SYLLABUS
Fall, 2007
THR 131 01
Acting Techniques I
3 Credit Hours
Course Information
Prerequisite(s)
Course Description
Student Learning
Outcomes
Class days and time
Campus and Class
location
Required textbook and
Course Materials
Last Date of Withdrawal
Make-up policy
Daily Activities,
Participation
Dress
None
This is the first in a two-course sequence in which the student will focus on the
development of the body and voice as the performing instruments in acting. Emphasis
is placed on pantomime, improvisation, acting exercises, and building characterizations
in short acting scenes
Contact division chair for Student Learning Outcomes
MW 3:05pm – 4:20pm
Martin
Wilson-Carr Rehearsal Hall (room 1926)
Cohen, Robert. Acting One, 5th edition, McGraw Hill
December 3, 2007
A makeup TEST will be allowed at the discretion of the instructor. Any student wishing
to make up an assignment must petition the instructor in writing. This request should
include evidence of a valid excused absence: excused absences include military
service, accidents, court appearances, illness of the student or illness of an immediate
family member, or the death of an immediate family member. The student must submit
appropriate documentation of extenuating circumstances to the instructor and make
arrangements for any make-up work within one week of the last day covered by the
excuse. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to
make up missed work. Any missed material will not be re-taught by the instructor.
You will receive a daily grade for your active participation in this class. Grades for any
particular class period may vary depending on the scheduled activities. To receive
maximum credit you MUST be prepared for each class.
Your work in class is a major part of your grade. Your behavior in the classroom
strongly affects the quality of instruction for you AND your classmates. You are
expected to show respect for yourself, your classmates, your instructor, and the various
studios in which we work. In addition, we ask that you take part in creating a safe,
trusting and collaborative environment. Taking “risks” is vital in the exploration of the
acting process. Students who chose to hinder the “safety zone” for themselves and
others will be dealt with accordingly and may be asked to leave the class.
You will receive a daily grade for your ACTIVE participation in this class. Grades for any
particular class period may vary depending on the scheduled activities To receive
maximum credit you MUST be prepared for each class. Being LATE for class is an
automatic 1/3 reduction of the day’s participation grade
Wear comfortable, non-confining clothing that allows freedom of movement, and that
you do not mind getting dirty. (You may be required to sit or lay on the floor for certain
in-class exercises.) Do not wear baggy clothing.
Appropriate footwear (tennis shoes or flexible closed-toe flats) is mandatory. No
Text Readings
Sandals, flip-flops, clogs, etc. Be prepared occasionally to work in bare feet.
Refrain from wearing excessive or bulky jewelry. Hair should be pulled back out of face.
No hats.
*Students who are not appropriately dressed for class will receive a 1/3 reduction of the
day’s participation grade. Be prepared and ready to participate.
You must be prepared for each class, this means you have read the chapters to be
covered and are prepared to answer questions, prepared any speech or exercise
scheduled and participate fully in class activities.
Students are required to attend and write a case study report on the following plays:
Smoke On The Mountain Homecoming Sept. 7-16 Bean-Brown Theatre. Adm: $6
A Night of Scenes
Case Studies
Personal Inventory and
Personal Process Paper
Acting Journal
Presentations
Cell Phones
Final Examination
Oct. 5-7
Wilson-Carr Rehearsal Hall. Adm: free
A Lesson Before Dying Nov. 30-Dec. 9
Bean-Brown Theatre. Adm: $6
Reports are due the 1st class period after the final performance (see calendar for specific
due dates). Late reports will not be accepted.
Ticket office hours are generally 9 -5pm Monday through Friday.
You will receive a guideline sheet outlining the required formatting and content of the
report as well as an explanation of the grading criteria.
Specific Guidelines will be handed out in class.
Both of these assignments will allow the student to become familiar and explore your
own acting process
You will bring your journal to every class, it will include the following:
-Guided Journal entries
-Class Notes
-Exploration, experiences and observations made in and out class, rehearsal,
and performance as they relate to the study of acting
-Handouts, scripts and assignments
EACH CLASS PERIOD SHOULD HAVE A JOURNAL ENTRY. The personal process
paper will
be based on your journal.
Monologue (or excerpt) of a known American playwright that you are passionate
about, 30 seconds long.
Scene from a known American playwright that you are passionate about, 11/2 – 2 mins
long.
Various Exercises, Readings, and Presentation of Daily Work.
TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES.
If it rings in class, your participation grade will be reduced by 1/3 for the day.
