Download Theatre EE 4 markscheme

Exemplar Extended Essay
SUBJECT: … ………Theatre Arts………………………………………………. ......... SESSION : May 2006
General assessment criteria
Refer to the general criteria
A research question
B approach
ACHIEVEMENT
LEVEL
2
2
3
C analysis/interpretation
3
D argument/evaluation
E conclusion
2
2
F abstract
2
G formal presentation
2
H holistic judgement
TOTAL OUT OF 24
18
Comments
The research question falls on the margin of the accepted scope. It reads as slightly too technical
but still allows for a coherent in-depth analysis if an appropriate approach is adopted.
The approach used is generally appropriate, but it can be too technical rather than analytical at
times.
The student launches unnecessarily into an historical depiction of the Middle Ages, and s/he does
not apply his/her research to a play as an example (though Everyman is briefly mentioned). The
extended essay would benefit greatly if a play was chosen as an example, and analysed in the
light of the research question, as it would bring forward not only problems that contemporary
costume designers face, but also certain issues that would bring the discussion back to a text (e.g.
characterisation in medieval drama).
After a good introduction in which the student clearly identifies the topic, the scope of the
investigation and time frame, the essay digresses into often irrelevant approaches that are either
too historical (regurgitation of sources) or too technical. Still, the student manages to develop a
coherent argument and s/he endeavours to substantiate this argument in an appropriate manner.
Very good, relevant and consistent with the argument/explanation presented in the essay.
The essay contains a good abstract that states the research question, the scope of investigation
and the expected research outcomes. It becomes slightly vague towards the end, but it still falls
within the level 2.
Formal presentation is good with a nice contents page. However, no proper bibliography is
included with this essay. The student does not always cite sources used. The essay meets the
required length.
There is a sense that if the student chose a more analytical approach s/he would have had more
scope to demonstrate his/her in-depth understanding and insight into the topic. As it is, one
cannot but commend the student's personal engagement, though one might wish that the student
chose a different approach to exploring the topic.
Subject assessment criteria
Refer to the subject guidelines
ACHIEVEMENT
LEVEL
3
Criterion J
Criterion K
2
3
Criterion L
Criterion M
TOTAL OUT OF 12
8
Comments
It is when it comes to subject assessment criteria that the student's satisfactory knowledge of the
theatrical aspects of the topic must be acknowledged, even though a different approach based on
an in-depth analysis of a playtext and its potential for production is suggested for any future work
of this kind
The student has given adequate consideration to the effect of the research findings on the practice
of the theatre form investigated. This area would have been much better served if a particular
example of a play were discussed in more detail.
The argument is generally placed in its historical/social/cultural context, and some of the
relevant links have evidently been explored (though no adequate bibliography is cited, it is
evident from the student's approach that s/he has conducted extensive research into the chosen
subject area).