Sample Lesson Plan — Scoring a Monologue
Essential Questions:
 What inspires artists’ creativity?
 How can actors use their understanding of a character to make specific performance
choices?
Enduring Understandings:
 Artists draw inspiration from the world around them, just as August Wilson did when he
used his own community as inspiration for the Century Cycle.
 Scoring a monologue allows an actor to better understand the character’s emotions and
thought process, thus guiding physical and vocal choices and aiding memorization.
Materials: Sample monologue for scoring demo on Smart Board or written out on poster
paper; handout with acting terms, sample monologue, and acting verb list; Character Biography
handout for homework
Check-In Question
August Wilson grew up in the Hill District, a historically African-American neighborhood in
Pittsburgh, PA. He was inspired to write his plays about the challenges faced by members of his
community and chose to set 9 out of 10 plays in the Century Cycle in the Hill District. What in
your community inspires your curiosity or sparks your imagination?
Daily Warm-Ups
Physical
 8 Shakes
 Full body stretches
 I love it/I hate it
Vocal
 Big Face/Little Face
 Blow out lips
 Articulators
 Tongue Twisters
Mental
 Games: Woosh or other ensemble game
Scoring a Monologue: Objectives, Beats, and Tactics
Scoring the text is a foundational step of an actor’s work. It creates a roadmap for acting choices
and breaks the monologue down into manageable chunks for memorization. We will practice
scoring a monologue together and then students will each score their own August Wilson
monologues.
 Review definitions on Acting Terms handout — objective, obstacle, beat, tactic, and
stakes.
 Student volunteer reads sample monologue out loud. No need for emotion or inflection.
Just read it to get a sense of what it’s about.
 Define: Who is the fictional character, “Danny,” talking to? What is the relationship
between the two characters?
 What is Danny’s objective? What obstacles are standing in his way?
 Dividing the monologue into beats will help with both acting and memorization by
dividing it into smaller and more accessible, performable segments.
o Divide the sample monologue into beats as a class.
o Assign a verb (tactic) to each beat.
 Student reads the monologue again, taking beat changes and tactics into account.
 Return to concept of stakes — what is the best thing that could happen if Danny succeeds
in achieving his objective and the worst thing that could happen if he fails?
 Reread the monologue, now with stakes in mind, and discuss how the performance
changed (pacing, tone, etc.).
 Give students approximately 10 minutes to begin applying this process to their own
monologues.
 Student volunteers share the changes that scoring their monologues made in this stage of
performance — read a few beats with no specific emotion or inflection, then read the
same beats with tactics taken into account.
Assign Homework
Before next week’s class, students should:
 Finish scoring their August Wilson monologues.
 Complete the Character Biography questionnaire, which will be turned in to the teaching
artist for feedback. Some questions will be answered with information from the play the
monologue comes from. Other biographical details must be created by the students.
Acting Terms
Objective: The character’s goal/what the character wants.
Discuss in first-person terms. Use “I want…” phrasing when
discussing your character’s objective.
Obstacle: What is preventing the character from achieving his
or her objective. What’s in the way.
Beat: A unit of thought or subject matter in a monologue or
scene.
Tactic: What the character is doing to get what he or she wants.
A strategy. Always an action word (see next page for a list of
acting verbs). The character uses a different tactic in each beat.
Stakes: The level of risk. Discuss in terms of what is the best
thing that could happen if the character successfully achieves his
or her objective and what is the worst thing that could happen if
the character fails. High stakes = high risk = great drama and
clear motivation. If the stakes are low (if he or she does not stand
to gain or lose much), then why would the character even bother?
DANNY:
Jill, I’m not a bad guy. I don’t just like you because of
your money, I think you’re really pretty, too. I mean, and
you’re nice, and sweet, and I like you for you. I wouldn’t
care if you were poor. Hey, look at me when I’m talking
to you. I’m serious! Jill, please, I’m begging you! I’m
begging you on my knees. I love you!
Acting Verbs aka “Tactics”
Abolish
Beckon
Conceal
Abuse
Beg
Condemn
Accept
Beguile
Condescend
Acquaint
Belittle
Confide
Acquit
Berate
Confirm
Address
Beseech
Confuse
Affirm
Bewitch
Consider
Afflict
Bid
Correct
Affront
Blame
Criticize
Aid
Bribe
Crucify
Ail
Cajole
Crush
Alarm
Catch
Curse
Alert
Caution
Damn
Allow
Censure
Dare
Amaze
Challenge
Deceive
Amuse
Charge
Defame
Anger
Charm
Defy
Anticipate
Cheat
Delight
Approach
Chide
Deny
Astound
Clarify
Detect
Attack
Coax
Deter
Baby
Command
Devastate
Baffle
Commend
Direct
Discourage
Hassle
Nag
Disgrace
Help
Negotiate
Disgust
Hoodwink
Obliterate
Displease
Humble
Offend
Distress
Humiliate
Oppose
Divert
Humor
Panic
Dominate
Hurt
Perplex
Ease
Hypnotize
Persecute
Educate
Imitate
Placate
Elevate
Implicate
Plan
Enchant
Indict
Please
Endear
Indulge
Pledge
Enlighten
Insinuate
Pontificate
Entertain
Inspire
Pray
Entice
Insult
Press
Entreat
Judge
Prod
Evade
Lecture
Promise
Excuse
Liberate
Promote
Exploit
Lure
Propel
Force
Manipulate
Propose
Free
Mislead
Prosecute
Frustrate
Mortify
Provoke
Gladden
Motivate
Quench
Goad
Mystify
Ravage
Rave
Settle
Thwart
Rebuke
Shame
Tickle
Rectify
Slur
Torment
Reiterate
Spoil
Torture
Reject
Startle
Trick
Rejoin
Strike
Trouble
Release
Study
Tyrannize
Relegate
Stymie
Unburden
Remedy
Substantiate
Understand
Renege
Suffer
Uproot
Repel
Suggest
Urge
Reprehend
Summon
Vacillate
Repress
Supplicate
Validate
Reprimand
Support
Verify
Repulse
Suppress
Victimize
Resist
Surprise
Vindicate
Retract
Swindle
Warn
Revolt
Tantalize
Wheedle
Ridicule
Tarnish
Woo
Scheme
Tease
Worry
Scold
Tempt
Worship
Scrutinize
Terrify
Wrangle