Course Name: Dramatic Literature and the Actor

Course#053

Grades: 9-12 Level: 0 Semester: 5x Credits: 2.5

Course Description:

Dramatic Literature and the Actor is a semester course that includes instruction in critical reading and written analysis of a one-act play as well as lessons in acting through physical and vocal exercises. Studentswill study the fundamentals of dramatic literature, including the structure of the one-act play, focusing on the importance of plot, conflict, setting, and characterization. In addition, students will be assigned specific characters to analyze in writing, paying strict attention to motivation and subtext. Students will be required to participate in theatre games, improvisational work, and group rehearsal dynamics to discover and develop basic acting skills. Students will handle props, learn the basics of direction, and critically evaluate other actors’ work as well as their own orally and in writing. The final assessment of the course will be a performance of the one-act play.

Course Proficiencies:

The following is a list of proficiencies that describes what the students are expected to know and be able to do as a result of successfully completing this course. The proficiencies are the basis of the assessment of student achievement. The learner will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. (RL.9-10.1; RI.9-10.1)
  2. Analyze how complex characters or a series of events (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. (RL.9-10.3; RI.9-10.3)
  3. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone. (RL.9-10.4; RI.9-10.4)
  4. Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter). (RI.9-10.5)
  5. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content (W.9-10.2)
  6. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (W.9-10.4)
  7. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (W.9-10.5)
  8. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically. (W.9-10.6)
  9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. (W.9-10.9)
  10. Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. (SL.9-10.1)
  11. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage,capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing and/or speaking. (L.9-10.1, 2)
  12. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. (L.9-10.3)
  13. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. (L.9-10.4)
  14. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. (L.9-10.5)
  15. Become familiar with the terminology and technical aspects used in stage and television environments. (RL.11-12.4)
  16. Understand the importance of stage movement (SL.11-12.4)
  17. Diagram the ten locations commonly used in blocking a scene and demonstrate an awareness of blocking a scene effectively. (RL.11-12.3)
  18. Memorize and analyze a script for interpretation and presentation. (RL.11-12.3)
  19. Participate actively in all rehearsal sessions. (SL.11-12.1)
  20. Develop an appropriate characterization with assistance from a director. (RL.11-12.3)
  21. Demonstrate the ability to give and receive constructive criticism. (SL.11-12.1)

Assessment:

The evaluation of student achievement in this course is based on the following:

  • Written analyses in essay form of the one-act play, including a character analysis
  • In-class reading and discussion
  • Scene work, including character interpretation, physical portrayal, verbal delivery, blocking effectiveness, preparation, and performance
  • Written and/or self-reflection
  • Class participation