COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

DIVISION OF FINE ARTS

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE NUMBER: DRAM 2362 section BX1

COURSE TITLE: History of the Theatre II

CREDIT HOURS: 3 LECTURE HOURS: 3 LAB HOURS: 0

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An historical investigation of the theatre and dramatic literature from 1800 to the present.

COURSE DELIVERY METHOD: Blackboard CE6 {Lecture notes, readings, videos, class on line discussions, quizzes and tests}.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Sandra Snyder

Office C 142

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11-12 pm or Call for an appointment.

Contact Office 972-881-5738

I will check my blackboard email frequently and that is the preferred method of contacting me. You can expect an answer to inquiries within 24 hours during the work week.

Students can expect assignments to be graded within a week of the closing date. (I try to do it sooner if possible, but if for some reason I cannot, I will let you know by posting a notice on the homepage)

TEXTBOOK:

History of the Theatre foundation edition (2007) by Oscar Brockett (chapters 13-25)

ISBN 0-205-47360-1 Pub. Allyn and Bacon

Optional but strongly recommended: Plays for the theatre 9^th ed. by Oscar Brockett and Robert J. Ball ISBN 0-495-09582-8 Pub. Thompson Wadsworth.

MEASURABLE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the history of theatre and dramatic literature of the representative period from the English Restoration to the modern theatre. The student will be able to identify and discuss theatre’s evolution through time, its correlation to social developments, and its participants and innovators. The student will also be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of theatre’s place in cultural development and how it shapes and is shaped by history. Success in this course will be measured by practical and written testing, as well as performance review.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

1.      Demonstrate a synthesized knowledge of artistic types, styles, genres and/or forms by integrating an understanding of them with an appraisal of the scope and variety of art works presented in the course.

2.      Illustrate the ability to synthesize the relationships of artistic features and cultural values into informed personal value statements pertaining to course content.

3.      Exhibit an ability to evaluate the critical components and distinguishing characteristics of art by critiquing specific works.

4.      Prepare an evaluation of artistic creativity by comparing and contrasting individual approaches to artistic production.

5.      Defend a comparative conclusion regarding the art form being studied that qualifies particular works presented in the course within the context of accepted aesthetic guidelines.

6.      Defend an informed personal response to art works that accounts for the influence of intercultural experiences of artists and audiences alike.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Over all goals for History of theatre Part 2

1. Students will recognize that theatre is not static, or an art unto itself.
2. Students will relate that theatre is ephemeral, and as such is unique from other arts.
3. Students will demonstrate that theatre is a collaborative art. People must work together for theatre to happen.
4. Students will assess that the arts (theatre) flourishes when there is economic and political stability.

Measurable objectives:

1. Students will demonstrate that to understand theatre today one must look at where it has been and to see where it is going and to see how its roots affect the shape it takes today.
2. Students will express themselves in a knowledgeable way about a theatrical performance.
3. Students will show that theatre is always a reflection of the society from which it came.
4. Students will assess that theatre builds on what has gone on before.

To accomplish the above objectives, students will systematically study Western theatre’s roots from the theatre of 1800 to the present. In studying this section of theatre history, students will see an overview of western theatre from the beginnings of modern theatre to the present and indicators of where it is going.

They study will take the form of four units of study:

1. Unit one will explore the development of romanticism and the beginnings and development of realism in Western Europe and the United States. This will be covered in the text with chapters 13-16. In addition students will research and report on an important designer or director, or person of importance to the development of theatre from the nineteenth century.

2. Unit two will analyze the change and growth and developments of modern realism and alternatives to realism. This will be aided by the study of chapters 17 -19 of the text. In addition students will read and study two plays representative of the period studied and related them to what they have learned about theatre and the society in which they were written.

3. Unit Three will study continental European and Latin American theatre and English language theatre in the twentieth century. This will be aided by chapters 20-22 in the text. In addition students will read and analyze two plays representative of the period studied and relate them to what they have learned about theatre and the society in which they were written.

4. Unit four will evaluate late twentieth century theatre and contemporary theatre. This will be aided by the study of chapters 23- 25 in the text. In addition students will read and analyze two plays representative of the period studied and relate them to what they have learned about theatre and the society in which they were written.

In order to help relate what they are learning in class to what is real life, attendance at plays is also a requirement of this course. Plays were meant to be experienced, not just read. If we take the stance that a play script is a blueprint for a production then for the student to fully understand and experience theatre, they must of necessity attend performances.

Films will be supplemental to the study. While not theatre in the strictest since, they are the closest tool that is available for the classroom use in trying to illustrate what certain productions might have been like for the audiences of the times.

To evaluate a student’s achievement of the course objectives, four unit tests and one final will be given plus “have you read it” quizzes over five specifically assigned plays. Three reports over plays read will be assigned plus one research reports and two performance critiques will be assigned. Since it is assumed that a student will learn from interacting on a consistent and regular basis with the instructor and other students studying the same subject, a participation grade will be assigned. Students must achieve a 70% or better to earn a “C” grade in the course.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS 

1. Students will turn in 2 short research papers with bibliographies on specific topics of interest in the unit studied. Reports will be turned in to Turnitin icon on the home page

Reports

The study of these periods of history in this course will be broken down into four parts. You will have a small research paper assigned to two of these units. These are worth 200 points each.

Each report will be explained under the written assignments icon on the home page, and must be in a word document format (. doc or .docx) with a bibliography of at least three primary sources. (Wikipedia is not an acceptable source). This is not to be a “research paper” in the big sense of the work; rather it is a report of what you learned in finding out more about the topic. ( approximately 5-7 pages)

If your topic is a person, areas to be included but not limited to in your report are:

· What did this person do that is relevant to theatre?

· What changes did this person make?

· How did this person affect the history of theatre?

If the topic is a movement, innovation, etc. the areas to be included but not limited to in your report are similar.

· Why is it relevant to our study?

· How did this change theatre?

· Why is it important?

5 tests will be given. Only 4 of these will count for the final grade.

2. Each student is required to either: attend two theatrical performances during the semester and write a critique following the written guidelines. These performances must be either collegiate and/or professional in nature.

· Each student is to write a 2-3 page typewritten critique of each production viewed.

Play Critiques

· In your introductory paragraph you should include the title of the production, the playwright, where and when you saw the production. (Remember titles of play should be in italics OR underlined)

· Discuss you overall impression of the show—give specifics.

· Discuss the production aspects: the staging, the lighting, the costuming, directing and the acting. What you thought was good about these aspects and why you thought was weak and why.

· Do you think that the production lives up to the expectations or vision of the playwright? (This may require reading the play before hand.)

· How is this production reflective of the time it was written or set?

· Do any of the aspects of the production reflect things you have studied in class and if so, what?

· Would you or would you not recommend this show to someone and why.

· Include the web address for this theatre, or a picture of the program

Remember this is primarily an opinion piece and as such has no right or wrong answer. You do not have to like or dislike the shows. The only requirement is that you give your reasons for your opinions. These reviews and all written assignments must be typed and in an essay format. Grammar and spelling etc. count.

Each critique is worth 100 points. In critiques if a student likes or dislikes something, the student must give specific reasoning. The successes and failures of a production must be clearly defined and described. The purpose of this critique is to express elements learned in class or through reading and will be graded by its academic merits. There are many elements of theatre, which make a production “good”, or “bad” and the reaction/views of the theatre audience must be considered, however I will not accept a critique that is grounded in debates or discussions of morals or belief systems. The production may not be judged by mere “literary content”. This is not to be a synopsis of the show. The critique must establish what was created, lost or could have been done with the literature or materials of the performance.

4. All writing assignments should be double spaced, written in a 12 point font, Times New Roman style. Titles of plays must always be italicized or underlined whenever they are used as the title. Points will be deduced at an increasing rate for failure to do so.

NO COVER SHEET!

5. Class participation is required in the class discussions tool. You will find a list of questions and you are required to read and respond to them. 1 respond=15 points on your discussion grade per unit. 2 responses =30 points and 3 or more responses full credit or 45 points. In addition you will get points for taking the pre and post tests and for your introduction of yourself to the class. Please keep in mind when you are respond to others that they cannot see your face or the nuances in your voice, so be polite.

METHOD OF EVALUATION: Five tests and 6 quizzes will be given. Tests and quizzes will be given on line through CE6 (blackboard) which is the delivery method of this class. They are only open for a limited amount of days and are timed. I have only factored in 4 tests and 6 quizzes. Thus, one test will be dropped. If you have an A grade going into the final, you do not have to take the final. Otherwise take all five tests and the lowest grade will be dropped. There are no makeup tests or quizzes.

Grades will be computed on the following basis

2 Reports	200pts. each	400
4 Tests	100pts. each	400
2 Critiques	100pts. each	200
6 Quizzes	15-28 pts each	150
Participation		150
	Total possible points	1300

Grades for the course are based on total points:

1300-1170	A
1169-1040	B
1039-910	C
909-780	D
779-0	F

POLICY 2.23 Religious Holy days: In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Higher Education Code, CCCCD will allow a student who is absent from a class for observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. Students are required to file a written request with each professor within the first 15 days of the semester to qualify for an excused absence. A copy of the state rules and procedures regarding holy days, and the form of notification of absences from each class under this provision, are available from the Admissions and Records office.

CLASS WITHDRAWAL INFORMATION:

You may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including W.

You may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including W. If you drop the course before the census date you will not be penalized in regard to the repeat policy. If you withdraw from the course after the census date, a grade of W will be posted to your transcript and count as one attempt toward the repeat policy.

A student may change his/her class schedule by submitting a completed official Drop/Add Form obtained from the Admissions and Records Office or by accessing the telephone or web line registration form. Students already registered may drop/withdraw by mail or fax. Adding and dropping should be student-initiated.

Students should contact their professors prior to initiating a drop or withdrawal. Faculty must assign a performance grade of “F” (or grade earned; whichever is higher) for students who discontinue class attendance and do not officially drop the course.

For further information on this subject, see the Spring Schedule

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT: It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This college will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the ACCESS office (G-200) or 972/881-5898 (TTY - 972/881-5950) in a timely manner if he/she desires to arrange for accommodations.

ACADEMIC ETHICS: The College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to statements, acts, or omissions related to application for enrollment, the ward of a degree, and/or the submission of one’s own work of material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsifying academic records.

“Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer files, copying internet material, using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.

Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were ones own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.

 Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate evel of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; and allowing a classmate to copy answers.” – Student handbook page 190

Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and any act of suspected scholastic dishonest will result in the student being referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for further review. Punishment will be determined pending the outcome of the interview with the Dean of Students’ Office.

NOTE: a copy of the generic syllabus is available in the division office and on the college website: iws.ccccd.edu\syllabus.

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Units of study

Unit one

1. Chapters 13-16

2. Report # 1

3. Test #1

Unit two

1. Chapters 17-19

2. Read A Dolls House and The importance of being Ernest take quizzes over each.

3. Critique #1

4. Test #2

Unit three

1. Chapters 20-22

2. Read The Good Woman of Setzuan and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

3. Test #3

4. Report #2

Unit four( nothing is accepted late in this unit as it is the end of the semester)

1. Chapters 23-5
2. Read Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and How I Learned to Drive for your report
3. Test #4
4. Critique #2

Final Exam