Introduction to
Theatre - THEA 1030-002
9:20a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Monday,
Wednesday, & Friday
Brown Hall room 206
INSTRUCTOR:
Melissa Shafer
Office: 116 Brooks Gym
Phone: 439-5837 (office) or 439-5831 (shop)
e-mail: shaferm@etsu.edu
Office
Hours: by appointment
OBJECTIVE:
This course is offered to
provide students with an understanding and appreciation for the many aspects of
theatre: dramatic literature, acting, theatrical design, stage direction,
theatre history and the role of the audience.
Lectures and guest lectures, power point presentations, video
presentations, and reading assignments will be the educational methods used in
this class. (3 credit hours)
EXPECTED OUTCOMES: As a result of taking this
course the student will be able to:
REQUIRED TEXT:
The Theatre Experience.
Eleventh
Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher
Education 2007. Edwin Wilson. ISBN:
9780073125558
The tenth
edition is acceptable—it is the student’s responsibility to translate any page
assignments, power points, or other references for this edition (chapter numbers
vary and contents vary slightly).
TEACHING METHODS:
The teaching methods
for this course will include lecture, guest lecturers, videos, and discussion.
This course is web-enhanced.
Students are expected to access the online Desire 2 Learn course site regularly
for updates, supplemental information, and for tracking their grades.
The address for D2L access is
http://elearn.etsu.edu/
.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
The student will read all material assigned from the required text and
any support material in a timely manner.
The student must regularly attend class, view all required films and
plays, take notes and take part in class discussions and exercises and complete
all required exams.
The student must attend at least two theatrical performances this
semester (attendance to additional productions may be eligible for extra
credit). The ETSU Division of
Theatre is offering two productions this semester:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall.
Thursday, February17th through Saturday, February 19th,
and Thursday, February 24th through Saturday, February 26th
at 7:30pm, and Sunday, February 27th at 2:00pm.
Third Annual Spring Dance Concert.
Veteran’s Memorial Theatre.
Thursday, March 31st through Saturday, April 2nd at
7:30pm.
You must write a
typed one page review for each
production attended. The review
must include information on what was produced (play title), where and when you
viewed the performance, and who produced the piece.
You should also attempt to integrate information from the course lectures
into your response to the play.
Also, please attach your ticket stub and program from the play to your review.
The last day to turn in reviews is April 29th during the
scheduled class meeting.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
While I do not formally take roll, your
attendance in class will impact your grade.
Test material will come from lectures, videos, and performances, as well
as from the book. Quite often
I see a direct correlation to a student’s attendance and their ability (or
inability) to succeed on tests.
PLEASE NOTE:
Students must arrive to the exams on time.
Once the first finished exam is handed in no exams will be given out to
students arriving after that point.
Class Participation and Discussion:
This course will require your attention and
participation. The quality of the course will depend heavily on each student's
participation in class discussion and exploration.
Please Note: Cell phones MUST be turned off while in class.
NO TEXTING! NO CALLS!
First offense: You will be
asked to stop texting and turn off your phone.
Second offense: You will be
asked to leave the classroom.
COURSE EVALUATION:
There will be four unit exams given throughout the semester.
The grades are averaged at 22.5% each.
The exams will be multiple choice, true false and/or identification.
The final exam is optional and can be treated as a grade replacement for
the lowest recorded test score. The
final exam is a comprehensive exam.
Attendance to the plays and the response papers
make up the remaining 10% of the final course grade (two at 5% each).
GRADE SCALE:
A = 100-94
A- = 93-90
B+ = 89-87
B = 86-84
B- = 83-80
C+ = 79-77
C = 76-74
C- = 73-70
D+ = 69-67 D = 66-60
F = 59 or below
Exam
Information
§
The CFAA proctors
online tests delivered through D2L.
We do not proctor paper or scantron tests.
§
Students
typically take course exams over three -day periods on a walk-in basis during
the center’s testing hours.
§
Because the
center administers tests for several courses concurrently, students may have to
wait in line during peak testing hours; if lines are long and testing hours are
drawing to a close, they may not be seated.
However, over the entire period that a test is offered there will be
enough seats for all students needing to take it.
§
The CFAA provides
certain accommodations for students who have followed ETSU’s protocol for
documenting disabilities. Please
contact the center at 439-6708 with questions regarding these accommodations.
§
The CFAA seats
students to take tests Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and
Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Because students must complete tests before we close, we do not seat students
after 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.
§
The Testing
Services area is closed Saturdays and Sundays.
§
CFAA holiday
hours and closings for inclement weather or emergencies follow the same schedule
as Sherrod Library. In the event of
an emergency closing Testing Services staff will work with the instructor to
extend testing day(s).
§
If technical
problems, power outages or other unforeseen situations interrupt testing,
Testing Services staff will notify the instructor and reschedule the test.
§
Please note:
If everyone waits until the last minute,
ETSU cannot make full use of the center’s testing capacity.
