THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICADRAMA DEPT.
DR 101, section 02: Introduction to TheatreFall
2013Undergraduate Syllabus3 Credit HoursRequired of Drama, Music
Concentrators, and Drama Sub-Concentrators
Classroom: Hartke 200Class Time: MWF 12:40-1:30
Instructor contact information:Ms. Melissa FlaimOffice location:
207 HartkePhone: x6467 202-314-6369Email: [email protected]
[email protected] Hours: MWF 10:30-12:30 and by appointment
Teaching Assistant contact informationMr. Orion JonesOffice
location: 209 HartkePhone: x5370 773-951-5050Email:
[email protected] Hours: Thursday 5-6pm and by
appointment
Course Description: An introduction to the nature of theatre as
a performing art. Students study selected plays from the
perspectives of actors and directors, and the strategies of
playwrights to develop the ability to imagine the play in
performance and to appreciate the range of theatre's
possibilities.
Instructional Methods: Lecture/Discussion
Required Texts:Trifles Susan GlaspellIn the Forest, She Grew
Fangs Stephen SpotswoodThe Shape of Things Neil LaButteNext to
Normal Tom Kitt and Brian YorkeyAugust: Osage County Tracy LettsIn
the Blood Suzan Lori-ParksHow I Learned to Drive Paula
VogelClybourne Park Bruce NorrisA Raisin in the Sun Lorraine
HansburyBeneathas Place Kwame KweiArmah
Course Goals:To introduce the student to the dramatic arts and
investigate how the components of those arts are utilized to
enhance the theatrical experience.
Course Requirements:Attendance/participation in class.
Completion of all class assignments including attendance and
reaction papers to productions as noted.
Reaction papers:The student is required to read assigned play
scripts and to attend a variety of university and professional
productions. Throughout the semester the student will submit
reaction papers on assigned readings or productions. The papers
should be 2 pages in length (double space, New Times Roman, 12
point font, 1 inch borders) and use the Chicago Manual of Style.
The papers are formal writings and graded on spelling, grammar, and
structure as well as content. Content of the individual papers will
be discussed as they are assigned. The student is also required to
submit two reaction papers on outside, professional productions
following the above format.
Expectations and policies:Academic honesty:Academic honesty is
expected of all CUA students. Faculty are required to initiate the
imposition of sanctions when they find violations of academic
honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a students own work,
cheating, and fabrication. The following sanctions are presented in
the University procedures related to Student Academic Dishonesty
(http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm):
The presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic
dishonesty will be failure for the course. There maybe
circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate
students past record, a more serious sanction, such as suspension
or expulsion, would be appropriate. In the context of graduate
studies, the expectations for academic honesty are greater, and
therefore the presumed sanction for dishonesty is likely to be more
severe, e.g., expulsion. ...In the more unusual case, mitigating
circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser sanction than
the presumed sanction. Please review the complete texts of the
University policy and procedures regarding Student Academic
Dishonesty, including requirements for appeals,
athttp://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm
andhttp://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm.
Attendance Policy:The class relies heavily on class
participation and in class discussion and therefore requires
student attendance. Each student is allowed two absences through
the semester to be used for illness or other emergencies. The final
grade will be reduced by one letter grade for each additional
absence. Two late arrivals for class are equivalent to one absence.
Four total absences are grounds for failing the course. The class
begins at 12:40 and the student is expected to be present and
prepared for class at that time. The student is required to have
completed all homework assignments before the beginning of the
class when it is due. Students are responsible for completing the
homework assignment for missed classes before returning to
subsequent classes. It is recommended that the student plan to
arrive in the classroom five minutes prior to the beginning of
class. The class meets until 1:30. The student should notbegin to
prepare to leave class until it is over. Food, drink, and cell
phones are not allowed while class is in session.
Accommodations for students with disabilities:Any student who
feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a
disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss
specific needs. Please contact Disability Support Services (at
202-19- 5211, room 207 Pryzbyla Center) to coordinate reasonable
accommodations for students with documented disabilities. To read
about the services and policies, please visit the website:
http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu.
Assessment:Mid term examination 25%Final examination 25%Class
participation 25%Reaction papers 25%
University grades:The University grading system is available for
undergraduates at:
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad//gradesfull.cfm#II.
Reports of grades in courses are available at the end of each term
on: http://cardinalstation.cua.edu.
Writing resources:The Writing Center is an excellent resource
for any student here at CUA. The Writing Center is committed to
supporting the writing needs of students at all stages of the
writing process. The Writing Center offers:
Advice from trained consultants Techniques for invention,
arrangement, and style Assistance for student writers of all levels
and Reference material such as dictionaries, thesauri, and citation
formats for APA, MLA, and Chicago style guides.
If, at any point in the semester, you feel like you are
struggling to draft, revise or properly reference sources in a
writing assignment, make an appointment at
http://english.cua.edu/wc. The Writing Center is located in 111
OBoyle Hall. Instructors may also refer you to the Writing Center
for further assistance with any assignment or writing skill. It
always helps to have an extra pair of eyes, so dont be surprised if
I ask you to visit the Center at some point.
Syllabus
Aug. 26 Introduction/ Syllabus section28 What is Theatre
section30 Trifles discussion sectionThe ScriptSept. 2 Labor Day, NO
CLASS4 Literary Style section6 Style Exercise section9 Adaptation
section11 In the Forest, She Grew Fangs with StephenCallan13 Action
section16 Six Word Plays Writing section18 Six Word Plays
Performance section20 Next to Normal Discussion sectionThe
Director23 The Director (Jones & Velasco) section25 Directing
the Scene (Jones & Velasco) Hartke27 The Shape of Things
discussion sectionThe Performance Space30 Elements of the
performance space (TD) HartkeOct. 2 In The Blood discussion
section4 Midterm Review section7 Mid Term Examination class room9
Performance Space Exercise (all) everywhere11 Performance Space
Exercise (all) everywhere14 Columbus Day NO CLASS15 Dramaturg??
(PT) Callan16 The Physical Plant (TD) Hartke18 How I Learned to
Drive discussion section21 Concept and Aesthetics (TD) Hartke23
Aesthetic Exercise, beautiful/ugly (TD) HartkeThe Designer25 The
Set Designer (TD) Callan28 The Light Designer (TD) Callan30 The
Sound Designer (Gregg Martin) HartkeNov. 1 The Costume Designer
(Gail Beach) Callan4 August: Osage County discussion sectionThe
Performer6 Acting Methodologies, Stanislavsky (MF) Hartke/ Callan8
Acting Methodologies, Voice (MF) Hartke/ Callan11 Acting
Methodologies, Acting (MH) Hartke/ Callan13 Dream Play designers
(all) Hartke15 In the Forest, She Grew Fangs section18 Discussion
of A DREAM PLAY Hartke20 Intro Three plays (all) Hartke22 FILM: A
Raisin in the Sun Hartke25 FILM A Raisin in the Sun Hartke27
Thanksgiving recess29 Thanksgiving recessDec. 2 Discussion of A
Raisin in the Sun section4 Discussion of Clybourne Park section6
Discussion of Beneathas Place (Jessica Dukes) section13 FINAL EXAM
10:15 am-12:15 pm (Friday) section
