THEA 3800-PLAYWRITING
Course Syllabus - FALL 2010

Phillip DePoy office: G130 phone: 678 466 4715

phillipdepoy@clayton.edu

Class hours:9:50-11:05AM

Office Hours: Tuesday/Thrusday 11:30AM-Noon and 2-3PM; Wednesday 10:30-noon; 1pm-2:30.

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact 
the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Course Number and Title: 88363, Playwriting, THEA 3800

Credit Hours: 3.0 semester credit hours (3-0-3)

Catalog Description: 

Course Prerequisites and Co-requisites: THEA 1100 with a minimum US grade of D

TH        THEATRE LEARNING OUTCOMES SATISFIED BY THIS COURSE:

1.               Assess and employ theatrical concepts in decision-making and critical aesthetic judgments.

2.               Recognize and demonstrate practical skills required in professional theatre settings.             

CoComputer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Computer Skill Prerequisites:

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student notebook computers will be used every day in this course. Students are required to bring a computer to every class. Computers will be required to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor. 

Evaluation: 

Evaluation will be based on weekly examination of student’s progress in the writing exercises (25% of total grade), a midterm exam (25% of total grade), the completion and presentation of final writing project appropriate to the concepts and structures presented in class exercises. (

Grading:

Mid-term Progress Report: 

The mid-term grade in this course, reflects approximately 30% of the entire course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, or withdraw on-line using the Swan by mid-term.  Instructions for withdrawing are provided at this link.

General Policy
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.any

University Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Additional Policies:

Students are absolutely required to be in class on time every class date. Each student is expected to take notes and be attentive in class. ALL CELL PHONES, PAGERS, BEEPERS, TIMERS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES OF ANY SORT MUST BE TURNED OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS. If a student’s cell phone rings in class, the student may be asked to leave class and be counted as absent. Tardiness of more than 15 minutes will be considered an absence. Five tartdies will equal one absence. Only an illness verified in writing will be considered an excused absence. Exams will not be made up without an excused absence and must be made up the first day the student returns to class from the period of absence. The student is allowed 2 unexcused absences. More than 2 unexcused absences will drop the student’s grade by one letter; every subsequent absence drops the grade another letter. And absence will only be excused if it is verified by a doctor's note or a legal document. Classroom behavior can also have an effect on the student’s grade. Additional policies discussed in class.

Academic Dishonesty
Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism.  All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs.   Judicial procedures are described at

http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/.
 

Disruption of the Learning Environment:

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated.  While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at:   

http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm

Notebook Computer Requirement: Each CCSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CCSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Student Learning Objectives:

1. To learn the basic Aristotelian rules of playwriting

2. To apply the basic rules to writing scenes (with specific emphasis on plot, character, and dialogue)

3. To develop the ability to solve problems applying the concept of theatre (specifically plays) to life situations

The use of simple calculators is allowed for all quizzes and examinations. All examinations are closed book. No student-produced "memory sheets" or note cards are allowed.

No smoking, eating or drinking is permitted at any time in the classroom.

TEXT: THE PLAYWRIGHT'S GUIDEBOOK by Stuart Spencer 

ISBN0-571-19991-7; Publisher: FABER AND FABER.

Also Aristotle's Poetics online: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/poetics.html

Aristotle's Poetics will be discussed often in class. The student should be familiar with the basics of the text on a daily basis.

Weekly Semester Outline (each week will writing assignments):

1.Introduction to the class; discussion of Aristotle's Poetics (see above)

2. Part One of text: Structure

3. Part One continued: Conflict

4. Part One continued: Stakes

5. Part One continued: Scenes

6. Part One conclusion: Acts

7. Midterm review and Exam

8. Part Two: The Creative Process

9. Part Two: The Arc of the Play

10. Unifying all the elements

11. Part Three: Rewriting

12. Part Three: Continued Rewriting

13. Conclusions and Review

14. Presentation of final projects (as final exam)