THR 100 Online - Introduction to Theatre Syllabus

Spring 2022
Instructor: Kim Seabright Martin
Email: [email protected]

Course Overview

This course is designed to initiate newcomers to theatrical production from various vantage points.
It offers a basic understanding of each area of theatrical collaboration including history, playwriting,
directing, acting, design, and critique. Through readings, viewings, and creative activities, students
will understand how these areas work independently and come together to create a unified theatre
production that allows a better appreciation for the difficult act of theatre-making.

Description of Course

This course introduces the main aspects of theatre-making in three distinct sections,
Section #1: Pre-rehearsal
• What is Theatre?
• Information about the play Fences, the play we will be working with over the course of the
semester.
Section #2: Rehearsal Process
• Dramaturgy
• Directing
• Acting
Section #3 In Performance
• Design
• Critiquing Theatre
The final for the course will ask to put all of these subjects together for a three-part project.

Required Texts & Technology

There are three texts and one film required for this course. The plays and coursepack are available
at Collegeville/The MSU Bookstore/Allegra and the film is available on various streaming platforms,
including Swank Digital Campus through the MSU Library. Here are the required materials for the
course:

Fences by August Wilson

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
THR 100 Coursepack (Find information in the "course pack" section of the module)
2016 film Fences directed by and starring Denzel Washington
https://digitalcampus-swankmp-
net.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/michiganstate305576/watch/513A0E9F2E1D91BF?
referrer=direct
The assigned readings for the course can be found in the online coursepack for THR 100 and must
be purchased by each student. To purchase this coursepack please follow these instructions:

Go to coursepack.allegra.net
 When you click "purchase" you will need to register and purchase the coursepack (cost is
about $18.00).
You will receive two emails from Allegra Printing, the second email contains a link to the read-
only PDF of the coursepack.
Additional readings, videos, music recordings, and artwork will be provided on D2L.
This course will be hosted on the Desire2Learn (D2L) system. Access to a regular internet
connection that can support streaming video is required to access the course and materials.
The technology used in the course through D2L will require access to some of the following sites:
YouTube and similar sites.
You may submit assignments in the following platforms: .docx, .doc, .pdf, .jpg, .png, prezi.
Any broken links or questions about instructions should be emailed to the instructor.
Issues with access and other larger questions should be directed to the D2L helpline. All assistance
communication information can be found here: help.d2l.msu.edu

Student Learning Outcomes:

The following outcomes are related to the Undergraduate Learning Goals outlined by MSU.

Students will be able to develop a critical understanding of the unique aspects of theatre.
Students will be able to demonstrate a historical perspective related to theatre history.
(Cultural Understanding)
Students will be able to demonstrate facility in writing about the theatrical form. (Effective
Communication)

Students will be able to mimic the creative design process for plays. (Effective
Communication, Analytical Thinking, Integrated Reasoning)
Students will be able to reinterpret theatre within new settings, eras and locations. (Cultural
Understanding, Effective Communication, Analytical Thinking)
Students will be able to eloquently critique the theatrical performance. (Effective
Communication, Analytical Thinking

Procedures for Accomplishing Objective:

1. Thoughtful and creative completion of class assignments.

2. Applied understanding of the terms and theory covered in readings and presentations. This
is accomplished through postings, papers, and related assignments.

Expectations of Students:

1. Assignments are meant to be completed on your own time and are due by the start of the
next scheduled class time.
2. Keep up with assignments and participate in postings according to deadlines.
3. All assignments are to be submitted through D2L. No email submissions will be accepted.
4. For ONE assignment, students can turn it in late with no penalty. If they are late, they must let
me know that they are using their freebie and I'll hold off on grading their assignment. Other
than this, NO late papers, posting, or projects will be permitted. NO make-up dates will be
permitted due to the process-oriented nature of the course
5. You will not share or post any intellectual property shared by the instructor or fellow
participants, including documents, presentations, course materials, group work topics, or any
 commentary or discussions shared during class time without the explicit consent of the
parties involved.
6. Respect, support, and encouragement of classmates through participation in discussion
postings.
7. When responding to discussion postings please be aware of how a tone can be
misinterpreted by other readers. So please respect your fellow virtual class members when
posting your responses. All discussion postings must respond to one point from the post
before it AND offer at least one new detail in your posting.

