Theater I

Students experience an overview of theatre from the point of view of audience, technician, and performer including acting techniques to gain an appreciation for theatre arts.

UNITS OF STUDY:  

• Theatre Appreciation

• Pantomime

• Technical Theatre and Production

• Acting through Vocal Qualities

• Storytelling through Monologue

• Scene Study

• Improvisation

• Listening & Reacting

• Acting with Realism

• Critiquing Skills

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

 Theater II

Students will have a more developed understanding of acting choices through criticism, analysis, and performance of comedic and dramatic texts from the perspective of the actor as well as the director.

UNITS OF STUDY:  

• Playwriting

• Audition Process

• Subtext

• Greek Tragedy

• Shakespeare

• Advanced Improvisation

• Advanced Characterization

• Advanced Contemporary Drama

• Film Acting

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

Stagecraft & Design I

Students will engage in the theatrical production process by studying aspects of technical theatre such as set design/construction, lighting, sound, makeup/costume design, props, publicity, and stage management.

 UNITS OF STUDY:  

• Theatre History

• Play Analysis

• Theatre Roles

• Set Construction

• Set Design

• Painting Techniques

• Lighting Techniques & Design

• Sound Design

• Property Design

• Directing

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

Stagecraft & Design II

Students will design a story without the use of performers through the use of various advanced technical aspects learned in Stagecraft and Design I.

 UNITS OF STUDY:  

• Advanced Play Analysis

• Advanced Set Construction

• Advanced Set Design

• Advanced Lighting Techniques & Design

• Advanced Sound Design

• Advanced Directing Techniques

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

Creative Writer's Workshop

In this course, students will craft several independent creative writing projects.  However, students choose their topics and genres (i.e. poetry, plays, comics, lyrics, stories, novelettes, memoirs).  You will collaborate with classmates and the instructor to establish your genres, topics, rubrics, deadlines, personalized writing goals and to give/receive feedback.  Class time will also focus on mini-writing lessons, warm-up exercises, and individual writing time.  You may repeat this course up to four times.

During each class period, you will either be engaging in:

1. Warm-ups to stimulate creativity.

2. Whole or small group lessons on specific writing goals.

3. Small group feedback workshops on your writing.

4. Writing on the computers or by hand.

5. Reading each other’s work to prepare for workshops.

During the semester, you will:

1. Pick writing skills you would like to improve by the end of the semester.

2. Design 4  projects in any genre to complete by the end of the semester.  The following are samples of projects that I would

3. Design a SKILLS RUBRIC for each project that includes the Writing Skills you will focus on for the current project.  Select

4. Take each project through an extensive drafting, work-shopping, revising, and editing process.

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

Journalism

Journalistic writing is an investigation of the rights, responsibilities, information gathering processes, writing techniques, and influence of the American media. Students will examine and write in a variety of professional formats, including but not limited to newspaper articles, entertainment reviews, editorials, and broadcast reports.

UNITS OF STUDY:  

• • What is journalism?

  • The effect and format of modern media

  • Journalism ethics

  • War journalism and objectivity

  • Journalism and Democracy

  • Creation of various article types

  • Current events discussion

  • Article analysis

  • Communication through digital media (discussion boards, blogs, online articles, etc.)

  • Independent study

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

Speech

Speech is a performance-based course in which students study, practice, and perform the skills of oral communication. Students will perform a variety of speeches, develop effective speaking and listening techniques, evaluation skills and media literacy, and understand and employ techniques of persuasion.

 UNITS OF STUDY:  Major Assignments / Assessments:

• 1. Developing Confidence: students will perform a series of mini speeches during which time they will begin to develop the basic skills for effective speaking.

  2. Understanding Communication Theory: students will learn about basic communication theory, verbal messages, articulation, nonverbal communication, and concepts of decoding and listening.  Possibly assignments include written analysis of personal communication.  

  3. Preparing a Speech: students will learn the following elements of speech preparation:

  4. Informative Speeches: students will learn how to prepare and give the following speeches:

     1. Process/demonstration speech

     2. Expository speech

     3. Group Expository w/Power Point

  5. Persuasion: students will explore ways to explain their views while developing persuasive speaking skills.  Assignments will include:

     1. Evaluating research materials for the purpose of persuasion

     2. Mini persuasive speeches

        1. Emotional Appeal

        2. Evidence or Opinion

        3. Sales Pitch

  6. Practical/Special Occasion: students will explore ways to entertain during their speeches in practical applications for life.  Such speeches may include:

     1. Wedding Toasts, Graduation Speech, Farewell Speech, Acceptance Speech, Eulogy…

For additional information you can view the course syllabus.

AP SEMINAR

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations.

• Skill-based course engaging in inter-disciplinary study of academic & real world issues

• Analyze 2-4 relevant issues chosen by student and/or teacher to strengthen analytical & inquiry skills

• Consider issues from multiple perspectives, evaluate the strength of arguments, collaborate & communicate using various media

• Practice reading/analyzing articles; research studies; foundational, literary & philosophical texts; listening to & viewing speeches, broadcasts & personal accounts; and experience artistic works & performances

AP RESEARCH  

AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Building on skills acquired in AP Seminar, students will reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work into a portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words with a presentation and oral defense.

• Design, plan and conduct year-long research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest

• Portfolio documentation of scholarly 

• understanding of real-world problems & issues

• Learn research methodology, ethical practices, and access, analyze & synthesize information

• Orally defend an argument