Students may have to wait in line during peak testing hours and, if lines
are long and testing hours are drawing to a close, they may not be seated.
If students miss an exam, the option is to take the optional final exam
to replace it. No other makeup exam
options are offered in this course.
Testing Rules
§
Students must
present a valid ETSU ID card to be admitted for testing.
No one will be admitted without an ID card.
§
No additional
materials are allowed while taking these
Introduction to Theatre exams.
Students must put all other belongings in a bag, which will be kept under their
seats in the testing area. Students
may not bring tablets of paper into the Testing
Services area.
§
Students will be
allowed a maximum of 60 minutes to take each exam.
§
Gum, food and
drinks are not allowed in the testing area.
§
Students may not
wear hooded sweatshirts, hooded coats or jackets, sunglasses or hats in the
testing area. If students bring
them, they must be put in the bag provided and kept under the student’s seat in
the testing area. Non-hooded
sweaters or similar clothing are suggested for those who are concerned about
being cold in the Sherrod Library.
§
Free earplugs are
available for those who are concerned about background noise in the library.
§
Students may not
bring children while taking a test.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Extra Credit may also be earned by attending play productions.
Any play production qualifies for extra credit.
Each play attended (with
accompanying review and program/ticket) will count as two points added to
the student’s final average for a maximum of 10 points.
The student must attend the entire production, write a one-page review
(not a synopsis) of the show, and turn it in to the instructor with program and
ticket stub attached no later than April 29th.
PLEASE NOTE:
·
This course
adheres to the tenets of academic honesty.
Any infractions will be dealt with appropriately.
·
Please observe
the rights of others while in this class and treat your peers, guest lecturers
and instructor with dignity and respect.
All cell phones and non-essential electronic devices are to be turned off
while in the classroom.
·
Any student who
may need an accommodation based on disability should make an appointment to see
the instructor during office hours or after class.
A Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability Services authorizing your
accommodations is required.
Introduction to
Theatre (Based on Edition 11
Chapter Numeration—It is the student’s responsibility to make adjustments if
using a different edition.)
Spring 2011 Course
Outline:
F
1/14
Course Intro
M
1/17
No Class—MLK Day
W
1/19
Course Introduction, The Audience
and Theatre Etiquette
Ch. 2 &3
F
1/21
The Audience
M
1/24
The Critic
Chapter 4
W
1/26
Creating the World of the Play
Ch. 9
F
1/28
Dramatic Forms
Ch. 10
M
1/31
Dramatic Characters
Ch. 11
W
2/2
Dramatic Characters continued
F
2/4
M
2/7
Tragedy
and Other Serious Drama
Ch. 12
W
2/9
Tragedy continued
F
2/11
Review
Exam 1 (Chapters 2,
3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12) available in the CFAA February 14-17
M
2/14
Comedy
and Tragicomedy
Ch. 13
Exam 1 Available in CFAA
W
2/16
Comedy and Tragedy continued
Exam 1 Available in
CFAA
F
2/18
Global Theatre
Ch. 17
M
2/21
Contemporary American Theatre
Ch. 19
W
2/23
Musical Theatre
Ch. 18
F
2/25
Musical Theatre continued
M
2/28
Musical Theatre continued
W
3/2
No Class--SETC
F
3/4
No Class--SETC
March 7-11 Spring
Break, No Class
Exam 2 (Chapters 13,
17, 18, 19) available in the CFAA March 14-17
M
3/14
Review - Exam 2 Available in
CFAA
W
3/16
Acting Offstage and In the Past
Ch. 6
Exam 2 Available in
CFAA
F
3/18
Stage Acting Today
Ch. 7
M
3/21
Stage Acting continued
W
3/23
Stage Acting continued
F
3/25
The Director and the Producer
Ch. 8
M
3/28
The Director and the Producer continued
W
3/30
The Director and the Producer continued
F
4/1
Review
Exam 3 (Chapters 6,
7 & 8) available in the CFAA April 4-7
M
4/4
Stage Spaces
Ch. 5
Exam 3 Available in
CFAA
W
4/6
Stage Spaces continued – Exam 3 Available in CFAA
F
4/8
Scenery
Ch. 14
M
4/11
Scenery continued
W
4/13
Costumes
Ch. 15
F
4/15
Costumes continued
M
4/18
Lighting & Sound
Ch. 16
W
4/20
Lighting & Sound continued
F
4/22
Review
Exam 4 (Chapters 5,
14, 15 & 16) available in the CFAA April 25-28
M
4/25
Review - Exam 4 Available in
CFAA
W
4/27
No class - Exam 4 Available in CFAA
F
4/29
Review for Final Exam – Last day
to turn in Play Reviews
M
5/2
Optional Comprehensive Final Exam
8:00-10:00am
The grade for this
exam will replace a lower or missed exam grade.
This test will be administered in the classroom—Brown Hall 206.