THE 351A
ACTING II
Syllabus—Spring, 2016
AVEN 112
NOON- 1:15
Course: THE 351A Acting II
Instructor: Sandra E. Grayson
Office: Aven 102B, 925-3454
Email: grayson@mc.edu
Office Hours:
Tuesday: 10:50 – 12:00
Thursday: 10:50-12:00
Wednesday: 10:00 – 4:00
Required Material:
1. Acting One/Acting Two, 5 th Ed., by Robert Cohen. McGraw-Hill, 2008. ISBN 978-0-07-328854-3.
2. A notebook with pockets
3. A beach towel or exercise mat
4. Pencils for marking scripts: NO PENS ALLOWED.
5. $10 and 2 free nights during the run of our main stage play and one-acts this semester.
6. Additional readings as required for essays, projects, or other assignments. For your play analyses, you will use play scripts in print from the library or within reach; DOWNLOADING off the internet is not recommended. Any use of outside resources for writing play analyses or other written assignments is
PLAGIARISM. For other ACTING projects or assignments, you may use internet resources, including our new Theatre Database under the library’s website.
Catalog Description:
This course is a continuation of Acting I in which the student applies acting techniques acquired in THE
350, Acting I (a basic introduction to play analysis, character analysis and interpretation, movement, and performance). (3 credit hours)
Prerequisite:
For non-communication majors, there is currently no prerequisite. For theatre concentrations and theatre minors, THE 350 (Acting I) is a prerequisite for this class.
Rationale:
This course is an extension of Acting I. That course explores performance and theatre primarily as an art form but also as a means of communication experienced on a daily basis. That course will provide you with the basic knowledge of theatrical conventions and actual experience that is necessary to participate in the enjoyment of the art form.
This course applies the basic skills learned in Acting I to several specific areas, tailored to the individual talents of the class members. Specific units may include improvisation, Shakespearean acting, children’s theatre, reader’s theatre, radio/television commercials, or musical theatre.

Course Objectives: The primary objectives of this course are:
1: To review methods of relaxation, diction, breath control, and projection, in order to improve your vocal and your physical performance.
Strategies: daily class exercises, quizzes, oral presentations
2: To analyze characters by studying scenes and complete plays.
Strategies: oral and written analyses of plays and films by scene and as a whole.
3: To learn how to evaluate acting performances by famous actors, by yourself and by your classmates.
You will learn how to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a performer.
Strategies: oral / written critiques of live and film performances
4: To demonstrate ease of performance with modern and selected period styles, alone and with a partner, gaining practical experience in basic acting techniques.
Strategy: presentation of monologues and scenes in class and in performance
5: To identify major periods of acting styles
Strategy: readings, discussions, course exam, attending MC’s major productions and other productions
6: To gain a working vocabulary of the conventions of theatre.
Strategy: course exam, use of terminology in class, attending productions
7: To broaden your knowledge of theatre history.
Strategy: readings, films, class discussion
Instructional Procedures/Techniques:
Lecture
Class discussion
Acting exercises
Writing exercises and minimal research
In-class rehearsals
Memorization
Oral/written critiques of performances and exercises
Topics to be covered, depending on the size and interests of the class:
Evaluating the performers’ strengths and weaknesses
Establishing goals
Basic theatre terminology
Basic stage movement
Improvisation
Monologue study
Scene study
Scene/character analysis
Scene rehearsal and performance
Critical evaluation of performances
Audition techniques
Shakespearean acting techniques
Musical theatre acting techniques
Radio and Television commercial acting and vocal work
ASSIGNMENTS AND METHODS OF EVALUATION:
You must use proper grammar. You must type all written assignments or you may expect a lower grade. Each paper should have your name, class, and the name of the assignment in the upper

