Overview
In this unit you will learn how to analyse various theatrical texts from a variety of dramatic genres. You will analyse important primary source material for meaning and functionality, exploring the concept that plays are designed to be performed and are therefore constructed in specific ways to maximise their effect onstage.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Distance students found the pre-recorded tutorials guides useful.
A tutorial guide will be pre-recorded for each week's topic.
Feedback from Student feedback
Student preferred assessment tasks rather than an exam for this unit.
The assessment only structure will be maintained.
Feedback from Student feedback
Students liked information in class needs to directly correspond with the assignment work.
Face to face tutorials connect script analysis with the work of an actor. Assessment tasks and weekly topics will be revised to make this connection clear for students.
- Analyse selected play scripts to identify important elements relating to character, action, dialogue and language within the context of the whole work
- Identify and discuss specific examples from primary sources that influence the practical staging choices for each play
- Relate the selected scripts to the broader, social and cultural contexts of their respective historical periods.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Report - 10% | |||
| 2 - Essay - 40% | |||
| 3 - Report - 10% | |||
| 4 - Essay - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Report - 10% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Essay - 40% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Report - 10% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Essay - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.lorenza@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Action analysis (versus formalist analysis)
Chapter
James Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers : Introduction and Chapter 1, pages 1-40
David Ball, Backwards and Forwards: A Technical Manual for Reading Plays: Introduction and Part One: Shape (sections 1 and 2) pages 1-14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer the questions at the end of Thomas Chapter 1 in Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers.
Module/Topic
External and internal action
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 4, pages 96-132
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions 1-3 at end of Thomas Chapter 4 pp131-132 in Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers
Selected plays
Module/Topic
External and internal action
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 4, pages 96-132
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions 1-3 at end of Thomas Chapter 4 pp131-132 in Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers
Selected plays
Module/Topic
External and internal action
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 4, pages 96-132
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions end of Chapter 4 in Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors.
Selected plays
Analysis table Due: Week 4 Monday (3 Aug 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Short essay Due: Week 4 Monday (3 Aug 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Idea
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 7, pp 204-232
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions end of Chapter 7 in Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors.
Selected plays
Module/Topic
Idea
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 7, pp 204-232
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions end of Chapter 7 in Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors.
Selected plays
Module/Topic
Dialogue
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 8, pp 234-269
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions at the end of Chapter 8, Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Dialogue
Chapter
Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers: Chapter 8, pp 234-269
Events and Submissions/Topic
Answer questions at the end of Chapter 8, Thomas, Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers.
Analysis table Due: Week 8 Monday (7 Sept 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Idea and dialogue
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Self-directed study to complete research assignment
Module/Topic
Idea and dialogue
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Self-directed study to complete research assignment
Module/Topic
Self-directed study to complete research assignment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Self-directed study to complete research assignment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Report
Action analysis
Use the table provided to analyse text identifying internal and external action of one scene from the selected play.
Complete an action text analysis of the selected play. Choose one scene from the play to analyse. Examine the dramatic potential of all external and internal events in the scene. Identify and comment upon the significance of the seed, super-objective and through-action of your chosen scene. Please analyse the scene from the perspective of a chosen character. Use references from the primary source to inform your analysis. Remember to focus your analysis on the practical purpose of the text, i.e. staging the play rather than from the perspective of dramatic literature.
Week 4 Monday (3 Aug 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
use template provided, upload the completed table via the course platform
Week 6 Monday (24 Aug 2020)
- Clear identification of external and internal actions in the chosen scene 20%
- Comment on seed, super-objective, through-action in the chose scene 20%
- Demonstration of suitable references from the chosen scene 20%
- Correct spelling, punctuation 20%
- Effective use of xl for collating analysis 20%
- Analyse selected play scripts to identify important elements relating to character, action, dialogue and language within the context of the whole work
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Essay
Action Analysis
Length: 1500-2000 words
The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Refer to the analysis table from Assessment 1. Examine the dramatic potential of all external and internal events in the scene. Comment on the significance of the seed, super-objective and through-action of your chosen scene. Please analyse the scene from the perspective of a chosen character. Use references from the primary source to inform your analysis. Remember to focus your analysis on the practical purpose of the text, i.e. staging the play rather than from the perspective of dramatic literature.
Presentation:
- This assignment is to be saved as a Word document and submitted online through the course website.
