Course outline
Code: DRA101
Title: Dramatic Languages
Faculty of: Arts, Business and Law
School of: Communication and Creative Industries
Teaching Session: Semester 2
Year: 2016
Course Coordinator:
Dr Jo Loth
Phone No:
(07)5456 5845
Office:
D1.02
Email:
[email protected]
1.
What is this course about?
1.1
Course description
Educators, directors, playwrights, performance makers and community arts workers need to understand
how to shape and lead engaging learning and artistic experiences for a range of participants. This course
provides a foundational platform for the development of performance practice including the selection and
sequencing of dramatic conventions to generate meaning. You will develop your knowledge of the
languages of drama including the elements of drama, dramatic conventions, and principles of role-play and
theory of metaxis. This course gives you the opportunity to apply your creative and critical thinking to
design and lead extended process dramas exploring ethical dilemmas and social issues.
1.2
Course content
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2.
12 units
Dramatic languages
The social purpose of drama
Role, roleplaying and enrolment
Dramatic elements and convention
Theory of metaxis
Ethical practice in drama leadership and organisation
Dramatic framing and pretext
Unit value
Page 2
Course Outline:
3.
How does this course contribute to my learning?
Specific Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of
this course you should be able
to:
Creatively engage with
practice through roleplay and
the development of dramatic
workshops and strategies
exploring contemporary social
issues and ethical dilemmas
Substantiate decisions
through analysis and
reflection on the effectiveness
of content, selected dramatic
conventions, ethical practice
and participant engagement
Connect theories of drama
and metaxis to the practice
and design of extended
process drama and roleplay
Create, organise and lead a
process drama applying
knowledge of dramatic
elements and the conventions
of drama and roleplay
4.
DRA101 Dramatic Languages
Assessment Tasks
Graduate Qualities
You will be assessed on the
learning outcome in task/s:
Completing these tasks successfully
will contribute to you becoming:
1 and 2b
Empowered.
Ethical.
2b and 3
Empowered.
Ethical.
2b and 3
Empowered.
1, 2a and 2b
Empowered.
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of “pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites”
4.1
Enrolment restrictions
Nil
4.2
Pre-requisites
Nil
4.3
Co-requisites
Nil
4.4
Anti-requisites
Nil
4.5
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills
Competent English language skills for oral and written work
Page 3
Course Outline:
DRA101 Dramatic Languages
5.
How am I going to be assessed?
5.1
Grading scale
Standard – High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
5.2
Task
No.
1
2a
2b
3
Assessment tasks
Assessment
Tasks
Individual
or Group
Weighting
%
Roleplay
Group
Participation
Extended
Improvisation
Written
responses
Individual
Individual
10%
10%
Group
40%
Individual
40%
What is the
duration /
length?
5 minutes
In class
When
should I
submit?
Week 4-5
Weeks 6-10
Where should
I submit it?
1 Hour/
1000 words
2, 000 words (5 X
400 word
responses)
Week 9, 10
11 and 12
On-going
Weeks 2-10
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Blackboard
100%
Assessment Task 1: Roleplay
Goal:
Product:
Format:
Develop your roleplay and improvisation skills within a dramatic context
Roleplay
As a drama practitioner you are required to build and advance dramatic action and
communicate through roleplay. You will participate in an extended improvisation
exploring a complex social issue. The extended improvisation will be led by your tutor.
As an extension to the extended improvisation, you will present a short improvised
scene in a small group. You will be individually assessed on your communication skills
through your participation in improvisation, ability to create and sustain a role, advance
the dramatic action and observe the conventions of roleplay.
Criteria
 Demonstrated knowledge of the conventions of roleplay in action
 Communication of role including: status, purpose and attitude
 Commitment to the dramatic context and enfolding action throughout the
roleplay
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Problem solving
Introductory
Communication
Introductory
Assessment Task 2a: Group Participation
Goal:
Product:
Format:
Contribute to your group work in a committed and constructive fashion.
Contribution to group work preparation from Weeks 6 – 10.
Group participation is essential for the successful development of Group Lead Process
Dramas. In Weeks 6 – 10 you will engage in group development of your Process Drama.
Criteria
 Attendance at group work planning sessions in Workshops from Weeks 6 -10
 Constructive contribution to the group’s preparation as observed by the Tutor.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Introductory
Collaboration
Introductory
Page 4
Course Outline:
DRA101 Dramatic Languages
Assessment Task 2b: Extended Improvisation
Goal:
Product:
Format:
Criteria
Collaborate with your peers to create and implement an extended improvisation
(process drama) exploring a social issue or ethical dilemma
Extended improvisation for peers: Process Drama
Extended improvisation or process drama aims to create fictional contexts for
participants to explore significant social issues in safety. This task presents your small
group with a creative problem to solve. Your group (3-4 members) must design and
implement a 45 minute process drama exploring a social or ethical issue. After your
process drama the group has 15 minutes to unpack the drama and debrief the
experience with the participants.
PART A: You will be assessed as a group on the design and execution of the process
drama.
PART B: You will be assessed individually on your individual leadership and contribution
to the Process Drama.
PART A (Group, 25%):
* Effective process drama design and creative use of dramatic elements and
conventions
 Intellectual quality and depth of material explored throughout the drama
 Effective teamwork and organisation of the process drama by the group
 Effective engagement of the drama participants in significant issues, metaxis
and higher order thinking
 Responsible, safe and ethical drama practice
PART B (Individual, 15%):
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
Leadership skills
Effectiveness of explanations and cues
Polish of presentation
Incorporating participants’ contributions
Contribution to the aesthetic of the drama.
Generic skill assessed
Problem solving
Organisation
Skill assessment level
Introductory
Introductory
Assessment Task 3: Written responses
Goal:
Critically reflect on your learning, connections with theory and practice and the
effectiveness of workshop experiences/ process drama throughout the semester
Product: Online Reflective Log on Blackboard
Format:
Reflection is a key element of effective drama practice. In weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 you
will be required to reflect on a significant focus question linked to workshop experiences
and set readings. Your responses will record your on-going learning linked to issues
explored through roleplay and group devised process dramas. You will submit 5 logs of
400 words each.
Criteria
 Analysis and synthesis of workshop experience with key concepts and weekly
readings.
 Knowledge of key concepts with references to weekly readings.
 Clarity of ideas and written communication for professional purposes
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Introductory
Applying technologies
Introductory
Page 5
Course Outline:
5.3
DRA101 Dramatic Languages
Additional assessment requirements
SafeAssign
In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its
assessment tasks are submitted electronically via SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to
be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. If
required, details of how to submit via SafeAssign will be provided on the Blackboard site of the course.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
5.4
Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate:
 5% (of the assessment task’s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified
as the due date for the assessment task.
 10% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the third day
 20% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and
including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
 A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date
identified as the due date for the assessment task.
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must
contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
6. How is the course offered?
6.1
Directed study hours
13 Weeks of three hour face-to-face workshops
13 Weeks of one hour reflection online learning log
6.2
Teaching semester/session(s) offered
Semester 2
6.3
Course activities
Teaching
Week /
Module
1
2
What key concepts/content will I
learn?
Defining dramatic languages
Introduction to roleplay
Reflection in drama
Sustaining role
Role: Status, Purpose and Attitude.
The power of drama and learning
through action
What activities will I engage in to learn the
concepts/content?
Directed Study
Independent Study
Activities
Activities
Workshop
Workshop
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
Online Response Due reading.
(see Blackboard for
set question)
Page 6
Course Outline:
3
4
DRA101 Dramatic Languages
Exploring social issues through
process drama
Role and Metaxis
Exploring social issues through
process drama
5
Using a Pre-text to develop a Process
Drama
6
Dramatic elements and conventions
in action
Playing with the language of drama
Exploiting dramatic elements
Safe and ethical practice in Drama
leadership
Development of Group Process
Drama
Designing and leading a process
drama
Achieving metaxis
Development of Group Process
Drama
7
8
9
Evaluating process drama
Development of Group Process
Drama
Development of Group Process
Drama
Workshop
Task 1: Roleplay
Workshop
Online Response Due
(see Blackboard for
set question)
Workshop
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
Task 1: Roleplay
reading.
Workshop
Planning meetings
Research
Online Response Due Entries in online
(see Blackboard for
reflective learning log
set question)
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
reading.
Workshop
Workshop
Online response Due
(see Blackboard for
set question)
Workshop
Mid Semester Break
Development of Group Process
Workshop
Drama
Online Response
Due (see Blackboard
for set question)
Assessment of Process Drama
Workshop
Assessment of Process Drama
Workshop
Reflection on Learning
Workshop
Peer and Self-evaluations
Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation.
10
Monday,
3rd October
Public
Holiday
11
12
13
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
readings.
See Blackboard for this
week’s set reading.
Planning meetings
Rehearsal
Entries in online
reflective learning log
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
reading.
Complete online
reflective learning log
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
reading.
Complete online
reflective learning log
See Blackboard for
this week’s set
reading.
Page 7
Course Outline:
DRA101 Dramatic Languages
7. What resources do I need to undertake this course?
7.1
Prescribed text(s)
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below:
Author
Year
Title
Publisher
Neelands, J., & Goode.
2000
Structuring drama
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
work: a handbook of
University Press
available forms in
theatre and drama
7.2
Required and recommended readings
Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These
materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further
information regarding particular aspects of your course.
7.3
Specific requirements
Required props, resources or clothing items as required for group devised process drama.
7.4
Risk management
There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the
Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.
8.
How can I obtain help with my studies?
In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Additional assistance is
provided to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an
appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 or Email: student [email protected]
9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
 Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
 Review of Assessment and Final Grades
 Supplementary Assessment
 Administration of Central Examinations
 Deferred Examinations
 Student Academic Misconduct
 Students with a Disability
http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching
10. General enquiries
In person:
 Sippy Downs - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C
 USC SouthBank - Student Central, Building B, Ground floor (level 1)
 USC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
 USC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Building A
Tel: +61 7 5430 2890
Email: [email protected]