AP Literature and Composition
Play Review Guide: Collaborative Assignment
Purpose: to work collaboratively to create a research-based* play review guide for yourself and your peers.
Tasks:
1.
Read through and annotate this assignment sheet, ask questions as needed
2.
Form into (4) small groups
3.
Draw a play title
4.
Equally divide/assign duties for compiling play review guide to group members and set deadlines (each group member should have a research portion, may “double up” on more involved/difficult entries, and be responsible for similar number of points)
5.
Review common formatting (e.g. Microsoft word doc, Times New Roman, 12 point font, single spaced, bold labeling for sections) and discuss compiling information
6.
Exchange emails, phone numbers, etc., as needed
7.
Research and write individual assignments
8.
Reconvene: vet group members’ research sources and examine information
9.
Continue with any research and writing
10.
Reconvene: format final play review guide and works cited. Remember to do the following:
 Follow MLA formatting (use proper headings, titles, fonts, margins, etc.)
 Set up the order (with correct numbering and bolded labels) as instructed below
 Proofread and Edit
Outcome:
 Copy (18?) play review guides and distribute to classmates
 Turn in 1 play review guide, WITH work distribution labeled in parentheses after each entry (e.g. Tommy
Terror), to instructor
 Turn in 1 works cited page (stapled to end of review guide) to instructor
Play Review Guide: Content
Please follow the following order and format ( - # designates point value for that entry)
1.
Title of Work (significance of title stated below, when appropriate) - 2
2.
Playwright - 1
3.
Publication Date & 1 st Performance Date (bulleted)- 2
4.
Significant Author Facts* (Research and read 2-3 biographical summaries about your author, then write your own 5-8 sentence summary) - 5
5.
Characteristic of Genre/Literary Period* (Research and read 2-3 sources to help you define the characteristics of the genre and/or literary movement/period of the play. In 6-8 sentences, identify the genre and/or literary movement, define its characteristics and evolution, and explain how the play represents this genre and period.) - 5
6.
Historical Context* (Research and read 2-3 sources about the time period of publication to help us better understand what was going on in the history when this play was written. Summarize this information about the time period in a 5-8 sentence paragraph) - 5
7.
Brief Plot Summary (Write a literal level, 5-8 sentence summary; think plot chart: exposition, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, resolution) - 5
8.
Author’s Style* (Since these are plays, we will examine the elements and concepts of tragedy for this.
Review Aristotle’s, A.C. Bradley’s, and Arthur Miller’s various definitions and analysis of tragedy and the tragic hero. Explain how this play represents elements of tragedy and the tragic hero over time and/or compare/contrast it to various definitions. Draw your conclusion in an 8-10 sentence paragraph, using PIE)
- 5
9.
Characters (List 5-8 characters, and briefly bullet ideas such as: role/relationship, purpose/effect, flat/round, static/dynamic, complex, dominate voice/perspective, etc.) - 5
10.
Setting (time & place of play) - 2

11.
Opening Scene (In opening dialogue, what is the setting? What is discovered, learned, established? What is the tone? What is revealed about conflict? Explain this in 3-4 sentences) - 4
12.
Closing Scene (What is the setting? Who are the characters present? What are the conclusions/resolutions and/or ironies presented? Explain this in 3-4 sentences) - 3
13.
Symbols/Motifs (Select and list 3 concrete references and, after each, briefly explain the symbolic meaning/function in the play) - 6
14.
Memorable Quotation 1 (with act & scene) with explanation of circumstances & significance - 4
15.
Memorable Quotation 2 (with act & scene) with explanation of circumstances & significance - 4
16.
Memorable Quotation 3 (with act & scene) with explanation of circumstances & significance - 4
17.
Memorable Quotation 4 (with act & scene) with explanation of circumstances & significance - 4
18.
Old AP Exam Dates (Research and list the years the play has appeared as a suggestion for the Free
Response Question. Follow this with 2 of the actual prompts you’ve selected as being the most “relatable” to the play)* - 5
19.
Theme 1 (write a universal statement of theme for the meaning of the work as whole) - 3
20.
Theme 2 (write a universal statement of theme for the meaning of the work as whole) - 3
21.
Theme 3 (write a universal statement of theme for the meaning of the work as whole) - 3
Grading
This is a biggie! 5 different grades equaling a 175-point total
Play Review Guide
• Reading for All Purposes = 40 points (of 80)
• Research and Reasoning = 40 points (of 80)
• Writing and Composition (formatting, presentation of ideas) = 20 points
Works Cited Page
• Research and Reasoning (sources) = 25 points
• Writing and Composition (formatting) = 25 points
Peer Review
• Oral Communication and Listening = 25 points

AP Literature and Composition
Play Review Guide: Collaborative Assignment
*Research and Reasoning
Gather information from reputable sources!
 You may not use sites like Schmoop, SparkNotes, CliffNotes, Wikipedia, etc.
 You are encouraged to use literary anthologies (see Palmer’s textbook room!), EBSCO Databases, handouts you’ve been given, and .edu, .org, or .gov websites* including sites like the following:
Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com
Literature Anthologies On-line, such as The Norton Anthology
Period Overviews and Timelines http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nawest/welcome.htm
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/pmafim/timeline.htm
EbscoHost – Palmer Web site http://palmer.d11.org/pages/librarymedia.aspx
EBSCO host Web – Academic Search Premier, MAS Ultra – School edition, Topicsearch
The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/rr/main/alcove9/literature/criticism.html
Literary Criticism Collection: Many author biographies are listed in this IPL collection. You can browse by your author's last name. http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/
BBC – Bitesize – Education literature http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zckw2hv
PAL: Perspectives in American Literature - A Research and Reference Guide© Paul P. Reuben Ph.D.Professor http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/alpha.HTML
History.com - author and time period information - You’ll need to dig around and use “search.” http://www.history.com/
American Masters – The American Novel – PBS http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americannovel/timeline/
Gale Group - Pikes Peak Public Library. There are also hundreds of other books which have similar collections of author biographies. Ask your librarian to help you find one that includes your author. http://gdc.gale.com/gale-literature-collections/literature-criticism-online/
Contemporary Authors - Dictionary of Literary Biography -. Discovering Authors
Biographies =- http://www.biography.com/#!/
Outline of Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy in the POETICS https://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html
The AP English Literature and Composition Exam: Free-Response Questions http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2002.html
Ms. Effie’s Titles from Open Response Questions* http://mseffie.com/AP/APtitles.html
Ms. Effie’s list of AP Literature Open-ended Prompts (1970-2015) http://mseffie.com/AP/Open_Questions.pdf
*Use key words to search. For example, use the title of your play followed by words like analysis, criticism,
theme, motifs, symbolism. Or use the author’s name followed by words like biography, criticism, reviews. Use phrases like literary periods, literary movements, literary periods and their characteristics. Look for .edu and .org sites; click on “About Us” to find out who/what they are; use school databases. Be careful that you are not using sources that another student created and posted on his/her teacher’s edu sites!

MLA: Work Cited Page
 Create a Works Cited page for a minimum of 5 (up to 10) reputable sources that your group used
 These are the sources that you actually used to gain information about your play, author, etc.; information that you are going to include in your review guide!
 Use the links below* to create a correctly formatted MLA Works Cited page.
 You may also use NoodelTools or EasyBib or other programs to help you format your Works Cited.
 Print off the correctly formatted MLA Works Cited page that you create and turn it in with your play review guide.
*MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
Additional links are to the left: Periodicals http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/07/
Electronic Sources (Web) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
Other Common Sources: Interviews, Broadcasts, etc. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/09/
Here is an example: