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Activity

Methodology

Resources

1. Introduction to Drama

a. Glossary of terms.

Play the tape of the Dead Dog Comedy Hour episode 41. Discuss context of play, characters, setting, use of voice.

Provide a Glossary of Dramatic Terms organizer, and class fills in definitions (comedy, tragedy, farce, radio play, script, actors, director, producer, stage manager, stage, set).

Glossary of Dramatic Terms organizer.

b. Reading a play

With copies of Toronto at Dreamer's Rock by Drew Hayden Taylor, begin reading the first few scenes together, assigning parts. Give Toronto at Dreamer's Rock Reading Questions worksheet to be completed while reading the play. Some class time is given to reading independently. Play should be finished by a date given.

Copies of Toronto at Dreamer's Rock; Toronto at Dreamer's Rock Reading Questions worksheet

2. Subtext

Take a short note on subtext, and demonstrate an example of writing subtext "between the lines" of an actual script (e.g. script Bad Driving from the Red Green show)

Write the subtext to an excerpt from a script on the prepared Subtext Writing worksheet, beneath the re-typed lines of the script.

Sample script from Crossroads 10, p. 138-9.

Script excerpt from Language & Writing 9, p. 48-51.

3. Monologues

Examine some examples of monologues using Monologues for Teenagers. One monologue is a story, the other an extended opinion. Identify areas of the monologue that show strong emotions.

Write a one page monologue using the Write a Monologue assignment sheet. Identify a subject for persuasion, an audience to persuade, a setting to deliver the monologue, and who is delivering the monologue.

Monologues from Literature & Media 9, p. 236-238.

Write a Monologue assignment sheet

4. Stage, Set, and Blocking

Take a note introducing these terms. Several points about position of actors on stage, set, and the interaction of the two.

Using the Blocking a Scene assignment sheet, choose an interaction between two people, and draw them on a blank copy of a thrust stage. Add set. Respond to several questions about the placement of the actors and set on the stage.

Understanding the stage

Blocking a Scene assignment sheet

5. Script Writing

Take a short note on the format of the dramatic script

Using the Make A Scene assignment sheet, follow directions to design a scene. Characters, props, and set are chosen and cut out of magazines, pasted so that they are interacting on a blank stage. An organizer profiling the characters (behaviour, looks, voice, movement, and motivations) is completed. Write a two page script, following the correct format about the interaction of the characters with each other, and any set or props present. Editing and revision.

Language & Writing 9, p. 57-58 as reference

Make A Scene assignment sheet; Self and Peer Editing Checklist

6. Understanding Characters

a. Character profiles

The play should have been read by now.

Take three characters from Toronto at Dreamer's Rock (Rusty, Keesic, Michael), and complete an organizer profiling the characters (behaviour, looks, voice, movement, and motivations).

Character Profile organizer

b. Writing about a character

Discuss the elements of a connected series of paragraphs (introduction, three topic sentence paragraphs, concluding paragraph).

Using the Toronto at Dreamer's Rock Connected Series of Paragraphs About a Character assignment sheet, write an organized series of paragraphs about one of the three characters, selecting a pre-written topic sentence. Emphasis placed on student, peer, and teacher editing.

7. Unit Review & Test

Unit review. Reminder to submit Toronto at Dreamer's Rock Reading Questions.

Unit test with knowledge, application, and communication elements, focus on writing a short connected series of paragraphs pre-prepared during the unit review.

Unit review sheet

Unit test