- Use 12 point Times New Roman font.
- Text analysis must 1.5 spacing throughout
- Sub-headings may be used as appropriate.
- Please include your name on the submission, either on a title page or as a header or footer.
- Failure to follow format guidelines will result in a points deduction from presentation and layout.
- Documentation and in-text referencing must follow the APA style. Please see CQU Library Guide site for assistance.
- All excerpts from primary sources, including diagrams and pictures should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the Reference List. Do not rely solely on web-based sources. On-line research sources obtained from peer reviewed journals or academic databases are acceptable. Any internet sources used must be scholarly and accredited. Citations from Wikipedia, Sparknotes, or similar websites are not to be used under any circumstances.
Week 4 Monday (3 Aug 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
use the template provided, upload table via the course platform
Week 6 Monday (24 Aug 2020)
- Clear and connected introduction and conclusion (10%)
- Clear identification of each internal and external event for the selected character (25%)
- Effective connection of each internal and external event to seed, super-objective and through-action for the selected character (25%)
- Depth and quality of analysis (20%)
- Inclusion of documentation and in-text referencing (APA format) from the primary source (5%)
- Correct spelling, grammar, and word usage (10%)
- Presentation and clear layout (5%)
- Identify and discuss specific examples from primary sources that influence the practical staging choices for each play
- Relate the selected scripts to the broader, social and cultural contexts of their respective historical periods.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 Report
'Idea'
Use the table provided to identify the components of the script that demonstrate the playwright's 'idea'.
Your analysis table includes the following concepts: words, character, plot. Identify evidence from the selected play for each concept that support the playwright's 'idea'. Use references from the primary source (the script) to inform your analysis. Remember to focus your analysis on the practical purpose of the text, i.e. staging the play rather than from the perspective of dramatic literature.
Week 8 Monday (7 Sept 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
complete the template provided, upload via the course platform
Week 9 Monday (14 Sept 2020)
- Clear identification of evidence for each concept (word, character, plot) that supports the playwright's 'idea' in the chosen play 30%
- Demonstration of suitable references from the play, correctly cited, to support your identification of these concepts 30%
- Correct spelling, punctuation 20%
- Effective use of xl for collating analysis 20%
- Analyse selected play scripts to identify important elements relating to character, action, dialogue and language within the context of the whole work
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
4 Essay
'Idea' & 'Dialogue'
Length: 1500-2000 words
The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Complete a formalist text analysis of the selected play, focusing on 'idea' and 'dialogue'.Refer to your analysis table from Assessment 3. Examine the idea in the selected play through discussing the playwright's use of words in the dialogue (including language structure, literary quality and theatricality), as well as the characters and the plot.
Use references from the primary source to inform your analysis. Remember to focus your analysis on the practical purpose of the text, i.e. staging the play rather than from the perspective of dramatic literature.
Presentation:
This assignment is to be saved as a Word document and submitted online through the course website.
- Use 12 point Times New Roman font.
- Text analysis (Part 2) must 1.5 spacing throughout
- Sub-headings may be used as appropriate.
- Please include your name on the submission, either on a title page or as a header or footer.
- Failure to follow format guidelines will result in a points deduction from presentation and layout.
- Documentation and in-text referencing must follow the APA style. Please see CQU Library Guide site for assistance. All excerpts from primary sources, including diagrams and pictures should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the Reference List. Do not rely solely on web-based sources. On-line research sources obtained from peer reviewed journals or academic databases are acceptable. Any internet sources used must be scholarly and accredited. Citations from Wikipedia, Sparknotes, or similar websites are not to be used under any circumstances.
Week 12 Monday (5 Oct 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
online submission
Exam Week Monday (19 Oct 2020)
- Clear and connected introduction and conclusion (5%)
- Clear examination of the ‘idea’ in the play referring to dialogue, characters and plot (25%)
- Clear discussion of the features of dialogue, characters and plot that demonstrate the ‘idea’ in the play (25%)
- Depth and quality of analysis (25%)
- Inclusion of documentation and in-text referencing (APA format) from the primary source (5%)
- Correct spelling, grammar, and word usage (10%)
- Presentation and clear layout (5%)
- Identify and discuss specific examples from primary sources that influence the practical staging choices for each play
- Relate the selected scripts to the broader, social and cultural contexts of their respective historical periods.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
