Theatre 161.002 Theatre Appreciation Course Syllabus Fall, 2010 Instructor: Dr. Joe Alberti Phone: 936-468-1112 E-mail: albertija@sfasu.edu Office: FA 225 Office Hours: Mondays, 10:50 am-12:00 pm and 12:50-4:00 pm, Tuesdays, 11:45 am-2:00 pm, and Wednesdays, 10:50-12:00 pm. When you e-mail me, please put your name in the subject line. Failure to do so will cause less efficient correspondence. Objective: This course is designed to provide you with a well-rounded understanding of theatre in all of its disciplines. It is expected that you will be a more educated and enthusiastic patron of the theatre and be equipped to intelligently critique performances as well as dramatic literature. To that end, you will be expected to read scripts as well as attend SFA Theatre productions Exemplary Educational Objectives: * To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. * To understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context. * To respond critically to works in the arts and humanities. * To articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. * To develop an appreciation for the aesthetic principles that guide or govern the humanities and arts. * To demonstrate knowledge of the influence of literature, philosophy, and/or the arts on intercultural experiences. Methods for Assessing the Exemplary Educational Objectives * EEO 1, 2, 5, 6 Questions on course quizzes, tests, and examinations. * EEO 3, 4 Student written critical response papers to productions seen on campus graded on a rubric of Acceptable/Marginal/Unacceptable. Student Learning Outcomes: * Students will be exposed to live theatre productions * Students will read scripts and develop basic understanding of dramatic literature
* Students will learn a broad history of the theatre from Greek to Modern * Students will learn the various theatrical disciplines and the art of collaboration * Students will develop their abilities to analyze and write about theatre performances Required Texts: Understanding Theatre by WK Waters, 3rd ed. Play Scripts: A Raisin in the Sun, Almost Maine, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, She Stoops to Conquer, and Breast of Tiresias Course Assignments: Tests (3 @ 10% each) 30% Quizzes (4 @ 5% each) 20% Production Critiques (2@ 10% each) 20% Final Project (20%) 20% Participation 10% (0-59) F (60-69) D (70-79) C (80-89) B (90-100) A Tests: 3 Tests will be given covering the lectures and reading material. Quizzes: 5 Quizzes will be given covering the scripts and/or productions. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Critiques: You will be required to attend Almost Maine, How to Succeed in Business, and one student (aka Downstage) production. You will write a critique over Almost Maine OR How to Succeed in Business AND one of the student productions. Details about what to include in the critiques will be discussed in class. Final Project: You will be required to do a final project. Details will be given in class. Participation: Half the participation grade consists of attending the three required theatre productions during the semester and returning your attendance card at the end of the semester. The other half of your participation grade will be determined by class behavior and discussion. Course Work: All papers for this course will be turned in online via Blackboard. All course work must be done and turned in as indicated by the calendar. This includes tests, quizzes, papers, and other assignments. Tests and quizzes cannot be made up without an excused absence. Papers and other assignments will lose ten (10) points per day late, including weekend days. In regard to papers for this course: Any paper shorter than the assigned minimum will receive a grade no higher than 70. Course Evaluations: You will be required to log your online course evaluation at the end of the semester. Non-completion of this evaluation will result in a 1% reduction of your final grade. Instructions and further information will be given nearer to that time. Evaluation Criteria: Average (C) Represents achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect. The work showed basic understanding and mastery of the course material. Above Average (B) Represents achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements. Not only were all the basic expectations met, it exceeded expected quality levels. Superior (A) Represents achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet requirements. This work is superior in every respect, and represents the highest level of achievement. Below Average (D) Represents achievement that is worthy of credit even though it does not fully meet course requirements. While there was merit to what was done, there were also deficiencies that meant the work did not fully meet the minimal
