Mrs. Titian Lish

Room 1 Office Hours: 3:00-3:30PM T

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Beginning Drama

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Beginning Drama focuses on multiple aspects of theatre with the intent to provide each student with an overview understanding of all of the elements of the art of theatre, including textual analysis, acting and history. Students will be able to identify key works of theatre, understand major periods of theatre history, perform scenes and monologues, and complete projects as they relate to the texts read in class. Students will be expected to complete performance related activities and daily written work. Note: Students MUST view the school plays. Please plan in advance accordingly and notify me of any conflicts.

COURSE OUTLINE

Units of study:

  1. Introduction to Theatre
  2. Theatre Terminology
  3. Comedy Sportz & Improvisation
  4. Scene Study & Script Marking
  5. The Modern Theatre: ComedyRumors
  6. The Modern Theatre: Drama Rope
  7. Monologue Workshop, Headshots & Resumes
  8. The Elizabethan Stage: Critical Study Romeo and Juliet
  9. Playwriting & Spoken Word
  10. Greek Theatre: Critical Study Medea & Oedipus Rex

Play rEports & PRESENTATION

In addition to the work associated with the major works read as a class (including, but not limited to scene work, journal entries, written assignments, etc), students will be required to turn in two extensive play reports or play reviews during the school year. For the Play Reports (a book report on a READ play), students may choose their own works, though they may not chose a play that has already been read in ANY of their other classes. Credit will not be given for work done on plays being read in any other class. Plays must be at least 35 pages in length and be written by a published playwright. For the Play Review (a report on a VIEWED play), students may review a college, local community theatre, or professional production. Students may do either a report or a review for each deadline.

Report #1 Due: October 19, 2012Report #2 Due: March 22, 2013

MATERIALS

Students are expected to have the following materials with them at each class. I will not supply these materials and I will not keep copies of your texts for you.

Pencils (NOT PENS) & highlighter

Text (including scenes, monologues, or plays being read)

Binder (with area for binder paper, handouts, and assignments)

CLASSROOM POLICIES

My belief is that all students are capable of behaving responsibly and cooperatively at all times. Because theatre is a collaborative and creative environment, students must maintain professional and courteous behavior. Drama requires critiques of other students’ performances and presentations, so it is important that students quickly learn how to give appropriate, positive criticism. Theatre can be an exhilarating and scary thing and anything less than complete support and enthusiasm will not be tolerated. I will not tolerate behavior that disrupts, belittles, or disrespects any participant in the theatre environment. Students need to abide by the following rules:

  1. Follow all school rules and guidelines.This includes no hats and no electronics
  2. Have all appropriate materials and supplies ready and be seated when the bell rings.
  3. Respect the property, people, and supportive atmosphere of the drama classroom.
  4. Respect what other people have to say – listen when they are talking.
  5. Wait for the instructor to release you from each class, not the bell.
  6. Accept assignments without complaint.
  7. NO FOOD OR GUM IN CLASS
  8. In the absence of the teacher, students are expected to behave appropriately at all times, for the substitute. This includes following instructions, being polite, and being silent when asked.

If You Choose to Break a Rule, consequences will follow the below sequence:

First Offence: Warning: verbal or visual

Second Offence Points removed from current assignment grade

Third Offence: Student will lose the ability to participate in current project and will therefore sacrifice all points

Fourth Offence: The student will be sent to the Assistant Principal and/or the parents will be contacted

TARDY POLICY

The Tracy High Policy on Tardiness will be strictly enforced.

MAKE-UP WORK

Work may be made up for an excused absence from class. Suspension is an excused absence. Missed rehearsal time cannot be made up in class. It is the student’s responsibility to find time outside of class to make up rehearsal time. If something unforeseen results in the student missing a scheduled performance, the PARENT must notify the teacher PRIOR to the scheduled performance time. Performances must be made up before the end of the unit/quarter (whichever comes first).

  1. Students will have the same number of days (including weekend days) that they were absent to complete the make-up the work.
  2. If a student is scheduled to turn in an assignment on the day that they return, they must do so if the assignment was given prior to the absence. If they are scheduled to perform the day that they return, and they have missed rehearsal in their absence, rule number 1 applies, as long as the absence is excused.
  3. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what work was missed.
  4. It is the student’s responsibility to prearrange a time to make up tests. This will usually take place after school.
  5. Make up Credit: Make up points may be earned at various times throughout the quarter, but will always be due the week before the end of the quarter. You are ONLY eligible for makeup points if you have completed ALL other work in the class. In other words, if you miss an assignment, you must first complete the late assignment (for ZERO points) before you can complete extra work to earn additional points.

GRADING

Every assignment will have worth. The student’s quarter grade is based on the total number of points earned during the grading period. A student’s earned points are divided by the total points possible to produce a percentage grade. A student’s semester grade is the average of the two quarter grades.

