Drama Syllabus I. Course Overview This is a course that focuses on important ideas as found in various aspects of Theatre. Our goal is to improve your performance level, your knowledge of theatre, and, most importantly, your self-confidence. You will study acting theory and improve your acting skills, using improvisation as well as memorized, prepared scenes. You will study theatre history, technical theatre, musical theatre, performance and production critique, film, and television. The incredibly important aspect of audience etiquette is a graded portion of this class. In order to do the written work, you need to study the texts assembled for this class. Reading assignments will be reasonable and are essential for working meaningfully through our material. It is essential that you understand this class requires academic work as well as memorization, rehearsal, and performance. Your enthusiasm and insightfulness regarding all work and assignments in and outside of class is something to which I look forward! II. Make-up Work A. If you know in advance of an absence (game, school event, concert) see me BEFORE you leave. You have enough notice regarding these events to see me and access the information/handouts of what you will miss. The technology that is available at each of our fingertips is amazing. One of the most monumentally exciting elements of this available technology is that if one is absent – everything is accessible. If you have any questions/concerns simply email me and I will assist you in your endeavor as much as humanly possible. However, it is your responsibility to collect what you have missed….and ask if you have questions/concern. I will not track you down – you must inform me when you need assistance. I am unable to read your mind…and I promise that I truly do wish to help as much as I can. **Also, if you have an assignment due and you know you will be leaving BEFORE your instructional hour, you are required to turn in your assignment BEFORE you leave.** Again…sooooooooo easy with all this technology!! No more excuses necessary!! YAY!! If you choose not to adhere to this requirement, you will receive a late grade. If this behavior becomes habitual in nature, your coach or sponsor will be notified. B. One day for each day of absence – beginning the day of your return. All make-up work must be submitted with “Absent” at the top of the first page. It will be recorded as late work if not properly labeled. This is totally and completely your responsibility; take pride in your work! III. Late Work Late work will be accepted under the following conditions: A. One “day” = 10% penalty B. Two – five days = 50% penalty C. More than five days = No Credit (zero)

IV. Tardiness to Class: A. Attending class and school is vital to success. You are expected to be here on a daily basis. Further, you should be here on time. Tardiness is a distraction and wastes valuable time. There is simply no way to effectively recreate discussions, lectures, etc…this makes being prompt a necessity. B. As quoted directly from the student handbook: “There are 3 minutes passing time between classes. A tardy is given to any student who is up to 3 minutes late to class without having a pass from a teacher stating a reason for being late. Tardy counts are cumulative for each quarter and start over at the beginning of a new quarter. If a student is absent from class more than 3 minutes, he/she will be considered absent for that class period. V. Attendance C. Pre-arranged absences (field trips, athletics, music, vacation, college visits) – Notify me in advance. Assignments (papers, quizzes, tests, etc.) must be completed prior to the scheduled absence unless other arrangements are made with me at least two days in advance. D. Illness/Other Excused Absences – follow guidelines for make-up work. E. Missing all or part of a class to finish typing a paper, fill out college applications, or any other task is not acceptable unless cleared with me first. F. Missing all or part of class due to laying your head down and/or sleeping is not acceptable in any way, whatsoever. VI. Academic Dishonesty Plagiarism occurs when you use another’s writing or ideas as your own without proper documentation. Do not do this. Why, you ask?? Shall I list the consequences/punishments?? Loss of respect, zeros, lunch detention, after school detention, in school suspension, etc… You will receive a zero for academic dishonesty, a.k.a. cheating on tests, plagiarism, copying homework/papers/log entries, etc. A big part of our work will be using references to other works in our own work, so crediting your sources correctly is a must. (More on the subject as we get to writing using outside sources.) Also, if you make your work “available” for fellow students, you will be penalized yourself. If your cell phone is found to be on during a test, you will receive a zero. VIII. Extra Credit: I do not believe in extra credit to save a grade or to make up for work you choose not to do at the time it was required of you. Therefore, if you have purposely “missed” assignments during a quarter, you are NOT eligible for extra credit. If all your grades are in, you will have the opportunity, however, to better your grade by contributing to our studies at hand by “finding” an extra credit assignment to supplement the class material and teach us all something new that connects to the units: an author’s page, a summary of an article you found on the subject, a report on a book that explores similar themes, or offers different views, etc. You may, in your own words, summarize a text (or movie) and relate it to our work in class for up to 10 pts. Papers need to be

