Final One Act Play Project

This morning, please get into the following workshop groups and conduct a workshop where you and your partners read each others play scripts. Students who are turning in their scripts from our last project (Dec. 20) should do so in the first 5 minutes of class today. 

Group 1: Frances, Taina, Carly, Thiery, Ben, BrandenGroup 2: Gena, Nicole, Ethan, Nathan, Kayli, GraceGroup 3: Imani, Imani, Diamond, Jahni, Shayozinique, Khamphasong

For each play submitted to the workshop, please complete a "scoring rubric" and fill in a paragraph of written comments examining the play's premise, major dramatic question, inciting incident, rising action, complication, crisis, dark moment, enlightenment, climax, resolution, character motive, character subtext, imagery, effectiveness of dialogue, development or characterization of character(s), relevant theme, message, setting, staging, effective/non-effective theatrical techniques, etc.

Please turn in your critique sheets for participation credit.

During period 2, please gather in room 238 to discuss the Final One Act Play Project.

1. Brainstorm premises
2. Consider characters/settings
3. Consider theme and message
4. Plan scenes/storyboarding
5. Research
6. Create a writing activity (like the one below as an example) for your workshop group

Sample Writing Activity:

Model: 1. Choose a playwright we've read and follow his/her tradition. For example, August Wilson often uses history as a thematic element in his dramas. 

2. Brainstorm historical settings that you find interesting.
From your list select the one (or few--yes, you can combine time periods as you need to) that you feel has the most creativity, the most relevance to our society today, or the one that most intrigues you.

3. Spend some time examining the internet for information about your historical period. Do this relatively quickly, but take notes and begin thinking of potential plots or significant events that happened at that place and time or people who lived during that time period. Use your notes and brainstorming to PLAN your story a bit before you just right in and write, then get stuck and bother your neighbor. Fill out the notesheet for participation credit. Hand in at the end of class. 

4. After your brainstorming period, decide on a few characters. Write brief descriptions of who these people might be. Start with the most interesting major character and work your way from there. Don't worry about incidental or minor characters yet.  

Marking period 3 Final Project:

What is it? 
A one-act (or full length) play or two 10-minute plays

Decide on the scope of your play. If you think you have enough material for a one act (equivalent to two ten-minute plays or about 20-30 pages of script text, including cover page), then decide to write a one-act play. If you feel you have two separate ideas OR you feel the idea you have for your play is smaller in scope, choose to write two ten-minute plays. Each play will count as your marking period grade. 

When is it due?
January 24.