A = 90%-100%C = 70% - 79%F = 0% - 59%

B = 80% - 89%D = 60% - 69%

Academic Dishonesty: I take this very seriously. Cheating and/or plagiarism of any kind will result in a ZERO on the assignment, referral, and a call home. Please visit the class website for clarification on what may constitute as plagiarism.

Assignment format:

All written assignments in this class must be typed for full credit. Un-typed work will automatically receive ½ credit. I have a classroom computer you may use at lunch and there are various computer labs around campus for you to use. I will not accept excuses such as: computer’s crashed, printer out of ink, out of paper, library is closed, etc. I suggest not waiting until the last minute to do the work. All work must meet the following format: 1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt. Font (Arial or Times New Roman only). Again – I WILL NOT accept any excuses.

PERFORMANCE POLICY

All performance work in this class must meet the following requirements to be counted towards a grade:

1.All lines will be memorized for final performances in class

2.All scenes will be blocked according to conventional and appropriate stage blocking, unless otherwise approved.

3.Partnership and being on task during class/rehearsal counts. If this is inconsistent, it will be reflected in your final performance grade and your class participation points.

4.Performers will incorporate two of the following theatrical elements in their performance:

  1. Costumes
  2. Props
  3. Set/Scenery

5.Students will not be allowed to perform unless a photocopy of their scene has been turned in, in advance. Students unable to perform because of this will receive a Zero (0%) for the assignment.

6.PERFORMANCE DATES ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE. Even if scene partners are not here, students will still be expected to perform with an understudy.

The following is a list of expected behaviors for participating in a performance class:

1.The performance area is “holy.” Anyone standing in the performance area is entitled to the full attention of everyone in the room. This area includes both the stage and the area at the front of class.

2.No attitude.

3.I care very much about your lives, but I won’t allow moods and acting-out to affect the performance opportunities for other students. Before or after class, you can have as much of my attention and support as you need and I will do everything I can to listen and help you. But it is your job not to bring your troubles to the performance and rehearsal space.

4.You will not make fun of another person’s work.

5.No romantic behavior in the theatre/room.

This is a fun, but also challenging, class. I expect you to work hard. You can expect the same of me. Remember, we are in this together. I look forward to a fantastic year. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! 

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts…”

William Shakespeare As You Like It

Signature Page

As theatre is a performing art, I am often faced with the need to share videos with the students that demonstrate particular styles, principles, or written works. These videos can be How-To videos, performance videos/films that relate to specific plays that we might be studying, or filmed representations of influential works that are worth noting and being familiar with.

In order to show your student films in Drama, I must have a permission slip on file for each student. To save all of us the trouble of sending home many permission slips each month, I instead send home this permission slip at the beginning of the year. I most often will show documentaries and How-To videos, or films of the plays we are reading. I will make every effort to never show a film that is rated over PG-13 and all films are previewed by me, in advance.

Below is a listing of some (though not all) of the films that might be watched in your student’s drama class. Please review the list and sign below. Please return this permission slip in its entirety with your student.

Sets, Props, and Costumes
Costume Design
Face to Face: Guide to Performance Makeup
Aspects of Neo-Classic Theatre: Racine’s Phaedra
Chekhov and The MoscowArtTheatre
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead: Tom Stoppard
Between Beckett and Brecht: looking in, Looking Out
David Mamet
Everyman
Spirit of Commedia
PBS American Musical History
Bertolt Brecht: A Life
The Crucible
Proof / Medea (the Greek Tragedy)
Various Disney Animated Films
Four Plays by Shakespeare
A Doll’s House: Henrik Ibsen
Eugene O’Neill: A Haunted Life
Panorama of African-American Theatre
Bob Fosse: Dancing on The Edge
Dance Class for the Actor
The Tradition of Performing Arts in Japan
The Method
Uta Hagen’s Acting Class
The Art of Silence: Pantomime with Marcel Marceau
Whose Line is it Anyway? Episodes
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
A Streetcar Named Desire

 I, ______, the parent/guardian of ______, hereby give permission to Mrs. Lish to show films to my student. I understand that there is always the possibility that a film selected by Mrs. Lish may not be on the list above and that she will only show NR, PG-13 or below films (as rated by the MPAA), if such an event arises. I understand it is my responsibility to check with Mrs. Lish about any films my student may be watching and I do not expect her to notify me each time a film is shown.

 My student, ______, DOES NOT have permission to watch films in Mrs. Lish’s class. I request an alternate assignment. My student is aware of this request and I acknowledge that it is the student’s responsibility to notify Mrs. Lish each timean alternate assignment is required. My student understands that they must notify Mrs. Lish in advance, whenever possible.

Signature:______Date:______

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