Aristotle Paper

TH 401: PLAYWRITING (Fall 2016) COURSE DESCRIPTION: How does one write a play? There are many ways, too numerous to attempt to cover all in one course. We will look at the process from a few specific angles: Primarily, students will be exposed to an organic, imagistic approach that relies on each writer’s own intuition, imagination and sense of what is “dramatic.” There will be many in-class writing exercises. Students will regularly share material written in class that day. The course will focus on the goal of each student writing (and revising) a one-act play. Secondarily, students will be exposed to basic of dramatic structure, including Aristotle’s Six Elements. Students will read and discuss other plays and playwrights’ thoughts on the art and craft of playwriting, techniques of analysis and constructive criticism. COURSE OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES: Students will achieve… ➢ A basic understanding of play structure. ➢ A level of proficiency in the art and craft of writing a one-act play. ➢ The ability to critique and analyze plays in a constructive and supportive manner. ➢ A sense of the role of the playwright in theatre and society as a whole. PLAGIARISM: Don’t do it! If you do, you might get sent upriver to Judicial Affairs. GRADING: 10% Attendance (3 unexcused absences drops you half a letter grade, 4 drops you a full grade, 5 dings you two full letter grades, 6 flunks you) 20% Participation (demonstration of having completed reading assignments via class discussion, in class writing, sharing of work) 20% “Aristotle/One-Act” paper 10% “crooked” (studio theatre production) reflection about the writing (plot, character, dialogue, themes, etc) 10% “Taming of the Shrew” (main stage production) reflection about the writing (see above) 30% Final (“Final” Draft of play) “ARISTOTLE/ONE ACT” PAPER: Read your choice of a one-act play from TELLING TALES: NEW ONE-ACT PLAYS. Then write a 2-3 page paper in which you examine the use of Character, Action, Ideas, Language, Music and Spectacle. Please cite examples from the play to support your observations. Points will be deducted for missing elements as well as for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax errors. If not typed you will lose 2 points. DEPT PRODUCTIONS REFLECTIONS: Attend “crooked” and “Taming of the Shrew” and write a 2-page reflection about the playwriting for each. This is exclusively about the writing: plot, characters, dialogue, themes, style, etc. Recounting the plot for the entire reflection is not acceptable—you must also touch on the above elements. Double-spaced, please. [“crooked” due Nov. 3. “Taming of the Shrew” due Nov. 22] “FINAL”: The final is a final draft of your one-act play. Minimum Length: 10 typed double spaced pages. No maximum. We will read your plays out loud in class. REGARDING TURNING IN ASSIGNMENTS LATE: You have one week grace period to turn in assignments. If it’s due on Tuesday, you have till the beginning of class the following Tuesday to turn it in. Anything turned in after the grace period will automatically lose HALF the total points for the assignment. COURSE SYLLABUS: 1) Sept. 22 - Course Introduction + Constructive Criticism & Writing Reading Assignment 1: “Plot” of Aristotle’s Six Elements 2) Sept. 27 – Discussion of reading Reading Assignment 2: “Character” of Aristotle’s Six Elements 3) Sept. 29 Bernardo out of town. Class will still meet. Assignment will be given on 9/27 4) Oct. 4 -- Discussion of reading Reading Assignment 3: “Thought/Idea/Theme” of Aristotle’s Six Elements 5) Oct. 6 Discussion of reading Reading Assignment 4: “Diction/Language” of Aristotle’s Six Elements 6) Oct. 11 Discussion of reading Discussion of reading Reading Assignment 5: “Song/Music” and “Spectacle” of Aristotle’s Six Elements 7) Oct. 13 Adaptation Assignment: Choose a song to adapt, copy and bring it on Oct. 18 Reminder: “ARISTOTLE/ONE ACT” PAPER due on Oct. 18 8) Oct. 18 Adaptation exercise. Turn in “ARISTOTLE/ONE-ACT” PAPER Adaptation writing. Draft of piece is due on Oct. 25 9) Oct. 20 Bernardo out of town. Screening of ________________(tba) 10) Oct. 25 Discussion of Reading Assignment Writing Reading Assignment: Jose Rivera’s “36 Assumptions About Writing Plays” 11) Oct. 27 Discussion of reading assignment Writing 12) Nov. 1 Writing WRITE ONE PARAGRAPH DESCRIBING WHERE YOU ARE AT IN YOUR PROCESS TO BRING TO NEXT CLASS. ALSO, BRING ANY PAGES WRITTEN THUSFAR ON YOUR PLAY ON NOVEMBER 3 FINISH REFLECTION ON “CROOKED” – TURN IT IN ON NOV. 3 13) Nov. 3 Individual meetings between instructor (me) and writer (you) regarding your one-act as class watches TBA video and/or does peer review of plays. TURN IN “CROOKED” REFLECTION 14) Nov. 8 Individual meetings between instructor (me) and writer (you) regarding your one-act as class watches TBA video and/or does peer review of plays. “PLAYWRIGHTS ON PLAYWRITING” PAPER due on Nov. 10! 15) Nov. 10 “PLAYWRIGHTS ON PLAYWRITING” PAPER due today!! Essays will be shared as in-class discussion. 16) Nov. 15 Bake-Off! This exercise should explore characters, themes, etc. of the play you’re writing. Draft of Bake-Off script due on Nov. 17 17) Nov. 17 Draft of Bake-Off script due today!! Writing 18) Nov. 22 Writing Turn in “Taming of the Shrew” reflection. Nov. 24 HOLIDAY – NO SCHOOL – NO CLASS 19) Nov. 29 Writing and/or TBA 20) Dec. 1 PT. 1 OF FINALS - Readings of plays (or excerpts) & turn in final draft FINAL: Thursday, Dec. 11, 11:30 – 1:30 pm PT. 2 - Readings of plays (or excerpts) & turn in final draft