Richards ISD

Theatre II

Ms. Joelle Dulaney, Instructor

Course Description:

§117.316. Theatre, Level II. General requirements. Students may fulfill fine arts and elective requirements for graduation by successfully completing Theatre Arts II (One Credit per course). (Grades 9-12). The prerequisite for each Theatre, Level II course is one credit of Theatre, Level I in the corresponding discipline.

The fine arts incorporate the study of theatre offers unique experiences and empower students to explore realities, relationships, and ideas. They engage and motivate all students through active learning, critical thinking, and innovative problem solving. The fine arts develop cognitive functioning and increase student academic achievement, higher-order thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, making the fine arts applicable to college readiness, career opportunities, workplace environments, social skills, and everyday life. Students develop aesthetic and cultural awareness through exploration, leading to creative expression. Creativity, encouraged through the study of the fine arts, is essential to nurture and develop the whole child.

Foundations: inquiry and understanding; creative expression; historical and cultural relevance; and critical evaluation and response--provide broad, unifying structures for organizing knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. Students develop a perception of self, human relationships, and the world using elements of drama and conventions of theatre. Students communicate in a dramatic form, engage in artistic thinking, build positive self-concepts, relate interpersonally and integrate knowledge with other content areas in a relevant manner. Students increase their understanding of heritage and traditions in theatre and the diversity of world cultures as expressed in theatre. Students engage in inquiry and dialogue, accept constructive criticism, revise personal views to promote creative and critical thinking, and develop the ability to appreciate and evaluate live theatre.

Through diverse forms of storytelling and production, students will exercise and develop creativity, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative skills. Participation and evaluation in a variety of theatrical experiences will afford students opportunities to develop an understanding of self and their role in the world.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, the student will have:

(1) developed concepts about self, human relationships, and the environment using elements of drama and conventions of theatre. The student is expected to:

(A) developed and practiced theatre warm-up techniques;

(B) developed and practiced stage movement techniques consistently to express thoughts, feelings, and actions non-verbally;

(D) analyzed dramatic structure and genre;

(E) identified examples of theatrical conventions in theatre, film, television, and electronic media;

(F) related the interdependence of all theatrical elements; and

(G) developed and practiced memorization skills.

(2) interpreted characters using the voice and body expressively and creates dramatizations. The student is expected to:

(A) modeled safe, appropriate techniques to allow for physical, vocal, and emotional expression;

(B) explored creativity as it relates to self and ensemble;

(D) applied physical, intellectual, emotional, and social interactions to portray believable characters and convey a story when applying acting concepts, skills, and techniques;

(E) developed physical techniques consistently to express thoughts, feelings, and actions non-verbally; and

(F) created, written, devised, and refined original monologues, improvisations, scenes, or vignettes to convey meaning to the audience through live performance or media forms.

(3) applied design, directing, and theatre production concepts and skills. The student will have:

(A) developed and practiced safe and effective stagecraft skills;

(B) read and analyzed cultural, social, and political aspects of a script to determine technical elements;

(D) performed a role such as actor, director, designer, technician, or editor in production decision making and collaborate with others to tell a story through live theatre or media performance; and

(E) developed responsibility, artistic discipline, and creative problem solving by concentrating in one or more areas of theatre production such as acting, technical theatre, or theatre management.

(4) related theatre to history, society, and culture. The student will have:

(A) analyzed historical and cultural influences on theatre;

(B) analyzed ways in which theatre, television, and film play a role in our daily lives and influence our values and behaviors;

(D) researched the influences of world drama and theatre and identify key figures, works, and trends in dramatic literature;

(E) researched the influences of the multicultural heritage of drama and theatre in the United States and identify key figures, works, and trends in dramatic literature; and

(F) identified and appreciated the innovations and contributions of the United States to the performing arts such as theatre, melodrama, musical theatre, radio, film, television, technology, or electronic media.

(5) responded to and evaluated theatre and theatrical performances. The student will have:

(A) evaluated and applied appropriate audience etiquette at various types of performances;

(B) analyzed theatre as an art form and evaluate self as a creative being;

(D) evaluated the treatment of artistic elements such as theme, character, setting, and action in theatre, musical theatre, dance, art, music, or other media and integrate more than one art form in informal presentations;

(E) examined career and avocational opportunities such as theatre education, arts administration, performance, design, management, and playwriting in theatre or other media and evaluate the training, skills, self-discipline, and artistic discipline needed to pursue such opportunities;

(F) used technology such as portfolios, research projects, and journals to document and present information in a clear and coherent manner; and

(G) connected theatre skills and experiences to higher education and careers outside of the theatre.

Source: Source: TEA TExas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The provisions of this §117.316 adopted to be effective July 28, 2013, 38 TexReg 4575.

Grading Policy:

Your final grade will be based on Tests (50%) and Classwork/Homework (50%) and if required, a semester final exam (per district policy). Performances count as test scores and are scored based on rubrics related to the pre-determined skills and knowledge (see course outcomes above) being assessed at the time of the performance. Classwork/Homework grades include project progress (percentage of progress toward goal based on TEKS and goals) and class participation, which will be assessed weekly. Each 6 weeks students will reflect and do a peer and/or self evaluation to develop their own skills in critical analysis for a grade.

Your projects will be often self-directed, so long as you follow classroom rules and procedures (including storage and cleanup). If your grade falls below a 75 or motivation becomes an issue at any time, parents will be contacted. If your grade falls below passing, or you remain unmotivated bell-to-bell, projects will be chosen for you and your seating assignment will be changed. Bookwork, research, and written tests may be corrected up to one week after intial grading, but the end of each six weeks will be a deadline in which there is no more correcting allowed.

Participation Grading Scale:

A = Superior work, outstanding commitment and daily effort, beyond the norm.

B = Good quality work, strong commitment, growth, quality of effort.

C = Average performance, variable commitment and effort.

F = Poor participation, poor quality or late work, non-participation.

100 points are offered each week for participation. If observed off task for any amount of time -5 points per day of the infraction. If off- task for one half of a class -10 points will be deducted per day. If off-task for one full class -20 points will be deducted for each day off-task. Packing or cleaning prior to 5 minutes before end of class is a deduction (varies with amount of time not working). Cleanup will be announced and if painting, or other approved messier projects, a 10 minute cleanup will be announced. Hanging out at the doorway before the bell rather than joining into discussions or videos after cleanup will count as non-participation. Students who are completed and up to date may participate in other ways to keep from remaining idle such as assisting the teacher with theatre organization, cleaning, search for theatre shows and theatre web sites, etc. If projects are up to date, students may also retain full participation by researching online, using the class resources to develop a bank of ideas for future projects, running lines (solo or with a partner), etc. No assignments may be corrected for a higher grade, but only one single assignment may be corrected for a highger grade as an extra credit during the last week of each grading period.

Supplies

Other Materials

Optional: Various Materials and Supplies will be helpful, but vary with the project at hand. For example, computer access is helpful with electronic media, and a sewing basket might help with costume or puppet making. It may be necessary to modify this list and have you bring in other supplies for projects based on your own creative ideas.

Throughout the year we will be doing some innovative things but working as is possible with current circumstances to remain socially distant.

I look forward to a fantastic year of creativity with you!