Alternate Assignments:

If a student requires an alternate assignment or reading due to concerns about content or trigger
warnings, it is their responsibility to get in touch with the course instructor to arrange this as soon
as possible. Waiting until right before an assignment or reading deadline to discuss these concerns
does not allow ample time for an alternate assignment to be arranged.
It is important to note that you, the student, will be held accountable for keeping up with
class assignments and projects. Deadlines detailed below.

Online Learning

For those of you unfamiliar with online learning, the onus is on the student to keep up with
assignments and participate in postings according to deadlines. The benefit of online learning is
your ability to work at your convenience and without distraction. The downside is that specific
questions or concerns may not be addressed as in a regular classroom on a regular basis. The
dialogue of the classroom and the exchange of ideas are replicated in this online version through
discussion forum postings. Your learning and study practices may be challenged through online
courses, but through diligence and adaptation, you may find this form of education a perfect match
for you.
Please note all deadlines throughout the course. This course has been designed to allow you to
work at your own pace but still requires that the instructor facilitates and guides the discussion
through feedback, notes, and posts that must adhere to deadlines.
The instructor will answer all questions via email and you can expect a response in most cases
within 48 hours if on a weekday. Emails are not answered on weekends.
All projects will be graded usually within TWO Weeks. You are expected to read
and synthesize these notes for future projects.
If you are having difficulties using D2L to access course materials, please get in touch with MSU
Distance Learning Services:

East Lansing area: (517) 432-6200

Toll-Free: (844) 678-6200 (North America and Hawaii)
Web: help.d2l.msu.edu

TURNITIN originality Check in D2L

Consistent with MSU’s efforts to enhance student learning, foster honesty, and maintain integrity in
our academic processes, instructors may use a tool in D2L called Turnitin OriginalityCheck to
compare a student’s work with multiple sources. The tool compares each student’s work with an
extensive database of prior publications and papers, providing links to possible matches and a
"similarity score." The tool does not determine whether plagiarism has occurred or not. Instead, the
instructor must make a complete assessment and judge the originality of the student’s work. All
submissions to this course may be checked using this tool. Students should submit assignments to
be screened by OriginalityCheck without identifying information included in the assignment (e.g.,
the student’s name, PID, or NetID); the system will automatically show identifying information to the
course faculty when viewing the submissions, but this information will not be retained by Turnitin.

Technical Considerations

If you have any questions or concerns related to your accessibility to the online course, such
as limited internet bandwidth, no webcam or other issues, please contact your instructor prior
to the start of class to problem-solve or discuss accommodations.
If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to need to report a problem,
you can:
Visit the Distance Learning Services Support Site:
https://lib.msu.edu/covid19/OnlineDistanceLearningResources/
Visit the Desire2Learn Help Site: https://help.d2l.msu.edu/
Visit the technology help and support website: https://tech.msu.edu/support/help/
Call Distance Learning Services: 1-800-500-1554 or 517-355-2345
Additional resources for technical accessibility can be found at:
https://tech.msu.edu/technology/accessibility/

Additional Student Resources for communication online

If you haven’t already, be sure to visit an excellent article for students at:
https://iteach.msu.edu/iteachmsu/groups/iteachmsu/stories/885
It addresses many online learning questions as well as sample emails for communication and many
other resources.

Grading Breakdown

There is a total of 300 points possible for the course.

Each assignment grade is evaluated on three criteria: “Application of course materials”,
“Quality of work”, and “Completion of work.”

Academic dishonesty will result in a course grade of 0.0.

Assignments and Projects

Assignments Points
Quizzes (7) 10 points each (70 points total)
Discussion Forum Postings (3) 20 points each (60 points total)
Written Assignments (4) 30 points each (120 points total)
Part One- Comparison Final 20 points
Part Two- Dramaturgy Final 15 points
Part Three- Mood Board Final 15 points
Total Points 300
Grading Scale
300-279 = 4.0 278-264 = 3.5

263-249 = 3.0 248-234 = 2.5

233-219 = 2.0 218-204 = 1.5

203-180 = 1.0 Below 180 = 0.0
Course Schedule
Week Section Modules Assignments

Syllabus Quiz: Due 1/16

Syllabus and What is What is Theatre Quiz: Due

1/10-1/16 Pre-Rehearsal 1/16
Theatre?
Discussion Post: Theatre
Experience: Due 1/16