typed, at least one page long, double-spaced AND shared with the class. You may also bring in an item, a newspaper clipping, a cartoon, a picture, etc., for a quick “showand-tell” for 5pts. Along with a quick presentation, those are great extra credit opportunities. You may earn up to 20 pts. extra credit per quarter. Check with me ahead of time on any ideas you may have/material you found. A few more guidelines to make class go by without unnecessary aggravation for anyone… IX. Week’s Calendar on White Board: Please refer to the day’s/week’s (and beyond) work as stated and outlined on the white board. You will see what is due, when, and for how many points. No surprises this way… X. Food and Drink: Only water will be allowed in the classroom. If you bring in food/drink items from lunch, they will land in the trash. XI. Cell Phones: Please refer to page 13 of your student handbook. No exceptions. Again, if your phone “buzzes” during a test, you will be disqualified. If you refuse to turn in your phone, it will mean an automatic referral not only for phone usage in class, but also for “Disrespect and Insubordination.” XII. Restroom Passes: You may leave one at a time with a pass after the first 10 min. of class and before the last 10 min. of class. If you stay out of class for an excessive amount of time, you will lose the privilege to leave during class to use the restroom. You may not leave during tests. XIII. Grading: Your grade will be an accumulation of points earned throughout the quarter/semester based on your willingness to work and turn in work. You will be able to earn credit through a variety of many aspects of Theatre. Some of the major aspects are as follows: Preparation, rehearsal, memorization, performance, technical theatre work, improvisation, audience behavior, quizzes, tests, writing, book work, notes, projects, play critiques, attendance, and participation. Bottom Line: If you do well on practice, you will succeed with performance. Grading Scale A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 – 79 D = 60 – 69 F = 59 & Below

Excellent Above Average Average Below Average Unsatisfactory

!!! I highly recommend that you are proactive and check your grades weekly. Be in charge of your work!! Take pride in your efforts!!!

XIV. Expectations A. Adult behavior – You are high school students. You will be treated as adults; you are expected to act like a responsible, mature individual. B. Be prepared – You are expected to come to class prepared. This means having assignments finished on time and having reading assignments completed prior to class. Assignments are due at the beginning of class, unless otherwise stipulated. Your work is late, and will receive the applicable deduction, if turned in later than at the beginning of your instructional hour. C. Participation – You are expected to participate in class discussions. This includes listening to others, asking questions, and adding your voice. This will be graded. You don’t have to agree with others’ thoughts and opinions, but you will be expected to respect their right to hold these opinions. Diversity is our class’s greatest strength. D. Effort – This will be a challenging, writing and reading intensive experience. Anything less than your best effort will be selling yourself short. Take the time to do things well…the first time. To succeed in this course you will need to spend a lot of time outside of class. E. Attendance – Attend class. This includes being an engaged student – not merely a physical presence. XV. What you can expect from me… A. All of the above. B. A healthy dose of sarcasm and dark humor. C. Reasoning for everything we do in class – every single assignment. I don’t believe in “busy work”… everything has a purpose. D. A supported opinion, the occasional rant atop a soapbox, and maybe even a debate or two. Opinions are just that, opinions. I will respect yours as long as you follow two rules: 1) you have support to back your particular opinion held 2) You respect the opinions of others that just may differ from your own. I, in no way, will attempt to “convert” you to my way of thinking. E. Misrepresentations and outright lies to evaluate an idea. I may argue a belief/concept with which I do not agree. I could play the role of devil’s advocate or try to convince you that I am something that I am, in reality, not. See D above. F. Limited class time to “work”. When I do give this time, I fully expect you to use it for this class. To work on another class’ assignments you must attain permission. G. High standards and expectations – both of you and myself. H. Frequent transitions. I will usually schedule at least two “activities” per day. XVI. Contact Information Ms. Tonya M. McLaughlin (217)322-4311 X65 [email protected]