Merced College Articulation for DRAMA 01 – One component of Credit by Exam: Performance Critical Response Paper - 35% of Articulation Grade
Attendance at a Professional Performance and completion of the Report as outlined below:
This report should be no longer than three pages. Please think of it in terms of a classic short essay that is broken into three sections: - using MLA format
1. Introduction– 1 paragraph
2. Content– 3 to 5 paragraphs
3. Conclusion– 1 or 2 paragraphs
Introduction:
Should include details about the production including when and where you saw it, the name of the college department or theatre company that staged the play, the play’s title in italics, an identification of the director and some mention of the style of the play or its genre (musical, tragedy, dark comedy, etc.). This paragraph gives us our framework for understanding the rest of your response.
Content:
This section should begin, in the first paragraph, with a SHORT summation of the plot. If you did not understand the plot, attempt to summarize it and then explain why you were confused.
In the next section of your paper you will want to focus on the acting, direction, writing, and theatrical design elements. You might devote a paragraph to each of the following groups of questions:
1. What was the playwright’s message? Was the writer/director trying to say anything specifically about society or individuals? What was great about the play? What was confusing?
2. Was the acting believable? What actor stood out? Which character did you identify with or relate to the most?
3. Did you find the language confusing, lyrical and/or easy to understand?
4. Was the set and costume design purely realistic and, if so, did it adequately express the historical details necessary to suggest the appropriate time? If set and other design elements WERE NOT realistic in nature, did they adequately express a conceptual idea or metaphor that you could understand? Did the design elements include a combination of realistic and stylistic ideas?
5. Was there a “standout moment“ in the play that stayed with you long after the play was done? Did you find the play relevant to your life? What feeling were you left with as you exited the theater?
Conclusion:
Sum it up! Was it worth the money and time? How did you respond to the production as a whole?
*Remember that you may be looking at or judging a non-professional production. Your criticism should be sensitive to the skills of those involved.
This report should be no longer than three pages. Please think of it in terms of a classic short essay that is broken into three sections: - using MLA format
1. Introduction– 1 paragraph
2. Content– 3 to 5 paragraphs
3. Conclusion– 1 or 2 paragraphs
Introduction:
Should include details about the production including when and where you saw it, the name of the college department or theatre company that staged the play, the play’s title in italics, an identification of the director and some mention of the style of the play or its genre (musical, tragedy, dark comedy, etc.). This paragraph gives us our framework for understanding the rest of your response.
Content:
This section should begin, in the first paragraph, with a SHORT summation of the plot. If you did not understand the plot, attempt to summarize it and then explain why you were confused.
In the next section of your paper you will want to focus on the acting, direction, writing, and theatrical design elements. You might devote a paragraph to each of the following groups of questions:
1. What was the playwright’s message? Was the writer/director trying to say anything specifically about society or individuals? What was great about the play? What was confusing?
2. Was the acting believable? What actor stood out? Which character did you identify with or relate to the most?
3. Did you find the language confusing, lyrical and/or easy to understand?
4. Was the set and costume design purely realistic and, if so, did it adequately express the historical details necessary to suggest the appropriate time? If set and other design elements WERE NOT realistic in nature, did they adequately express a conceptual idea or metaphor that you could understand? Did the design elements include a combination of realistic and stylistic ideas?
5. Was there a “standout moment“ in the play that stayed with you long after the play was done? Did you find the play relevant to your life? What feeling were you left with as you exited the theater?
Conclusion:
Sum it up! Was it worth the money and time? How did you respond to the production as a whole?
*Remember that you may be looking at or judging a non-professional production. Your criticism should be sensitive to the skills of those involved.
