Theatre 100: Introduction to Theatre
-- Instructor: Mr. Larry Wild --
-- Internet Section --
-- Winter / Spring 2008 --

Sample exam questions
[First Quiz] [Second Quiz] [Third Quiz]

[InterNet Syllabus (Winter/Spring 2008) (PDF)] [Lecture Notes]
Theatre 100: Introduction to Theatre via the InterNet is a self-paced, asynchronous internet course. A student can join the class at any time during the year and has, by University regulations, 350 days (a little less than a year) to independently complete the course requirements. If a student is receiving federal financial aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Workstudy, Perkins Loan, Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford loan and/or PLUS Loan) he must complete the course within the term in which he enrolled.

INSTRUCTOR:
Larry Wild, Assistant Professor of Theatre

Campus Office
Johnson Fine Arts Center, Room 124A
Office Hours (during the Academic Year):
          Tuesday and Thursday, 11am to Noon,
          Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 2:00pm to 3:00pm, or by appointment
          During the Summer Mr Wild is typically on campus during the morning -- 8:30am to Noon

Mailing Address
Larry Wild
Box 728
Northern State University
1200 S. Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401-7198

Office Phone: 605-626-2513
FAX: 605-626-2263 (Fine Arts Office) or 605-626-2542 (Office of Continuing Education)
E-mail: wildl@northern.edu.
Personal Web site: http://www.northern.edu/wild/index.htm

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION:
Introductory course designed to enhance the student's enjoyment and understanding of the theatrical experience. Play readings, films and demonstrations acquaint the students with the history and techniques of the theatrical arts.

COURSE LEARNING GOALS OR OBJECTIVES:
Students successfully completing this course will have met South Dakota Board of Regents General Education Goal #4.

BOR System Goal #4:
Students will understand the diversity and complexity of human experience through study of the arts and humanities.

TEXT:
Text_book Theatre. The Lively Art (6th edition)
by Edwin Wilson and Alvin Goldfarb.
Boston: McGraw-Hill College, 2008.

Plays...
Antigone, a Greek tragedy by Sophocles
As You Like It, an Elizabethan comedy by William Shakespeare

The text and two plays are available through the Northern State University Bookstore or through a local book seller. Both plays are also available at most libraries and on the InterNet.

ON-LINE INFORMATION RESOURCE:
One of the best resources for both on-line and off-line information appropriate to the study of Theatre is the Williams Library on the campus of Northern State University. Links to a number of on-line sites are at the bottom of this page.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
In order to complete the class the student is required to...

  1. Take three 50 point exams over material published in the text book, the assigned plays and on the Lecture web pages.
  2. Attend and review a live theatrical performance. (25 points) The review (2 to 4 pages) should be e-mailed to me at wildl@northern.edu.

    Include in the paper (1) when you saw the play, (2) where, both town and theatre, it was presented, (3) and who -- college, high school, community theatre -- produced it. May I suggest building your review around the following questions.

    1. Did I enjoy the show? Would I recommend it to a friend?
    2. Was the play appropriate for both the actors and the audience?
    3. Was the play worth doing?
    4. What was the playwright trying to say? Was it well said? Was it worth saying?
    5. Was the acting convincing?
    6. Did the scenery, lights and costumes help me enjoy or better understand the show?

  3. Read, and write a short play analysis (2 to 4 pages) of Antigone by Sophocles or As You Like It by William Shakespeare. Your analysis should include...
    1. The setting (or settings) of the play.
    2. The period.
    3. The major objective of the protagonist.
    4. The scene which stood out most clearly.
    5. The character which was most memorable.
    6. The character which was most difficult to understand.
    7. How you would sell this play to a college age audience.
    Like the review, the play analysis should be e-mailed to me at wildl@northern.edu as a NotePad (*.txt) or MicroSoft Word (*doc) attachent.

GRADING AND TIME FRAME:
Students will receive a grade of A to F.

The class grade is determined through a point system. A total of 200 points may be earned: 150 points for the three exams and 50 ponts (25 per paper) for the two papers. A letter grade (A to F) will be assigned based on the following scale

You have 350 days, from the date of registration, to complete the class. If you are receiving federal financial aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Workstudy, Perkins Loan, Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford loan and/or PLUS Loan) you must complete the course within the term in which you enrolled.

PROCTOR:
You will need to locate a proctor who is willing to verify your identity and monitor the three exams. Recommended individuals include the faculty or staff of an educational institution (elementary school, high school, college or university) or a professional person such as a doctor, lawyer, or CPA. The proctor must have access to a FAX machine. All expenses associated with the work of the proctor are the student's responsibility.

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM POLICY:
Dishonesty in class, laboratory work, or tests is a serious offense, subject to disciplinary action by the instructor and or authorized representative of the institution. Plagiarism is presenting as your own the facts, theories, or language, either quoted or paraphrased, of another. I expect the writing (and ideas) of my students to be their own. Other writers' facts, theories, or language incorporated into a student's work must be properly acknowledged and documented; otherwise, the student is guilty of plagiarism.

DISABILITY POLICY:
If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the staff in the Office of Disability Services (ODS), ( Karen Gerety, Coordinator) at, Student Center 217, 605-626-2371. The staff will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.

IN THE EVENT OF A TECHNOLOGY FAILURE...
I may be contacted in person at my office (JC 124A) in the Johnson Center, through the US Postal Service (Larry Wild, Box 728, Northern State University, 1200 S. Jay Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401-7198), by Phone (605-626-2513), or via FAX (605-626-2263 or 605-626-2542).

Lecture Notes

  1. Theatre and the Internet
  2. Experiencing Theatre
  3. Audiences and Critics
  4. Acting for the Stage
  5. The Playwright: Creating the Script
  6. Tragedy or Comedy? Dramatic Genres
  7. Playwriting: The Process
  8. The Director and the Producer
  9. Theatre Spaces
  10. Designers: Scenery and Costumes
  11. Designers: Lighting and Sound

FIRST EXAM over Chapters 1 through 11 (50 points)

  1. Film History
  2. Film Production
  3. Radio: History and Production
  4. Television: History and Production
    Film, Radio and Television is not covered in the text book. If you are interested in learning more about these theatrical forms, books and internet sites are listed in the "resources" section on the web pages.
  5. Greek and Roman Theatre
  6. Asian Theatre
  7. Medieval Theatre
  8. Renaissance Theatre: Italy
  9. Renaissance Theatre: England
  10. Renaissance Theatre: Spain
  11. Renaissance Theatre: France

SECOND EXAM over film, radio, television and Chapters 13 through 15 (50 points)

  1. Theatre from Restoration through Romanticism: Restoration and 18th Century
  2. Theatre from Restoration through Romanticism: Nineteenth Century
  3. Early Modern Theatre: 1875 to 1945
  4. Twentieth Century Theatre: 1945 to 1990: The Drama
  5. Twentieth Century Theatre: African American Theatre
  6. Twentieth Century Theatre: 1945 to 1990: The American Musical

THIRD EXAM over Chapters 16 through 18 (50 points)

EXAMS:
Hard copies of the exams will be FAXed to your proctor when you feel that you have mastered the material and inform me, via e-mail, that you are ready to be questioned. The exams should be taken in his/her presence and FAXed back to me with in 72 hours (three days). Your score, and any comments will be e-mailed back to you.

Links

Theatre and Drama

Film and Television Search Engines
E-mail questions and comments to Larry Wild at wildl@northern.edu.
Updated: January 7, 2008
Copyright © 1999 - 2008 by Larry Wild, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD