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Course Outline
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North Seattle Community College
Arts, Humanities & Adult Basic Education
Course Outline
Effective Date: Spring 2005
Division: Humanities
Course Number: DRA 284
Program/Dept: DRAMA
Credits: 5
Variable:
Course Title: Playwriting
Inst. Intent: 11 Academic Transfer
Fee: No
CIP:
50.0501
Type:
Type:
Degree/Certificate Requirement:
Amount:
Amount:
No
Name of Degree/Certificate Requirement:
Distribution Requirement for AA/AS: VLPA
Transfer Status to 4-year institution: YES
If yes, please describe: DRA XXX
Class Size: 20
Course length: 11 weeks
Course Contact Hours:
Lecture: 55
Lab:
Clinical:
Other:
-
Prerequisite: YES
If yes, please describe: Required Placement Tests: YES
If yes, please describe: Eng 101 placement or instructor permission
Comments:
Course Description:
Playwriting 284 focuses on the development of writing skills for the one-act play.
Playwriting explores not only the dramatic structure of plays, character development
and the development of an author’s stylistic voice, but also understanding the roles
of the director, dramaturg, actor and other creative theatrical artists in the writing
process. Students will conduct a critical analysis of published plays as well as
participate in readings and critiques of student work.
Course Outline
Page 2
Course Outcomes/Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion, students will be able to…
1. analyze published plays and their dramatic structure.
2. write one-act plays.
3. critically analyze the playwriting process.
4. understand how to get a play into production.
NSCC General Education Outcomes and/or Related Instructional Outcomes
(for technical courses) Met by Course: (list each outcome):
1. To think critically in reading and writing (To improve theatrical writing skills; to
become familiar with a variety of playwrights and theatrical genres.)
2. To communicate creative and critical ideas in writing
3. To understand artistic expression as an essential human phenomenon. (To
develop an individual style and voice in their writing)
4. Work and communicate effectively in groups.
Topical Outline and/or Major Divisions:
1. Playwriting Basics
a,listening, criticism and responding to feedback
b. character development
c. play structure and action as theatre
d: play production / working with theatrical artists
2. Audience: play readings and feedback
3. Style/Voice: theatrical genres
4. Style/Voice: personal resources
Course Requirements (Expectations of Students)
Students will be expected to,
1. read assignments in the selected texts
2. write scenes, share them with writing groups, and revise their scenes
3. write 1 or 2 one-act plays and present selected works in a public reading
Students will also be expected to demonstrate the ability to perform specific
competencies listed under ‘Course Outcomes/Learning Objectives.’
Methods of Assessment/Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on participation in class discussion and writing groups
and final presentations.
Final grades are assigned according to published grading standards for the
course
Course Outline
Page 3
Required Text(s) and/or Materials:
To be selected by instructor (a text such as Backwards and Forwards by David Ball)
Supplemental Text(s) and/or Materials:
To be determined by instructor, but could include texts such as The Art and Craft of
Playwriting by Jeffrey Hatcher and/or The Idea of Theatre by Francis Fergusson
Outline Developed by:
Revised by:
David Tucker
Diane Hostetler
Date: 10/12/04
Date: