Performance Portion
The performance portion of your final is a group project. As a group you’ll be assigned a
scene. Your task is to reinterpret the scene for the class. During your reinterpretation
you’ll need to identify the purpose, theme, and tone of the scene as well as any literary
devices present within the scene. Then, you need to think of a creative way to address
these concepts in a new way.
You can address these concepts by using a variety of aspects of performance including:
Dialect
Setting (set design, location, time period)
Costuming
Music
Lighting
genre (tragedy, comedy, action/adventure)
You’ll be putting on a performance for the class. Everyone in the group must participate
in the presentation of your chosen scene. You must also take an active role in your group
by contributing ideas and providing costuming and props.
Written Portion
This portion of your final is to be completed individually. You will be composing a four
paragraph essay addressing both the scene you’re performing and the performance you
create with your group.
The first two paragraphs of your essay will consist of a close analysis of your passage.
You’ll be following the SOAPSTONE method to complete these paragraphs. Refer to
your SOAPSTONE handout to complete this section of the essay. Make sure you
provide evidence (quotes) to support your claims (statements about the text).
Paragraph Three
You will use this paragraph to explain the creative choices your group made in the
creation of your performance. You must identify the tone and purpose of your
performance and how your creative choices (set design, costuming, dialect, setting,
music) affect both of these elements. For example, if you make your performance into a
radio show you will need to defend this choice by explaining how this change in setting
affected the tone and purpose of the original scene.
Paragraph Four
In the final paragraph you must explain your role in the production of the scene. What
ideas did you contribute to the production? What role did you play within the
performance of the scene? How were you an active and productive member of your
group?
The Scenes!
Each group will have a chance to select a scene from the options below. No more than
two groups may perform the same scene. So choose quickly!
CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Preparedness Group is completely Group seems pretty Group is somewhat Group does not seem
prepared and has prepared but might prepared, but it is at all prepared to
obviously rehearsed. have needed a couple clear that rehearsal present.
more rehearsals. was lacking.
Volume Volume is loud enough to Volume is loud Volume is loud Volume often too soft
be heard by all audience enough to be heard by enough to be heard by to be heard by all
members throughout the all audience members all audience members audience members.
presentation. at least 90% of the at least 80% of the
time. time.
Interpretation of Group showed a clear Group showed a clear Group showed a clear Group clearly did not
Text understanding of the understanding of the understanding of the understand the text
original text, and then original text, and then original text, but did and did not make an
took it a step further and took it a step further not reinterpret the text attempt to reinterpret
interpreted the text in a and interpreted the in a new way. Tone it. Tone and message
new way (considering text in a slightly new and message of the have not been
dialect, setting, costumes, way. Tone and passage have not been considered and
music, lighting, and message have been clearly considered and incorporated into the
genre). Tone and somewhat considered incorporated into the performance.
message have been and partially performance.
clearly considered and incorporated into the
incorporated into the performance.
performance.
Props Group uses several props Group uses 1 prop that Group uses 1 prop The group uses no
(could include costume) shows considerable which makes the props OR the props
that show considerable work/creativity and presentation better. chosen detract from
work/creativity and which which make the the presentation.
make the presentation presentation better.
better.
Enthusiasm Facial expressions and Facial expressions and Facial expressions and Very little use of facial
body language generate a body language body language are expressions or body
strong interest and sometimes generate a used to try to generate language. Did not
enthusiasm about the strong interest and enthusiasm, but seem generate much interest
topic in others. enthusiasm about the somewhat faked. in topic being
topic in others. presented.
Written Score: