SYLLABUS
Tulsa Community College, Southeast Campus
Fall, 2015
Acting I
THEA 1053
M W 1:00 – 2:20
Instructor: Mark Frank
Phone: 595-7732
e-mail: [email protected]
Section #: 301
Office Hours: By Appointment
TO CONTACT THE DIVISION OFFICE:
Division: Performing Arts
Dean: Kelly Clark
Office: SE 6267
Phone: 595-7752
Course Prerequisites: None
CRN 11258
TO CONTACT ACADEMIC &
CAMPUS SERVICES:
Director: Susan Burlew
Office: SE 2202
Phone: 595-7673
Next Course in Sequence – THEA 2053, Acting II
Course Description – This course establishes the fundamentals of stage acting by
exploring the three tools of the actor: imagination, voice, and body. Course work
includes theory, methodology, terminology, character analysis, and presentation of scenes
and monologues. Students are required to participate in outside homework assignments,
including production activities in the theatre department.
Textbook – Acting One, fifth edition, by Robert Cohen, McGraw Hill
Course Objectives – Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
demonstrate a basic approach to script analysis, characterization, and performance.
Teaching Methods – Lecture/Demonstration; daily exercises to free the voice, the body,
and the imagination; improvisation technique, and scene and monologue work.
EXPECTED LEARNER
OUTCOMES:
1. Recognize the more important characteristics of good acting.
2. Understand theatre vocabulary.
3. Determine the physical life of a character.
4. Identify the use of action as the foundation of inner technique.
5. Understand relaxation techniques and purposes.
6. Understand concentration as a tool to control the attention of an audience.
7. Discuss the technique of observation.
8. Determine how to reveal the significance of a characters action-fund of acting
9. Identify controlled emotional reactions.
10. Recognize and use total circumstances of a play.
11. Determine the creation of a complete, well rounded character.
12. Understand a character's relation to the whole.
13. Identify elements for effective interpretation.
14. Understand dramatist’s means of effective dialogue.
15. Develop useful principles for auditioning.
16. Recognize the purposes and functions of rehearsal.
ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES
Grading System A = 100 – 90
B = 89 – 80
C = 79 – 70
D = 69 – 60
F = 60 and below
Late Assignments and Make-up Test – Late assignments and missed tests will be
addressed on an individual basis.
Evaluation Techniques – You are expected to attend class, read the text and all
handouts, and take part in class discussions and exercises. You are graded on your
participation in this process and the specific requirements that follow:
Original Comic monologue 50 pts.
Original Dramatic monologue 50 pts.
Comic Monologue
100 pts.
Dramatic Monologue
100 pts.
Monologue Run (Rehearsal) 25 pts x 4
Book Chapter
200 pts.
Performance reviews
200 pts.
Production Hours
100 pts.
Written work/exams
200 pts.
Total
Attendance
1,100 pts
680
1780 Total
Attendance
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You are awarded 20 points each day. If you miss you forfeit those attendants
points. Being late loses you those points.
Three tardies are equal to one absence. If you arrive late, do not enter in the
middle of a monologue, wait until a moment of suitable transition. It is the
students’ responsibility to make sure they are marked in attendance if they arrive
after roll is taken.
If you are absent on a group performance day without prior notification to the
instructor, you will be automatically dropped one full letter grade as a result of
leaving your partner stranded.
If you plan to observe a religious holiday that falls on one of our class days, let
the instructor know in writing during the first two weeks of school so that
performance dates are assigned accordingly.
Production Hours – A total of 16 production hours are required for full points.Not
completing these points will result in a zero. These hours can be in any aspect of
production having to do with the TCC theater department, including scenery, lighting,
costumes, props, running crew, cast, box office, publicity, or general shop work.
Performance Reviews - The two review papers must be based on your attendance of two
play performances during this sixteen-week period, at least one of which must be a TCC
production. High school and Church performances are not acceptable for the review
papers. Any outside production requires prior instructor approval.
Classroom Etiquette - Open and mutually respectful communication of varied opinions,
beliefs, and perspectives during classroom or online discussion encourages the free
exchange of ideas that is essential to higher learning and to the ability to learn from each
other. Use of any electronic device is at the discretion of the instructor. This is a
performance based class; please turn off all electronic devices when you enter classroom.
Academic Dishonesty - Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the deception of
others about one’s own work or about the work of another. Academic dishonesty or
misconduct is not condoned or tolerated at campuses within the Tulsa Community
College system. Tulsa Community adopts a policy delegating certain forms of authority
for disciplinary action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated to the faculty
include, but are not limited to, the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from
classes. In the case of academic dishonesty a faculty member may:
Require a student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete
a substitute assignment or test;
Record a “zero” for the assignment or test in question;
Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or
administratively withdraw the student from the class;
Record a grade of “F” for the student at the end of the semester. Faculty may
request that disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative
level by submitting such a request to the Dean of Student Services.
Syllabus Changes – Occasionally, changes to the syllabus may be necessary. Students
will be notified of any changes to the syllabus in writing.
Communications E-mail: All TCC students receive a designated “MyTCC” email address (ex:
[email protected]). All communications to you about TCC and course
assignments will be sent to your MyTCC email address; and you must use
MyTCC email to send email to, and receive email from, the instructor regarding
this course.
Inclement Weather: TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or
Emergency situations arise, TCC always gives cancellation notices to radio and
television stations. This information is also posted on the TCC website
(www.tulsacc.edu).
General Education Goals – The General Education Goals are designed to ensure that
our graduates gain skills, knowledge, and abilities that comprise a common foundation
for their higher education and a backdrop for their work and personal lives. TCC’s
General Education goals are: Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Engaged
Learning, and Technological Proficiency.
Disability Resources - It is the policy and practice of Tulsa Community College to
create inclusive learning environments. Accommodations for qualifying students in
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act are available. To request accommodations, contact the Education
Access Center (EAC) at [email protected] or call (918) 595-7115 (Voice). Deaf and hard
of hearing students may text (918) 809-1864.
Institutional Statement – Each student is responsible for being aware of the information
contained in the TCC Catalogue, TCC Student Handbook, TCC Student Code of Conduct
Policy Handbook, and semester information listed in the Class Schedule. All information
may be viewed on the TCC website: www.tulsacc.edu
Course Withdrawal - The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed 3/4 the
duration of any class. Check the TCC Academic Calendar for the deadline that applies to
the course(s). Begin the process with a discussion with the faculty member assigned to
the course. Contact the Advisement Office at any TCC campus to initiate withdrawal
from a course ('W' grade) or to change from Credit to Audit. Withdrawal and/or change
to an audit from a course after the drop/add period can alter the financial aid award for
the current and future semesters. Students may receive an outstanding bill from TCC if
the recalculation leaves a balance due to TCC. Students who stop participating in the
course and fail to withdraw may receive a course grade of “F,” which may have financial
aid consequences for the student.
Syllabus subject to change to meet class needs.