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• Theatre at GHC

THEA 1100, Theatre Appreciation

3 Credit Hours, CRN #20809,   Marietta Campus

Spring Semester 2011

Monday/Wednesday 12:30 p.m.–1:45 p.m.

Instructor:   

Dr. Richard D. Stafford             Email: rstaffor@highlands.edu                        

Office: 135 Douglasville           Phone: 706.499.3914  

Office Hours:    Marietta:          Mon./Wed. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. 

                        Douglasville:    Tu/Tr   9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

I encourage you to meet with me if you have questions, concerns, or seek additional information in order to make your studies in Communication 1100 most successful. I am available during my office hours or by appointment to discuss any needs you may have.  Please communicate with me via our GHC email accounts (see above).          

Course Overview and Objectives:

Theatre Appreciation is a survey and critical review course, which examines the history of theatre through studying the major periods of drama, analyzing play scripts by focusing on style, structure and productions qualities.  The course covers play production, including the opportunity to be a part of a spring performance, and teaches production elements of play selection, budget, auditions, rehearsal, staging and evaluation.  Students will have the opportunity to engage in acting scenes, directing small ensembles, and theatre games and exercises.

Theatre Appreciation supports the mission of IC @ Georgia Highlands College.  The mission of this Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is to create a curriculum-wide culture of Information Competency (IC) among students, which will be demonstratedthrough writing or other modes of communication.

Objectives:

1. Students will understand the various periods of theatre (Non-Western, Greek, the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, Restoration and Romanticism, Realism and Modern Theatre, and Musical Theatre).
2. Students will read a variety of theatre scenes and explore playwriting, while demonstrating an understanding of the basic elements of critical review of drama.
3. Students will be provided an opportunity to participate in a one-act play produced during the semester, and/or an alternate activity as a volunteer in a local theatre.
4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of all elements of play production, including play selection, creating a budget, auditions, set/lighting and sound design, rehearsal, performance and post production evaluation.
5. Students will engage in theatre games and exercises that will be useful in a variety of other academic settings, as well, community and social organizations.  These topics will include creativity, teamwork, conflict resolution, non-verbal communication, and community service.  

Textbook:   

Downs, William, Lou Anne Wright, Erik Ramsey. The Art of Theatre, 2^nd ed.  Boston:  Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2007.

Class Attendance: 

Learning occurs not only from writing speech outlines and reading the required texts, but also through engaging in

thoughtful discussions and classroom interactions with your peers.  Being absent from class inhibits your ability to do this. 

Therefore, class attendance is essential to your success in this course.

Based on Humanities Division Policy, a student who misses five classes may not return to the class without appealing to the division chair. This appeal must be made within 3-5 days of the fifth absence. Otherwise, the student may not return to the class and no appeal will be allowed.                                                                         

An excused absence is one in which the student presents a documented excuse – i.e. doctor’s statement, court appearance letter, police report of a traffic accident, funeral program, letter explaining school activities, etc.  Students with excused absences will be allowed to make up missed speeches and exams; however, in-class activities and quizzes can only be completed during the class period such work is given.  It is the student’s responsibility to speak with the instructor concerning missed assignments.

If there is inclement weather, the college posts necessary announcements on the highlands.edu web site.  Cancellation notices for Floyd or Cartersville locations will be reported to radio stations and WXIA-TV in Atlanta.  However, please be advised that station regulations may not allow for clarity in location-specific announcements such as “Georgia Highlands, Cartersville only.”  Generally speaking, stations simply broadcast something like “Georgia Highlands is closed.”  Classes in Marietta will be cancelled when Southern Polytechnic State University closes.

Extended Absence Policy:                                                                                                                          Students, who have circumstances that prevent them from continuing to attend classes over an extended period of time, sometimes request that the faculty member permit them to submit work in absentia to receive credit to complete the course. If the concurrent absences will constitute more than 15% of the class sessions for the term, then written permission from the Division Chair is required before any course assignments can be completed while missing class.  The student must be in good academic standing in the course to make the request.  All approved coursework must be completed by the end of the semester in which the course was begun.  (Note: If a program has a more stringent absence policy than this, then the program policy prevails.)

Classroom Policies:

• In the case of an unforeseen instructor absence, students will be notified via GHC email and/or WebCt messages when possible.  If this method is not feasible (i.e. traffic emergency, etc.), a memo will be posted on the classroom door by a GHC representative.
• No food or beverage, with the exception of bottled water, is allowed in the classroom.
• All electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, etc.) must be on silent mode during class.
• Weapons and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on school property and thus may not be used as visual aids for presentations.
• Class discussions should facilitate an open exchange of ideas.   Common courtesy should be extended to your fellow students, even if their opinions differ from yours.
• Gum, hats or caps are not allowed during student presentations.   Appropriate clothing is required.
• Late assignments will not be accepted, except in the case of an excused absence.
• Plagiarism is illegal and not acceptable in academic settings. Do not use direct quotations without providing citations (verbal and/or written) for each usage. If you are uncertain, ask.  Plagiarism will result in failure of the course.

College Policies:

In addition to the classroom policies listed above, you should be familiar with GHC policies.  Policies on student conduct and academic integrity are located in the GHC “Student Guide and Planner” and in the Student Handbook at www.highlands.edu/campuslife/handbook

FERPA Policy:

Learn about your rights concerning educational privacy by viewing this link:

http://www.highlands.edu/site/student-rights

Phone: 706-295-6336

Students with Disabilities: 

If you feel that you need accommodation(s) due to a documented or undocumented  disability, please feel free to discuss this with me during the FIRST week of this course.  Georgia Highlands College has resources available for students with certain disabilities. Accommodations (such as providing materials in alternative formats, assuring physical access to classrooms or being sensitive to interaction difficulties that may be posed by communication and/or learning disabilities) may be made through Student Support Services on all campuses. For more information please contact 706-295-6336.

Students Receiving Financial Aid:

Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly.  Please be advised that any students receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing course requirements for each class.  Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation.  If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form.

Grading:

Performance Work (400 points)                                                         Point Values

Acting Scene                                                                                              100 points

Classroom Activities                                                                                 100 points                                            Theatre Production                                                                                    200 points                                                                                                                              

Written Work (600 points)

Quizzes (4) 50 points each                                                                        200 points

Mid-term                                                                                                   100 points

Final Exam                                                                                                100 points

Play critiques (4) 50 points each                                                              200 points

TOTAL POINTS                                                                                          1000

Grading Breakdown:

A = 900-1000                                      C = 700-799                            F = Below 599

B = 800-899                                        D = 600-699

Explanations:

Class Activities (10%): This includes class attendance and class activities.  If you are not in class, you will not be allowed to make up these activities.  These activities and exercises will be individual or group, and should be an engaging and easy way for you to earn points.

Theatre games, theatre exercises, acting scenes, Theatre/film critiques, play production activities.

Quizzes (10%): Quizzes will be given on the reading material from the The Art of Theatre text.  Pay special attention to bold terms and key concepts, as these will be the focus of the quizzes.  Quizzes will be spontaneous – therefore it is imperative that you read the material before attending class.

Schedule: The instructor reserves the right to alter the dates, material covered, or format of any exam after notifying the student in advance.