Class Outlines: THE355 THE357
Blackboard
Bibliography
Theatre Links
COURSE OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES
This course enables students to discover the major theatrical achievements of Eastern and Western civilization and helps them to develop an appreciation for the creative impulse that shapes human value systems. Students in World Theatre gain an understanding of the plays, physical theatres, actors, producer-directors, and production styles that contributed to the development of theatre from its ritual origins to the 21st century.1. ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: Students are
expected to attend every class on time and contact the instructor prior
to class should conflicts arise. Repeated lateness and/or three
absences or more will lower grades. The day-to-day
operation of the classroom is conducted as a seminar where students
report on their research of assigned identification items from the
class outlines. Students are expected to possess an active
curiosity and an informed expression about the ideas, events, and
people
that make up the theatre history of each era.
2. DISCUSSION BOARD: Students are assigned
five identifications from the course outlines, and are responsible for
posting researched and well-written descriptions of each onto the
Discussion Board area within Blackboard, a campus network that supplies
web sites for CSUDH classes. The Discussion Board is designed to
promote student reflection, discussion,
and writing skills, while also serving the class as a review for both
the
Mid-term and Final exams. Students need to consult the Writing
Guidelines
(posted on the Blackboard site) for complete directions on each writing
assignment.
3. PANEL: Students use classroom sessions to
meet in groups to analyze and prepare a discussion of a single play
from one
area of theatre history. Panels are intended to help students
work collaboratively
to develop a focused presentation on the characters, plot, language and
themes
of the play.
4. RESEARCH PAPER: Students are required to
complete both a rough draft and a final 7 to 10 page research
assignment. Many students have elected to take the Creative
Research Paper option where they can use diaries, letters, or journals
to portray historical actors, directors,
playwrights, designers, or managers in the process of creating
theatre.
Grades for these papers are determined by the student's adherence to
deadlines
(20% off for late assignments), thoroughness of research, writing
ability,
and clarity of logic. See the
Writing
Guidelines.
5. RESEARCH PRESENTATION: Students are required
to present a ten-minute research presentation using their findings from
their Research Paper. At the presentation, students distribute an
outline of the speech (purpose and main points) and a
bibliography. Grades for
this research project are determined by the student's adherence to
deadlines, thoroughness of research, speaking ability, and clarity of
logic.
See the Guidelines for complete directions.
Students are encourage to begin their research into World Theatre by using our own library as well as online sources. The following links can help you locate materials for your research:
6. EXAMS: Two exams (Mid-Term and Final) are used to assess
the student's familiarity with material from the course outlines.
Only numbered items on the outlines will be the content of both
exams. To do well on the exams, all students should listen and
take notes on other students'
presentations in class, read all the Discussion Board postings, and
also
do their own research readings on the numbered items from the
outlines. Both exams involve multiple choice, true and false,
identifications and essays.
GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
CRITERIA FOR GRADE OF “A”Attendance & Participation = 40%
Research Paper & Presentation = 35%
Exams = 25%
Keeping in mind that the grade of “A” is often associated with “outstanding” or “superior” work, to obtain an “A” in this course you must not only meet the minimum criteria delineated in the course requirements, but also accomplish each of the following three objectives:
COURSE OUTLINES1) Have perfect attendance and punctuality, complete assignments on time, speak often and participate openly in class activities.
2) Show a clear understanding of class material by knowing outline items and developing well thought-out writings on exams and web postings.
3) Compose well-written papers that reveal strong organization, logical progression, meaningful paragraphing, independent thought, engagement with the topic, and readable, unambiguous sentences that are virtually free of errors in grammar, usage, spelling, or mechanics.
World Theatre I (THE 355):
Introduction and Ritual
African Theatre
Greek Theatre
Theatre of Rome
Medieval Theatre
Asian Theatre
Asian-American Theatre
Theatre of the Italian Renaissance
The Spanish Golden Age
Hispanic-American Theatre
World Theatre II (THE 357):
The French Renaissance
Theatre of the English Restoration
Women's Theatre
Theatre of the 18th Century
19th Century Theatre
African-American Theatre
The Origins of Modern Theatre
20th Century Theatre
Contemporary Theatre
