Task 3
Senior Drama
Unit: REALISM
NAME__________________________
DUE DATE______________________
RESPONDING ASSESSMENT - EXTENDED ESSAY
This term you will be seeing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the La Boite Theatre, Kelvin
Grove. Directed and adapted by Benjamin Schostakowski, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is
set in an Australian suburban 70s household and draws on a variety of conventions and forms of
Realism and Magical Realism. After viewing the performance, you are to write an analytical essay
which provides a critical analysis of a chosen theme and how the Dramatic Languages have been
manipulated to enhance this theme. Furthermore, you are to evaluate how effectively the
production created dramatic meaning for the audience.
In your assignment you will need to consider a combination of the following Dramatic
Languages:

Elements of Drama (Human context, Tension, Focus, Place, Time, Symbol, Movement,
Language, Mood)

Skills of Drama (Acting, Design, Voice and Movement, Direction)

Conventions of forms and styles (Comedy, Realism, Magical Realism)
A suggested outline of your essay could include . . .
1)
A BRIEF Explanation and Analysis of the chosen theme
2)
An Analysis of how the use of the Elements of Drama have enhanced this theme
3)
An Analysis of how the Skills of Drama have also enhanced this theme
4)
An Analysis of how the use of the Conventions of Forms and Styles have also enhanced this
theme
5)
A Synthesis of this information to demonstrate how these combined have achieved Dramatic
Meaning for the audience
Be careful not to simply re-tell the story but rather give insights into the way meaning is
derived with detailed reference to the aesthetics found within the Dramatic Languages.
Themes:
Love’s difficulties
Magic and the Supernatural
Dreams
Appearance and Reality
Order and Disorder
Transformation
You may select your own theme with input from your teacher
Style:
Analytical Essay – with correct use of the feature of this writing style.
Conditions:
Submitted work through Turn it In Software
Individual work
Length: 800-1000 words
3 weeks preparation
Draft Permitted (to be handed in with final copy)
Criteria:
See Overleaf
St Michael’s College
SENIOR DRAMA
Unit : REALISM
NAME: ___________________________________
Standard A
RESPONDING TASK
Standard B
Standard C
Standard D
The student’s work
shows the following
characteristics . .
The student’s work
shows the following
characteristics . . .
The student’s work
shows the following
characteristics . . .
The student’s work
shows the following
characteristics . . .
The student’s work
shows the following
characteristics . . .
discriminating
analysis of use of
the dramatic
languages to
facilitate dramatic
action and meaning
informed analysis
of use of the
dramatic languages
to facilitate
dramatic action
and meaning
analysis of use of
the dramatic
languages to
facilitate dramatic
action and
meaning
partial analysis of
use of the dramatic
languages in
dramatic action and
meaning
explanation of
aspects of the
dramatic languages
used in dramatic
action
perceptive and
thorough evaluation
with discriminating
supporting evidence
of effectiveness of
the dramatic action
in communicating
meaning to
audiences
informed
evaluation with
convincing
supporting
evidence of
effectiveness of the
dramatic action in
communicating
meaning to
audiences
evaluation with
supporting
evidence of
effectiveness of
the dramatic
action in
communicating
meaning to
audiences
partial evaluation
with evidence of
how dramatic action
communicates
aspects of meaning
to audiences
explanation of
aspects of the
dramatic action
communication of
positions about
aspects of
dramatic action
and meaning
through use of
basic language
conventions and
drama
terminology.
communication of
opinions using
basic language
conventions.
discerning
synthesis of
positions about
dramatic action
and meaning
through use of
relevant language
conventions and
drama
terminology.
effective synthesis
of positions about
dramatic action
and meaning
through use of
relevant language
conventions and
drama
terminology.
synthesis of
positions about
dramatic action and
meaning through
use of language
conventions and
drama terminology.
Standard E
Feedback:_________________________________________________________________
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OVERALL GRADE
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