Mon 3/22--Playwriting 101 Online Assignment

Quarter 4—Plays & Screenplays (Per. 3 & 4)

For the Play Unit, you and a partner will be writing a short dilemma play that would be appropriate for other students (maybe drama students) to act out. Hopefully some of these will be acted out in class or on stage at AHS. For today, start looking at the basics of playwriting.

We will continue sharing your short stories when I get well & return!

Part I—Playwriting 101

On a Word Document, answer the following questions about plays using this link: http://www.playwriting101.com/

Chapter 1
1. Write down the most common types of plays (4).

Chapter 4
2. Take notes on the Top Ten List for Story Development (just write down the essence of each tip).

Chapter 10
3. Look at how to write a setting and then try writing a setting in that format.

Chapter 12
4. Try writing a some play dialogue using the format shown.

Click here: Dialogue Pages Format
5. Write about 1 page of a “pretend” play using this format.

After you write a play, you will be writing a screenplay.
Read this article about Five Reasons why writing plays helps you become a better screenwriter.
6. Write down the Five Reasons why writing plays helps you become a better screenwriter.

7. Go to this link and pick another article that interests you about playwriting.
Write down five things that you learned.

Homework Due This Thurs 3/26:

Author Talk (about 1 page—typed and double spaced)—Per. 3 ONLY

Assignment: You, the author of your stories, will be reflecting on your insights into your writing. Be prepared to share these with the class on Thurs block 3/26.

1. What inspired you to write these stories? What were some of your influences (books, other writers, things in life)? Refresh us first on what your stories were about.

2. Most writing has a theme (overall message or meaning). Themes are not just one word like “violence” but a statement like “violence begets violence” or “all is fair in love and war”. What were some of your themes in your stories?

3. What have you learned about your writing process during this short story project?

4. What is your revision/editing process?

5. What part of the creative process came easy for you? What was hard?

6. What do you feel confident about in your writing? (Find at least one thing and explain it!)