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The review should be at least two pages in length. Three quarters of a
page is not a full page – you must write at least two complete
pages.
Italicize or underline the play title: Death of a Salesman or Death of a Salesman.
Remember that your first draft should not be what you turn in. Write the review, proofread it, look for ways to improve your communication, then turn in the improved version. Grammar, spelling errors, and unclear writing are part of the grade. NIC’s Writing Center can be an excellent resource for you if you have difficulty with writing.
Some common mistakes to look for:
· Use the correct form of “there” (location), “their” (possession), and “they’re” (they are).
· “It’s” stands for “it is.” Do not use “it’s” to indicate possession. The correct possessive for “it” is “its.”
· Avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments.
· Use complete sentences.
· Use quotation marks when you quote what a character says.
· Scenery refers to walls, furniture, staircases, bushes, or anything else that doesn’t move but is set on stage. Do not refer to scenery as props.
· Props are what the actors pick up and use in some way, such as pencils, books, dishes, newspapers, brooms, etc.
Use 12 point font, double-spaced
Indent each paragraph five spaces.
Don’t leave unused extra spaces between paragraphs.
Make sure that each paragraph communicates a complete thought or discussion – avoid paragraphs of only one or two sentences. Also, don’t combine two different discussions into one paragraph (i.e. discussing acting and scenery in the same paragraph).
Use 1” margins on all sides of the paper.
Write your name, the class name, my name, and the date in the upper left hand corner of the paper.
Attach your ticket stub to the review.
Use as much knowledge as you have gained throughout the semester when writing a review. This means that my expectations increase for the second and third reviews. Much of the grading depends on how specific, detailed and descriptive you are. There are no “wrong” responses to a play. Your task is to explain your responses clearly and articulately. Grading has more to do with you effectively backing up your ideas than the ideas themselves.
The review is due one week from the performance that you attended.
I. Introduction
A. Information about the play
1. The play title
2. Who is the playwright?
3. Where the play was performed
4. The date you saw the play
5. When will the run of the play end?
6. On what nights or afternoons will the play be presented?
7. What is the curtain time?
8. How much do tickets cost?
B. Summary
introduction
1. State the goal of the play (What is the desired audience response –
laughter, tears, thought? What is it hoped that we laugh, cry or think about?)
2. State whether the production achieved its goal.
3. Briefly state your impression of the play (was it a good experience?) in a
sentence or two.
4. Make a brief, general statement (one sentence) about why you have that
impression.
You will explain both of these statements in detail in the body of the review.
II. Body
A. Discuss the plot briefly, and how it relates to the goal of the production.
1. When and where does the play
take place?
2. Who are the main characters (protagonist and antagonist)?
3. What is the central conflict in the play?
4. What is the climax of the play?
B. Make a
statement about the effectiveness of a production element (scene design, acting,
costumes, lighting, etc.) in relation to the goal of the production.
1. State what you observed. Use 2 or 3 specific examples to explain your
statement about why the element was effective or ineffective. Be sure to
discuss what you observed in the performance.*
2. Make a concluding statement about how this affected the success or failure of
achieving the goal of the play.
C. Make a
statement about the effectiveness of a second production element (scene design,
acting, costumes, lighting, etc.) in relation to the goal of the production.
1. State what you observed. Use 2 or 3 specific examples to explain your
statement about why the element was effective or ineffective. Be sure to discuss
something that you observed in the performance.*
2. Make a concluding statement about how this affected the success or failure of
achieving the goal of the play.
D. Was the play worth doing? Why or why not?
III. Conclusion
A. Make a concluding statement about whether the play met its goals.
B. Make a concluding statement about the overall experience of the play and
whether you would recommend it or not.
*When discussing acting, for example, focus on the believability of the actors, describing their specific behaviors (facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc.).
Grading
|
Grammar, spelling Do you use complete sentences? Are your sentences constructed correctly? Are words spelled correctly? Are words used accurately? |
1 – 5 points |
|
Organization Do ideas develop logically? Are statements clear? Does a reader know what you’re trying to say? Do you introduce and conclude the review (see outline) |
1 – 20 points |
|
Support Do you support your ideas using specific examples from the production (not plot)? This is the evidence explaining your response. Is the evidence thoughtful and focused? |
1 – 15 points |
|
Depth of thought Does the writing show an honest attempt at understanding the production? Are you evaluating the production based on its intentions? |
1 – 10 points |
|
Total points possible |
50 |
Do not turn in first drafts. After five grammar/punctuation/spelling errors are found, the paper will be returned to you for rewriting.
Note: If you would like to rewrite your review to receive a higher grade, you may do so. The revised paper is due a week after your graded review was returned to you. Please let me know that you will be revising your review before submitting the revised paper.
If you have difficulty writing, you may find the Writing Center to be helpful. Their number is 769-3298. Their website is http://www.nic.edu/writingcenter/