right-hand corner of the first page. Papers should be stapled together; no folders, please. For oral presentations, I will also give you specific written guidelines and sample evaluation sheets.
For all assignments, both written and performed, late work will be penalized 10 points for
EVERY DAY that it is late. Since this is primarily a performance class, the momentum of the entire class depends on your attendance. If you are ill, you must present documentation upon your return to be allowed to perform for a grade.
Evaluation: You will be evaluated on the following assignments:
10% Attendance at the Communication Department’s Spring One-Acts, THEN submitting a program with a valid signature from director and 1-page description of your favorite character/scene, due at the next class period.
10% Your attendance of Twelfth Night. Ticket prices are $5 for all students. You will need to turn in your program with the director’s signature on it along with your acting review. (Dr.
Seawright will sign your program after the show.)
10% Write an Acting Review of your role or of any major role in the Twelfth Night production, due the week after the show
50% Scene work: Monologues (about 5- 10)
Dialogues (about 3-6) [referred to as Scenes in the syllabus]
The first monologue and the first scene are worth 5% each. The others are worth 10% each. You will prepare a typed GOTE sheet for each performance (ref. Ch. 8), which you will turn in just before you step on stage to perform your monologue or scene. (GOTE =
10% of score)
10% Daily work and professional conduct:
(1) Preparing one exercise from a chapter for group work in class.
(These must be done on the day we cover your assigned chapter. No makeup
allowed except with a doctor’s excuse or school-related absence.)
(2) Being prepared to rehearse monologues or scenes when called upon.
(3) Turning in a typed GOTE sheet for every performance.
(4) Writing an acting resume, to be discussed in class.
10% Final exam: One 3-minute filmed original infomercial, which you have written and in which you perform. Rubric TBA in class.
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 75-79 exceptional work above average work average work
D = 70-74 poor work
F = below 70 failing work
ATTENDANCE:
I want you to be in class; I want you to get everything you can, and to give everything you can.
This is a performance-based studio class. I follow the policies in the college catalog. Missing class penalizes you in many ways: late grades, zero daily grades, etc. Since this class meets twice a week, eight (8) absences will result in failure. I count three tardies as one absence. In addition, every absence after the 3 rd absence equals 2 points off your semester average. If you know in advance that you will

miss for a school or work activity, please let me know so we can reschedule your performances. And new this semester from the administration, “Tuition refund cannot be made on dropped classes after the first week of classes.”
Make-up Policy:
Students with unexcused absences cannot make up performances. Students with excused absences will be expected to make up performances the day they return to class.
Other Policies:
If you are a student athlete, please give me advance notice for preparing your grade and attendance reports. I discourage any student from taking an incomplete grade, especially in a performance arts course.
Student Counseling Services and Americans with Disabilities:
Besides providing a listening ear for anyone who needs it, the Student Counseling Services can provide disability accommodations per the following protocol:
In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, he or she must contact Student Counseling Services (SCS). SCS will assist with information regarding the appropriate policy and procedure for disability accommodations before each semester or upon immediate recognition of the disability. SCS is located in Alumni Hall Room #4 or you may contact them by phone at 601-925-7790. The Director of Student Counseling Services, Dr.
Bryant, may be reached via email at mbryant@mc.edu.
Academic Integrity:
I expect you to maintain a code of honor to yourself and to God. Why would you cheat yourself of a true theatrical and educational experience? Please follow the policies as outlined in the current
Mississippi College Undergraduate Catalog and University Policy 2.19, or I will be forced to penalize you far beyond what either one of us wishes.
DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to modify these policies and syllabus as the need arises.
Early Alert System
Mississippi College has adopted the practice of finding students early in the semester who may be exhibiting behaviors that could ultimately have a negative impact on their academic progress. These behaviors are often called “red flag” behaviors and include, but are not limited to, excessive absences, poor test grades, and lack of class participation or evidence of non-engagement. Identifying these behaviors early gives the instructor the opportunity to raise the “red flag” on behalf of a particular student so that the student can take the appropriate action to redirect his/her progress. The system alerts the student, the student’s advisor, and the Office of Student Success.
These messages are intended to help a student recognize an area of concern and to encourage him/her to make some choices to improve the situation. When a student receives an Early Alert message, the student should quickly make an appointment to talk with his/her professor about the situation. Also, students can make full use of the Office of Student Success to set academic goals and connect to campus resources.