the work of others without their permission, without attribution, and without compensation, I don't allow its use. Generative AI tools often transfer ethical or legal violations (including plagiarism, hallucination, or piracy) directly to you as the user. This is a changing legal dimension of AI right now. But for now, this is one of the primary reasons I do not allow the use of generative AI tools in this class.

The consequences of AI use may result in a failing grade on the assignment or the entire course, depending on the severity of the infraction.

My response to AI use will be on a case-by-case basis. But if there is an AI problem, you can expect the following procedure to unfold: 

  • I will call you in for a meeting about the issue, and I will ask you to bring and show me "traceable effort," which is documentation proving you yourself did all the work you claim to have done. In the workplace, this supports audit trails and accountability.
  • I will administer an oral review of your assignment.
  • If you cannot adequately respond to the oral review of your work, and/or if you can't produce adequate "traceable effort," I will ask you to do the assignment over. 

If you find yourself in an AI use predicament for a second time in a single semester, I will issue a failing grade for you in the class.

So to clarify Generative AI use is not an option for any of the work you do in this course, at any stage. Aside from the privacy and cybersecurity concerns, intellectual property theft matters, nothing you make using AI can be copyrighted. Use of AI might actually keep you from having your work accepted. So, it is not allowed here for any stage of the work. This includes to uploading another person's work, words, likeness, or voice into an AI device or service. You should never do this without their consent.

Religious Accommodations

If you wish to request an accommodation through SUU's Religious Accommodations Policy 5.68Links to an external site., you must submit a request to me in writing a minimum of 2 weeks before the occurrence of the requirement in the course schedule, including two weeks before assignment due dates.

A request for an accommodation is not a release of obligation.

All requests must specifically outline the nature of the objection and propose an equal, acceptable alternative.

Once the accommodation is requested, and an alternative is proposed, a negotiation and approval process can begin. This must be done in writing. 

Letters of Recommendation

All requests for letters of recommendation must include an official release available hereLinks to an external site.. Please fill this out and deliver it to me before we talk about letters.

If you are regularly absent or late, if you have a problem meeting deadlines, and/or if you regularly turn in error-filled assignments, I will decline to write a letter of recommendation for you, because I won't be able to vouch for your work ethic. .

Policy Exceptions

Exceptions to course policies because of university-sponsored absences and other emergencies or extenuating situations will be made on a case-by-case basis. Any such exceptions will require a face-to-face discussion with me beforehand and a written agreement documenting the decision once it has been made.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.