Drama Syllabus
When an administrator visits class and asks you what you are learning, you will refer to the
standards and student friendly learning targets in the box below. :-)
CCGPS Standards
Reading Standards for Literature
1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from
the text.
2. Determine a theme or central idea of text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it
3. Analyze how complex characters (those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interace with
I can…
1. Identify various types of drama
2. tell the difference between a comedy and a tragedy
3. describe a Shakesperean drama.
4. describe how characters are developed in a drama
5. Identify themes in drama
6. discuss the structure of a drama.
7. define and give examples of each of the following: exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, dialogue, monologue,
soliloquy, aside, dramatic irony
8. explain how the structure and elements of drama enhance reading/understanding of the story, using appropriate dramatic
literary terms.
Teacher Expectations
I can…
9. complete ALL assignments, activities, essays and/or projects.
10. follow directions for ALL assignments, activities, essays and/or projects
11. put all work in order as it appears on the syllabus.
Task 1. Background Information
1. Get a Passing the Georgia End of Course Test 9th grade Literature and Composition workbook.
a. Read pgs. 76 - 79, then answer the following questions on your own paper.
1. INFERRING from the first paragraph on p. 76, who invented the drama?
2. Describe "tragedy"
3. What are 3 examples of modern-day tragedies given by the book?
4. Describe a "Shakespearean tragedy."
5. What are Shakespeare's major tragedies?
6. What four qualities make a play a Shakespearean tragedy?
7. Describe "comedy."
8. Why is comedy difficult to write and more difficult to perform?
9. Name one or two movies or tv shows that you find funny. Then tell what makes them
funny.
10. Define the following terms:
a. dialogue
b. monologue
c. soliloquy
d. aside
11. On a piece of copy paper or small construction paper, compare "tragedy" to "comedy" in
a VENN diagram or a chart of some kind. Make it NEAT and EASY TO READ!!
Task 2. Some definitions
2. In the same workbook, read Ch 2 - Literary Elements and Devices (pages 47 - 62). Then answer the following
questions:
1. Describe "theme".
2. How is theme different from the subject of a story?
3. What suggestions does the book give for finding the theme of a story?
4. What are four ways that characterization is developed? (NOTE: see chart on p. 53)
5. Define "diction."
6. Define the following terms:
a. narrator
b. protagonist
c. antagonist
7. What are four more things that influence character?
8. Describe each of the following points of view: first person, second person, third person
9. Distinguish between third person omniscient and third person limited point of view.
10. Name and define the four types of conflict.
11. How is plot essential to storytelling?
12. What are the 6 elements of plot (see diagram and chart on p. 58).
13. Click on the following link, then answer the questions about the structure of drama .
http://www.playwriting101.com/chapter03
1. Describe the three-act structure.
2. Is the three-act structure the most common dramatic structure?
3. Who is credited with the three-act structure?
4. Where do you think the rising action and falling action occur in a play?
Task 3. Read the Play
1. Choose a play from the list below.
Suggested plays:
1 The Miracle Worker- pg 635 in the gold literature book
2 Midsummer night’s Dream- No Fear Shakespeare book
3 Hamlet - No Fear Shakespeare book
4 MacBeth - Read the No Fear Shakespeare book OR the hardback graphic novel version
5 Cyrano de Bergerac- (thin, white Pacemaker book)
6 Monster - a novel written as a screenplay
8 12 Angry Men
9 Our Town
2. BEFORE reading the play, look at TASK 4 below named "Questions on the Play" and read over
ALL of the questions.
You will answer these questions AFTER you have read the play but you should look at them
first to help you with reading the play format.
3. Read the play.
Task 4. Questions on the Play
1. After (or while) reading the play, answer the following EIGHT questions IN WORD,.
Your answers should include complete sentences with correct spelling and
punctucation.
Your answers should be more than one sentence.
Be sure to answer ALL parts of each question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Analyze the title/cover.
1. What do you think the title says about the play?
2. Genre of the play
1. Can you tell what the genre is: comedy, tragedy, romance, etc.? Give examples from the play that
proves your answer.
2. Based on the genre, does the play end the way it's supposed to? Explain your answer, using details
(and page #s) from the play itself.
3. Look at the setting.
1. How does the setting affect various plot events? Follow the below directions to answer this question.
Select one scene from the play and discuss in detail. Give specific examples, include Act
number, Scene number and Page numbers!
4. Describe each important character.
1. Appearance
2. Attitude
3. Personality
THEN Answer the following questions about each character:
4. Which character is the protagonist? How do you know?
5. Which character is the antagonist? How do you know?
6. What influences each character (for example, what influences the decisions each character makes)?
7. How does each character react to conflict (or problems they face)?
5. Look at the stage directions. (Stage directions appear before and after dialogue - and sometimes within dialogue.
They help you figure out the setting, tells the actors where to stand and move, etc.)
1. How detailed is the staging?
2. Do the stage directions give you a sense of what the play is about and what is happening? Explain.
3. How hard would the play be to read without the stage directions? Explain.
6. What is the theme (message, moral or idea) of the play?
7. Contrast the way a novel is written to the way a play is written
1. Do this in a chart, a VENN diagram or some other creative way.
8. Give an example of each of the following from the play that you read (give page numbers also!!). Include an
explanation of what each term means.
1 exposition,
6 resolution
2 conflict
7 dialogue,
3 rising action,
8 dramatic irony (you might need to Google this)
4 climax,
9 soliloquy
5 falling action
Task 5. Plot Diagram
1, Create a plot pyramid of the action of the play on a poster (using posterboard, construction or
computer paper).
1. DRAW. Make sure it is neat and professional looking
2. ILLUSTRATE. Use drawings or clip art to illustrate
3. INCLUDE the following on the plot diagram:
Exposition
Rising Action (include AT LEAST FIVE events leading to climax)
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
4. If you have forgotten what a plot diagram should look like, check out the following links
to help you out.
http://www.georgetownisd.org/ghs/MeadorJ/Freytag.rtf
http://alex.state.al.us/uploads/6991/Elements%20of%20a%20Plot%20Diagram%5D.ppt#256
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/magazines/scope/pdfs/SCOPE-REPRO-051109Task 6. Grade yourself
1. Get a blank standards-based rubric from your teacher
2. Write each "I Can…" statement from the Standards chart in a separate box.
3. Then rate yourself as to how well you mastered each "I Can…" statement.
4. Bring all your work and the completed rubric to your teacher to discuss your work and your grade.