Acting I

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Appraise the foundation of an acting technique to “live truthfully in imaginary circumstances.”

• Execute a personal vocal and physical warm-up and continue to economize readiness for histrionic flexibility.

• Implement both oral and written feedback constructively in intrapersonal and interpersonal analysis.

• Construct cogent oral discussion and written critiques using craft-based acting terminology.

• Perform a developed 30-second monologue that is active and contains strong choices.

• Perform a rehearsed short (4-6 minute) scene that is both truthful and captivating to watch.

• Speak in genres appropriate to the disciplines of the primary subject matter of the course.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Participation (40% ~10 points per class)	400 points
Written Work (30%) Reading Responses (20pts x 6 responses) Production Quizzes (25pts x 4 quizzes) Support Writing (actions, scoring, packing, analysis, etc.)	120 points 100 points 80 points
Performance Work (30%) Monologue Final Scene Support Exercises (consent, impulse work, open scene, etc.)	100 points 100 points 100 points
Total Points=	1000 points

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
940-1000	A
900-939	A-
875-899	B+
826-874	B
800-825	B-
775-799	C+
726-774	C
700-725	C-
675-699	D+
626-674	D
600-625	D-
0-599	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance –You earn participation points every day. Though there will be lecture components, this course is primarily a laboratory. You must not only attend class to succeed, you must be prepared, ready, and eager to work. There are no excused/unexcused absences. An absence is an absence. After three (3) absences, your final grade will be lowered by ½ letter grade for each subsequent absence (4 = 1/2 letter grade, 5 = 1 letter, 6 = 1½ letter, etc.).

Tardies - You should always be on time for the class, which means dressed out and warming up on the hour, not simply arriving at door and starting to prepare. Two (2) tardies will equal one absence, counting against the attendance cap listed above.

Participation – Attending rehearsals and class meetings are the bare minimum (D+ work). In order to develop your process, you must codify and refine it. Simply reading the text and engaging in discussion is only the start. The craft of acting requires drill work (much like working out) and there will be physical and vocal exercises that should be repeated every day, outside of our session time. Full participation is expected and includes (but is not limited to) proper attire, constant focus, a willingness to jump right into the exercises, and active engagement in class discussions/activities. Since focused observation and finely-honed concentration are skills to practice, multi-tasking while others work is not acceptable; your job is to observe-and-record nuanced behaviors, engage in activities that push your comfort level, and take careful notes on our process. The participation points you earn reflect your attention, commitment, focus, preparedness, professionalism, and focus of energy each and every class period, even when you feel distracted, conflicted, overwhelmed, tired, or unwell.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• Moore, Sonia. The Stanislavski System: The Professional Training of an Actor. New rev. ed., Penguin Books, 1984 (1976).

• 3-ring Binder with the capacity to collect and remove notes/assignments

• Workout clothes conducive to movement/stretching/sweating.

• Writable Calendar

• Pencil (not pen) for scheduling changes, script scoring, note-taking, etc.

• Water for hydration

• Towel for drying