Wednesday, January 4th, 2011

Grammar SessionIntroduction to Drama

Housekeeping

• Novel Exam marks• Remainder of Term• Registering for next term

Grammar Session

• Extra practice books• Answer keys• Online practice• Discussion questions

Grammar Topics

Write your name under the topic you are going to work on during this class

BREAK

Introduction to Drama

• Drama is piece of writing that is intended to be performed for an audience: stage plays, radio plays, movies, and television shows

• Western Drama originated in Greece around 500 BC

• Two main types tragedy – a sad story with an unhappy ending; the protagonist

usually suffered a loss or punishment

comedy – an entertaining story that usually make fun of current events

Source: http://www.dowlingcentral.com/MrsD/area/literature/Drama/drama.html

Elements of Drama

• A Script is the written story that details the plot of the drama and how it should be performed.

• The Dramatis Personae (Cast of Characters) normally lists the characters in the order of appearance; Character names are sometimes followed by a brief description of their personality and relationships to other characters.

Elements of Drama (Cont’d.)

• Acts are the major plot sections of the story. A play may have one or more acts.

• Scenes are the smaller plot sections within each Act.

Elements of Drama (Cont’d.)

• Set Directions appear at the beginning of the play or scene. They describe the stage and set, as well as when and where we are and who is there.

• Stage Directions appear in parentheses (brackets) within the text of the play primarily describing the character’s movements .Some stage directions appear directly within and around the character’s dialogue to indicate how the character is speaking or their actions while they are speaking.

Elements of Drama (Cont’d.)

• Dialogue is the conversation between two or more characters.

• Asides are comments a character makes

directly to the audience. An extended aside is called a monologue.

Drama Performance Assignment

• Expectations and Evaluation

• Plays and Groups

• Texts – you have 20 min to browse.

• Sign-up Sheet

• Preparation

Preparation1. This week you should complete

• First Reading

• Second Reading

2. Next week you should work through the following steps:

• Third Reading

• Blocking

• Memorization

• Interpretation and Rehearsal

Homework

• Individual Grammar Study and Practice

• Drama

1. First Reading: Read your historical profile and script through at least once to get an overall feel for it.

2. Second Reading: Read the script a second time, looking up unfamiliar words, reading the margin notes, and making note of questions to discuss with your group members next class.