expectations. Failure (F) Represents performance that fails to meet the course requirements and is unworthy of credit. This work shows serious deficiencies in regard to the expectations for the assignment. Students with documented disabilities must meet with the instructor to arrange accommodations for that disability. Attendance: Three (3) unexcused lecture absences are condoned, after which a final grade reduction of 2% of your final grade will be applied for each additional absence. As stated by School policy: (7) absences will result in an automatic failure of the course. Only sponsored school events may qualify as excused absences upon the instructor s discretion when provided with prior documentation signed by the activity's sponsor. Illnesses and doctors visits will not be excused. It is the student s responsibility to obtain any missed notes or assignments from the instructor or a dependable classmate. Class Expectations: 1. Laptops, netbooks, and ipod devices are not allowed for use during clas. 2. Cell phones should be set to silent or turned off before class begins. 3. Absolutely no use of cell phones during class for any reason. 4. No reading of outside materials, or disorderly conduct. 5. Students sleeping during class, or giving the appearance of sleeping, will be counted absent. 6. Respect your instructor, your classmates, and your self. Failure to follow the expectations outlined above will result in being dismissed from class and counted absent. Academic Integrity (A-9.1) Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism. Definition of Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54): Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which
they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. Students with Disabilities: To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54) Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. Students with Disabilities: To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/. Acceptable Student Behavior: Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed.
Calendar: DATE Class Topic Activity/Assignment Aug. 30: Rolls and Texts Sep. 1: Intro and Audience Sep. 3: Reading a Play Sep. 6: LABOR DAY Sep. 8: The Play/Plot Sep. 10: Character Sep. 13: A Raisin in the Sun Quiz #1 Sep. 15: A Raisin in the Sun Sep. 17: A Raisin in the Sun Sep. 20: Tragedy and Related Forms Comedy and Related Forms Sep. 22: The Musical Theatre Review for Test #1 Sep. 24: Test #1 Sep. 29: Theatre Etiquette/Critiques Oct. 1: Greek Theatre Oct. 4: Almost Maine quiz+discussion Final Project Discussion & Sign up Quiz #2 Oct. 6: TBA Oct. 8: TBA Oct. 11: Medieval and Elizabethan Theatre The Other Son papers due Oct. 13: Modern Theatre Review for Test #2
Oct. 15: Asian Theatre Oct.18: Almost Maine production discussion. Almost Maine papers due Oct. 20: Test #2 Oct. 22: She Stoops to Conquer quiz and discussion FINAL PRESENTATIONS Quiz #3 Last Day to Drop Oct. 27: The Playwright Oct. 29: Producing the Play The Director Nov. 1: The Actor Old Saybrook papers due Nov. 3: Breast of Tiresias quiz & discussion Quiz #4 Nov. 5: The Performing Space FINAL PRESENTATIONS Nov. 8: Scenic Design Nov. 10: Costume and Makeup Nov. 12: Lighting and Sound Design Nov. 15: How to Succeed quiz & disc. Quiz #5 Nov. 17: Putting it All Together Nov. 19: FINAL PRESENTATIONS Nov. 22: FINAL PRESENTATIONS Tongues and Savage/Love papers due Nov. 24: NO CLASS/Thanksgiving Nov. 26: NO CLASS/Thanksgiving Nov. 29: How to Succeed production discussion FINAL PRESENTATIONS How to Succeed papers due Dec. 1: FINAL PRESENTATIONS
Dec. 3: FINAL PRESENTATIONS Dec. 5: FINAL PRESENTATIONS Dec. 8: FINAL PRESENTATIONS Review for Test #3 Dec. 10: Test #3 Main Stage Productions: ALMOST MAINE by John Cariani October 5 October 9, 7:30pm Turner Auditorium HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING November 16 November 20, 7:30pm Turner Auditorium Down Stage Productions THE OTHER SON by Luigi Pirandello Friday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 25, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. OLD SAYBROOK by Woody Allen Friday, October 15, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 16, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. TONGUES by Sam Shepard and SAVAGE/LOVE by Joseph Chaikin Friday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 6, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.