Course Syllabus
Course Description
This course will introduce students to the diverse world of theatre and increase their understanding, appreciation, and critical perceptions of this art form. The primary focus will be on the fundamentals of theatrical production, as well as an exploration of its historical and philosophical background. Theatre is a collaborative and participatory discipline and art, so this class's major emphasis is participation and experience-based learning. This is a 3-credit course.
Program Message
This course is non-performance-oriented. Rather, it is designed to develop a refined appreciation of theatre in relation to the other fine arts. Fundamentals of play analysis and dramatic structures are included. Many facets of theatrical production and the artists who accomplish them are discussed.
Requirements
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Unique Requirements
You are required to attend theatre productions and write reviews. These are in Weeks 09 and 11. You may choose a production from a local theatre company, a college production, or a production offered at a middle school or high school.
This course requires synchronous group meetings that you will self-assign for. You cannot sign up for these meetings using the Canvas app on your phone—the app does not have this capability. You must use your browser to do this step when prompted in the course to do so.
This course requires that you create a video with your group referenced above. Videos cannot be uploaded using the Canvas app, unless the video is on YouTube. Otherwise, the video must be uploaded using your browser.
Required Materials
Texts
This course uses a low-cost, auto-access textbook. Read the information in the Textbook Information module to learn how to access your textbook, and how to opt-out of this automatic purchase, if desired.
| Resource Title and/or Description (books, software, and so on) |
Author and/or Provider | Ed./Vol. | 13-Digit ISBN (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theatre: The Lively Art (comes with course; charged the first day of class) | Wilson, E. and Goldfarb, A. | 11th | 9781260719338 |
| Other course materials are accessible through the course via the BYUI library or churchofjesuschrist.orgLinks to an external site.. |
Study the textbook, scripts, and selected articles carefully. They will be the basis for weekly quizzes and major exams.
Technology
Since this is an online course, it is your responsibility to arrange for the use of a computer or other device which can access the internet as your course will be accessed via the internet. You will also be submitting assignments online. Additionally, you will need a microphone and camera so that you can interact with your classmates. While this is not a performance-based course, you will have opportunities to submit assignments as videos if you wish.
Course Objectives
Theater is essentially a communal and experiential art form. Some consider it to be the most human of all the arts. To the extent possible in an online setting, course objectives will be pursued utilizing interactive and experiential processes.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Experience theatre through reading dramatic literature and through watching live and captured performances and responding to them.
- Showcase experience with theatre's working parts by presenting historical and contextual examples.
- Explore the various artistic elements of play production and the professional work of collaborators who make it happen.
- Appraise the personal and societal value of theatrical works.
Course Structure
This course will follow the structure as outlined in the tables below:
Major Assignments
The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes.
| Major Assignment | Description | Course Outcome # |
|---|---|---|
| Medea | Writing Assignment | #1 |
| Paper | Personal Philosophy of Art | #4 |
| Reflections | Reflection on Reading | #2, 3 |
| Paper | Live Performances | #1, 4 |
| The Presentation | Group Activity | #2, 3, 4 |
Weekly Pattern
The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions.
| Due Date* | Learning Model | Activity Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midweek | Prepare | Study | Study the assigned reading material |
| Midweek | Teach One Another | Discussion | Discuss topic on discussion board |
| Midweek | Apply | Quiz | Write a response, answer questions |
| End-of-Week | Reflect | Reflection | Reflect on learning |
| End-of-Week | Apply | Paper or Quiz | Write a paper or a response and answer questions |
| End-of-Week | Apply | Group Assignment | Apply what you have learned to a group project |
*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.
Learning Model
This course uses the BYU-Idaho learning model which involves three steps: Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder and Prove. Each time you do a Study assignment you are preparing, each time you engage in a discussion board or a group discussion you are Teaching One Another, and each time you do a reflection assignment or other activity, you will be performing Ponder and Prove. One benefit of this model is that it allows you to become an active part of your own learning as you study and demonstrate your understanding through course assignments and teaching others.
Teach One Another is an important component of the learning model. Being an effective collaborative is a 21st Century skill that is highly sought after by employers. Additionally, the single most important factor that makes for an excellent undergraduate education as researched by Peter Felten and Leo Lambert (2020) is human relationships
Expectations
- The expectation is that you spend 9–12 hours per week reading and completing the various weekly assignments. Make sure you plan your time wisely so that you complete all your assignments to the fullest extent. This course includes required synchronous meetings.
- Each week you will read material in the textbook. You might also be asked to read or view a play or summarize an article. A quiz or exam will be given each week that covers the readings and other assignments. Most weeks you will write and submit written reports that relate to the weekly readings and assignments.
- Your active participation in weekly discussion boards for the class is essential to achieving course objectives. The activity is a key component of your learning process during the semester. You will be evaluated every week on your discussion board contributions.
- You are required to seek out and attend two full-length live theater performances this semester. A production analysis will be written for each production you view: one will be due mid-semester and one at the end of the semester. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your instructor.
- During one week of the term, you will participate in and help create and deliver a group presentation. Each group member will be required to actively participate in the creation of the presentation and in facilitating the discussion board for the week.
- For this course there are light week with not much work and few assignments and quizzes and there are heavy weeks with lots of studying assignments and quizzes.
AI policy
Work derived from generative artificial intelligence (Al) resources without express permission from instructors is not considered the students' original work. Students should not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist with writing or any other aspect of their course work unless they have permission and guidance from an instructor. Some instructors may ask students to use AI for specific purposes, but if not, students should assume that they must ask for permission in order to use AI tools or simply not use AI at all. If students aren’t sure of an instructor’s policies, they should ask for clarification.
Dishonest use of AI:
- Giving AI a prompt and submitting what it writes as your own work.
- Combining content from several different AI prompts and submitting as your own work.
Ask your professor about:
- Using AI to fix your grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors
- Using AI to generate ideas for paper
- Using AI to write portions of an assignment but clearly indicating which parts were written by AI and which were written by you
- Using AI for outlines and organization
- Using AI for summarizing or paraphrasing technical language
- Using AI to write a sample paper and then modeling your own work after the work of the AI bot
Group Work
Group work is a component of this course and you should plan on synchronously meeting once a week for 30 minutes to an hour with your group. Group work will not begin until week xx of the semester and you will be able to sign up for a group that works with your schedule.
Grades
| Letter Grade | Percent |
|---|---|
| A | 100% – 93% |
| A- | 92% – 90% |
| B+ | 89% – 87% |
| B | 86% – 83% |
| B- | 82% – 80% |
| C+ | 79% – 77% |
| C | 76% – 73% |
| C- | 72% – 70% |
| D+ | 69% – 67% |
| D | 66% – 63% |
| D- | 62% – 60% |
| F | 59% and lower |
Late Work
Late work will not be accepted in this course unless there is an emergency situation. You will need to work out those circumstances with your instructor as soon as the emergency arises. Instructors will make the final decision regarding the acceptance of late work.
Feedback
You can expect to receive grades and feedback on assignments within seven days from the due date. Your instructor is expected to provide grades and feedback from the due date, not from the date you turned your assignment in. Your instructor will work very hard to get assignments graded and returned to you within that time frame.
University Policies
Students with Disabilities
Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a special need and require accommodations, please contact the Accessibility Services Office at 1-208-496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Accessibility Services Office.
This course includes required synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Accessibility Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at 1-208-496-9219.
Other University Policies
Student Honor and Other Policies
Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:
- Student Honor
- Academic Honesty
-
- Student Conduct
- Sexual Harassment
- Student with Disabilities
- Complaints and Grievances
- Copyright Notice
Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|