Posted: October 17th, 2016

How does one write a play?

TH 401: PLAYWRITING (Fall 2016)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
How does one write a play? There are many ways, too numerous to attempt to cover all in one course. We will look at the process from a few specific angles:

Primarily, students will be exposed to an organic, imagistic approach that relies on each writer’s own intuition, imagination and sense of what is “dramatic.” There will be many in-class writing exercises. Students will regularly share material written in class that day.
The course will focus on the goal of each student writing (and revising) a one-act play. Secondarily, students will be exposed to basic of dramatic structure, including Aristotle’s Six Elements. Students will read and discuss other plays and playwrights’ thoughts on the art and craft of playwriting, techniques of analysis and constructive criticism.
COURSE OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES:
Students will achieve…

➢ A basic understanding of play structure.
➢ A level of proficiency in the art and craft of writing a one-act play.
➢ The ability to critique and analyze plays in a constructive and supportive manner.
➢ A sense of the role of the playwright in theatre and society as a whole.

PLAGIARISM:
Don’t do it! If you do, you might get sent upriver to Judicial Affairs.

GRADING:

10% Attendance (3 unexcused absences drops you half a letter grade, 4 drops you a full grade, 5 dings you two full letter grades, 6 flunks you)
20% Participation (demonstration of having completed reading assignments via class discussion, in class writing, sharing of work)
20% “Aristotle/One-Act” paper
10% “crooked” (studio theatre production) reflection about the writing (plot, character, dialogue, themes, etc)
10% “Taming of the Shrew” (main stage production) reflection about the writing (see above)
30% Final (“Final” Draft of play)

“ARISTOTLE/ONE ACT” PAPER: Read your choice of a one-act play from TELLING TALES: NEW ONE-ACT PLAYS.
Then write a 2-3 page paper in which you examine the use of Character, Action, Ideas, Language, Music and Spectacle. Please cite examples from the play to support your observations. Points will be deducted for missing elements as well as for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax errors. If not typed you will lose 2 points.