Drama Essay Writing – TEEEL & VORCS Checklist

TEEEL – does your paragraph have… VORCS – does your paragraph use…
Topic  Introduce the key point and argument of Vocabulary  Use the words of the rubric
Sentence the paragraph  Use the terminology of the practitioners
 Connected to your thesis or overall  Quote from plays and books
argument  Vary your word use, consider synonyms
and referencing words to expand your
explanation
Example  Example from a play or from practitioner’s One Main  Outline your paragraph’s main theme or
work Point/Theme point in the topic sentence. Every
 Actually relevant to, and proves, your point sentence that follows should build your
of the paragraph. explanation of this point
 Do not recount – ensure you using the  Don’t waffle – stick to the point and be
example to start, or extend, your very direct with your explanation
explanation  No padding – don’t add words to sound
 E.g. “Meyerhold’s production of The smart; you won’t!
Government Inspector highlights the
effectiveness of stylisation…”
Explanation  Always write about how it is done and why Referencing  Underline titles of plays and books
it is done  Know the difference between the
 Do not recount what happened playwright and the director
 Link to how the Elements of Drama and  Mention the name of the company
production elements are used effectively producing specific productions you are
 How is dramatic meaning communicated writing about
to the audience?  Quote the practitioners and reference
 How is the audience engaged? their books (Boal, p.28)
 Why is this relevant to a contemporary  E.g. “Games for Actors and Non-Actors
audience? details very strongly the importance of
 Why is it effective? demechanising the body and dynamising
the senses.”
Experiential  Prove that you have experienced this first Cohesive  Given & New – linking sentences
hand Devices  Nominalisation
 Write about your performances and use of  Transitional words (‘and yet’, ‘but’, ‘in
techniques addition’, etc.)
 How did you stage a certain play or scene  Sentence patterns
to engage an audience?  Pronouns to refer back to something
 Use quotes from the plays or practitioners’ previously mentioned (‘the elements of
books drama used in this play are important,
 Use specific examples from productions they enable the director to craft an
you have seen and explain how and why engaging piece)
they were effective in engaging audiences
and communicating dramatic meaning
Linking  First sentence links from the previous Sentence  Simple sentences – to introduce or
Sentences paragraph? Structure emphasise a point – single clause
 Last sentence leads nicely into the next  Compound sentence – to explain and
paragraph? connect ideas – two independent clauses
 Each sentence builds on the last to create  Complex sentences – to explain in detail
detailed explanation? and extend analysis – dependent and
independent clause (use semicolons to
vary look and structure)

NOTE  You need to think about your writing! Sometime the above information is better suited to
two separate paragraphs – you do not want a paragraph that goes on and on forever!!! Proofread
your work and, when a new idea/point/theme occurs, you might need break up your writing into
more readable and cohesive paragraphs.