Fences Quiz: Due 1/23

1/17-1/23 Pre-Rehearsal Fences Discussion Post: Themes
in Fences: Due 1/23
Dramaturgy Quiz: Due
1/24-1/30 Rehearsal Process Dramaturgy
1/30
Dramaturgy
1/31-2/6 Rehearsal Process Dramaturgy
Assignment: Due 2/6
Directing Quiz: Due
2/7- 2/13 Rehearsal Process Directing
2/13
Discussion Post:
2/14-2/20 Rehearsal Process Directing
Directing: Due 2/20
2/21-2/27 Rehearsal Process Acting Acting Quiz: Due 2/27
Acting Assignment: Due
2/28-3/6 Rehearsal Process Acting
3/6
3/7-3/13 SPRING BREAK
3/14-3/20 In Performance Design Design Quiz: Due 3/20
Design Assignment:
3/21-3/27 In Performance Design
Due 3/27
Critique Assignment:
3/28-4/3 In Performance Critique
Due 4/3
Comparison Final: Due
4/4-4/10 Final Project Part 1
4/10
Dramaturgy Final: Due
4/11-4/17 Final Project Part 2
4/17
Mood Board Final: Due
4/18-4/24 Final Project Part 3
4/24

Online SIRS evaluation policy

Michigan State University takes seriously the opinion of students in the evaluation of the
effectiveness of instruction and has implemented the Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS) to
gather student feedback (https://sirsonline.msu.edu). This course utilizes the online SIRS system,
and you will receive an e-mail during the last two weeks of class asking you to fill out the SIRS web
form at your convenience. In addition, participation in the online SIRS system involves grade
sequestration, which means that the final grade for this course will not be accessible on STUINFO
during the week following the submission of grades for this course unless the SIRS online form has
been completed. Alternatively, you have the option on the SIRS website to decline to participate in
the evaluation of the course. We hope, however, that you will be willing to give us your frank and
constructive feedback so that we may instruct students even better in the future. If you access the
online SIRS website and complete the online SIRS form or decline to participate, you will receive
the final grade in this course as usual once final grades are submitted.

University Policy and Procedures

Academic Integrity
Article 2.III.B.2 of Student Rights and Responsibilities states: “The student shares with the faculty
the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.”
In addition, the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities adheres to the policies on
academic honesty specified in General Student Regulation 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and
Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00,
Examinations.
Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course
assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any
source. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit
course work you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course. Also,
you are not authorized to use www.allmsu.com or other social media websites to complete any
course work in this course. Students who violate MSU regulations on Protection of Scholarship and
Grades will receive a failing grade in the course or on the assignment.Faculty are required to report
all instances in which a penalty grade is given for academic dishonesty. Students reported for
academic dishonesty are required to take an online course about the integrity of scholarship and
grades. A hold will be placed on the student's account until such time as the student completes the
course. This course is overseen by the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. Please,
see https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/academic-integrity/index.html for further information regarding
academic integrity at MSU and the academic dishonesty reporting system.

Note to Students with Disabilities

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all
programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may
be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on
the web at msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be
issued a Verified Individual Services Accommodation ("VISA") form. Please present this form to me
at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.).
Requests received after this date may not be honored.
Drops and Adds: The last day to add this course is the end of the first week of classes. The last
day to drop this course with a 100 percent refund and no grade reported may be found at
reg.msu.edu. The last day to drop this course with no refund and no grade reported may be found
at reg.msu.edu You should immediately make a copy of your amended schedule to verify you have
added or dropped this course.
Commercialized Lecture Notes: Commercialization of lecture notes and university-provided
course materials is not permitted in this course.**
Attendance: Students whose names do not appear on the official class list for this course may not
attend this class. Students who fail to attend the first four class sessions or class by the fifth day of
the semester, whichever occurs first, may be dropped from the course.
Internet: Some professional journals will not consider submission for publication if the article has
appeared on the Internet. Please notify your instructor in writing if you do not want your course
papers posted to the course Web site.ers posted to the course Web site.
Disruptive Behavior: Article 2.3.5 of the Academic Freedom Report for Students (AFR) for
students at Michigan State University states: "The student's behavior in the classroom shall be
conducive to the teaching and learning process for all concerned." Article 2.3.10 of the AFR states
that "The student has a right to scholarly relationships with faculty based on mutual trust and
civility." General Student Regulation 5.02 states: "No student shall . . . interfere with the functions
and services of the University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or
service is obstructed or disrupted. Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning
environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student-
Faculty Judiciary process.
**Note: The Code of Teaching Responsibility requires instructors who permit students
to commercialize their class lecture notes to include a statement in their course syllabi that gives
such permission. Absent such permission, students may not do so.