3:05 – 4:20pm, Monday, December 17, 2007
Instructor Information
Instructor
E-mail and phone number
Student hours
Website
Division Chair’s
Michael Carr
mcarr@sheltonstate.edu Phone: 391-2258
MW 11:00am – 12:00pm, room 2727
TR 2:00pm – 3:00pm, room 2727
http://www.sheltonstate.edu/Faculty04.aspx?PageID=896
Angela Gibson-Wible agibson@sheltonstate.edu Office:391-2937
College Policy Information
Academic Misconduct
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to be honorable in all college assignments. Suspected cases of
academic misconduct are reported to the Dean of Instructional Services.
COLLEGE ATTENDANCE POLICY
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND ALL CLASSES for which they are registered.
Instructors are required to keep a record of attendance for each class meeting. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO KEEP A RECORD OF HIS/HER ABSENCES.
CLASSES AT THE COLLEGE ARE TO BE HELD AS ANNOUNCED IN THE CLASS
SCHEDULE. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND CLASS ON TIME AND ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN CLASS FOR THE DURATION OF THE PUBLISHED CLASS TIME.
Students attending for less than 30 minutes or half the scheduled time for the class, whichever is
greater, will be considered absent for that class meeting.
Instructors are not required to give additional time to students who are tardy for tests or quizzes.
Student absences are calculated from the first day of classes. For the purpose of financial aid,
attendance the first day of class is essential. When a student registers late, the classes that the
student missed
from the first scheduled class date are counted as absences.
Standard College Policies
The Standard College Policies apply to all classes at the college and are a part of every
official course syllabus; each student receives a copy when he or she completes the
vehicle registration/waiver procedure. It is also available from the College website,
www.sheltonstate.edu. It is the responsibility of the student to have a copy of these
policies and to abide by them. This class syllabus is intended to give further detail about
the policies and expectations in this class. College policies are also published in the
Schedule of Classes and the SSCC College Catalog/Student Handbook. Students are
expected to be aware of and abide by College policies in every class.
Grading:
Activities and Material covered by that Activity
PARTICIPATION: demonstrating understanding of material assigned for
any particular class period, contributing to discussions and other active
learning projects.
CASE STUDIES: 3 reports @ 50 pts each
PERSONAL INVENTORY
JOURNAL/WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
MONOLOGUE
SCENE
PERSONAL PROCESS PAPER
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following:
Percentage Grade
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59 and below
Letter grade
A
B
C
D
F
Percentage of Grade
Number of Points
30%
300
15%
10%
10%
10%
15%
10%
100%
150
100
100
100
150
100
1000
THR 131 01
Week
Day
Date
Course Outline Calendar – Fall 2007
MICHAEL CARR
MW 3:05 – 4:20pm
Material
M
W
20-Aug
22-Aug
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
27-Aug
29-Aug
3-Sep
5-Sep
10-Sep
12-Sep
17-Sep
W
19-Sep
M
W
M
W
M
W
24-Sep
26-Sep
1-Oct
3-Oct
8-Oct
10-Oct
9
M
W
15-Oct
17-Oct
10
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
22-Oct
24-Oct
29-Oct
31-Oct
5-Nov
7-Nov
12-Nov
14-Nov
19-Nov
21-Nov
26-Nov
28-Nov
3-Dec
5-Dec
Introduction/
PART I: PREPARATION FOR ACTING
Preparing to Act
What is Acting?
PART II: THE ACTOR’S APPROACH
Goal and Obstacle
Acting with the “Other”
Labor Day (No class)
Beginning to Act
Tactics
Expectations
GOTE
Smoke on the Mountain
Post show discussion
PART III: THE ACTOR’S TASKS
Preparing the Role
Rehearsing
Staging the Scene
Choices
Performing
Evaluation and Improvement
PART VI: THE ACTOR’S INSTRUMENT
Imagination and Creativity
Emotion – and Acting Theory
PART V: THE ACTOR’S TECHNIQUE
Phrasing
Attack
Follow - Through
Line Linkage
Scene Structure
Building a Scene
Veteran's Day (No class)
Creating a Monologue
Professional Development (No class)
Professional Development (No class)
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
M
W
10-Dec
12-Dec
TBA
Final exam 3:30 – 5:30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
11
12
13
14
15
16
Assignment
Lessons 1-2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Smoke on the Mountain
report DUE
Lesson 9
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Lesson 12
Lesson 13
Lesson 14
Lesson 20
Lesson 21
Lesson 22
Lesson 23
Lesson 24
Lesson 25
Lesson 26
Lesson 27
Lesson 28
A Lesson Before Dying
Report DUE
This course outline and the dates established therein are tentative, and the instructor reserves the right
to change them.