How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development- PDF

34 Chapter Three: Characteristics of Radio Serial Drama
Message:
A specific message or lesson for the audience that is related to
the theme. For example, a drama based on the universal
theme of the joy of parenthood might also contain the
health message that both fathers and mothers need to be
alert to their children’s health needs and even willing to
forgo other activities in order to provide their children with
proper care.
Introduction
Dramatic Conflict
The Structure of a Drama
The plot of every story and, therefore, every drama, is built on the same fivepart
structure:
1. Introduction. The beginning of the drama, during which the major
character appears perhaps along with one or two other characters, the
plot (action) is initiated, the dramatic conflict is begun or hinted at, and
the theme is foreshadowed.
2. Development (with conflict). The main body of the drama, during
which the plot advances and dramatic conflict develops.
3. Climax. The point where the dramatic conflict becomes so intense that
something must happen to end it.
4. Resolution or denouement. The final portion of the plot, in which the
dramatic conflict is resolved or the problem solved. The conflict may be
resolved in an unpleasant manner, for example, by divorce, murder, war,
or death. Alternatively, the conflict may be resolved amicably or even in
an amusing way. In an Enter-Educate drama, a negative resolution
demonstrates what can happen if the pro-social message is ignored; a
positive resolution shows the rewards of a message learned and practiced.
5. Conclusion. The ending, during which the loose ends of the story are
tied up, either by the writer or the audience. Some cultures enjoy
“dilemma tales,” in which the
action stops just before the conclusion
to allow audience members to fill
Climax
in the ending for themselves. In
an Enter-Educate drama, the resolution
and conclusion underscore the
relevance of the message to the
listening audience.
The following short story—one of
Aesop’s fables—illustrates the five-part
structure of a story. It provides a good
example for Enter-Educate writers,
Dramatic Conflict
because fables traditionally contain an
educational message as well as the other
four components of a story. Later script
Conclusion
samples in this book demonstrate how
this story structure is maintained even
when a more complex social message is
added.
Development
Resolution