Read instructions and grading criteria carefully.
As I can only guarantee to respond to emails within 48 hours,
you must contact me with questions regarding the exam well in advance of the due date. Late policy: 5% deducted per day – not accepted after April 19th
Course objectives being evaluated (from course syllabus):
This exam is in two parts.
o Part One: a 750 word essay responding U of A’s production of Rough Magic (20 marks)
o Part Two: a 500 word essay responding to the climate crisis resources we’ve engaged with (10 marks)
Formatting: Use: a .doc or .docx file, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font. Use MLA in-text citation, author page style in text bracketed citations to indicate the source of the material you are quoting or paraphrasing. For example: A director “hopes to make the work of many look like the work of one creative mind” (Hischak 110).
Cite the source of all material you are discussing from the course. All sources should be organized alphabetically by author’s surname on a separate Works Cited page following MLA Style. Note: Improper or incomplete citations will result in a failing grade.
Part One: / 20 marks
Describe how the aesthetic and practical functions of at least two design elements (e.g., set, costume, lighting, sound) contribute to or hinder the overall unified impact of Rough Magic. Further to this, discuss how the design elements you choose to engage with impact the performer / audience relationship.
→ Note:
This is not a review of the play, but a demonstration of your ability to interpret a performance.
Be sure to include the names of the theatre artists you are discussing when referencing their work. Not
only is this respectful of the artists it also helps you in your analysis to focus on the choices and discuss them. This is especially important when discussing characters and actors – as it is common to conflate (or ignore) the actor when they are portraying a character realistically. Also include playwright’s name and company that produced the work when first mentioning it.
Part Two: / 10 marks
Citing at least three of the climate crisis resources from our course work, develop an argument regarding the place of theatrical work in responding to the climate crisis. You may choose to focus on higher level conceptual structures of theatre in a socio-historical context, or the practical everyday choices that theatre artists make in developing productions (or a combination of the two). In formulating your answer be sure to ground your discussion of theatre using the concepts and terms we engaged with in our study of theatre history and production. You may refer to the production of Rough Magic if it helps support your argument.
• Recognize and critically analyze elements of [a] live and / or recorded theatrical production using theatrical concepts and vocabulary learned in class to appraise how each element relates to the whole, contributes
to meaning-making
• Explain and relate to the complex collaboration that produces a live performance and the significance of
the audience / performer dynamic within a socio-historical context.
Essay Grading Criteria (see letter grade to percentage breakdown below):
Accuracy
• if everything you state is accurate and includes complete citations, but you don’t engage in the next levels, you will pass with a D-D+
Understanding & Engagement with resources (production or course materials)
• if you are able to include perceptive descriptions or paraphrases in your accurate discussion of the production on stage or the climate change resources you choose your essay will be in the C range
Synthesis of course concepts
• if you accurately demonstrate your understanding through synthesizing the course concepts in response to the production or the climate change resources, your essay will be in the B range
Argument
• if you assert and support a thesis1 that is accurate, and has an insightful engagement with the production or climate change resources that synthesizes course concepts to argue for an original understanding of the play and / or course materials, your essay will be in the A range
Resources：
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ualberta/reader.action?docID=5730471
https://howlround.com/chantal-bilodeau-breaking-aristotle-and-finding-new-ways-tell-stories-onstage
https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/pluginfile.php/10522086/mod_resource/content/3/Queer%20Climate%20Performance%20Art%20in%20the%20Most%20Unlikely%20Places%20_%20HowlRound%20Theatre%20Commons.pdf
