We will be creating a literary community through reading, writing, and blogging; discovering classic dramatic literature from the past and present through voices from around the world. I want you to learn how literature makes us know that we are not alone; we are spiritually connected and can feel safe.
How will we do this?
Dramatic Literature is more about teaching students to read and write with greater insight, as well as a chance to help students develop a genuine sense of empathy through literature. This course hopes to re-examine the entire idea of “rigor” by implementing global citizenship into every aspect of the curriculum, making it a richer experience and creating a model for curriculum at Andover High School. Each section of the unit will have three components:
1) Global Citizenship
2) Well-chosen plays which connect to the former from the past and present.
3) Experiences where students find connections in drama to themselves and the world.
The framework of the course will consist of a series of existential questions from Dr. William Gaudelli’s research. Each question, piece of literature, and overall learning experience will build on the next. Toward the end of term two, students will be having experiences where they combine all these elements and have direct contact with students from another country, students from an adjoining city, and share their work in a public forum.
In addition, I reworked “grading” last year and students found it highly rewarding. My grading system focuses on the big picture, student personal growth, enthusiasm, participation, authenticity, and passion for the ideas we discuss.
I hope you enjoy the course, and I look forward to sharing in this journey with all of you!
Major Themes & Talking Points
- Why drama?
- The line between comedy and tragedy
- How does one define reality?
- What is truth? Does it even exist?
- Ghosts! Link between past, present, and future
- Is there such a thing as self-identity?
- What is the cost of being truly authentic?
- Dealing with death and mortality
- The paradox: How does it get to the heart of a matter?
- What constitutes good writing?
- Developing a personal writing style
- Public speaking through performance
Major Works
- Allegory of a Cave by Plato
- Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen
- The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
- Wit by Margaret Edson
- Holy Sonnets by John Donne
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
- Shakespeare's Sonnets
- A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
- Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare
- Proof by David Auburn
Assessments
Class Participation, Blogs, Daily Meditation Journal, and Homework 50%
Every night you will read a selection from the works above and compose a blog response. If you are absent, please view the blog and respond when you are able. Criteria and rubrics for the above will be made available. At the beginning of every class, I will read a piece of literature to bring you in the present followed by a five minute free write to be composed in your meditative journal. I will check these at the end of the term.
Writing & Performances 50%
This category includes all major writing assignments, screenplays, and final performances. Criteria and rubrics for the above will be made available.
Turnitin.com
Class ID: 22103951
Enrollment Key: princehamlet
Aspen
Grades and progress reports will be consistently posted on Aspen. It is your responsibility to track your progress.
Classroom Behavior
Students must adhere to the rules of conduct outlined in the Andover High School Student Handbook 2018-2019 edition. If you act like an authentic adult, you will be treated in kind.
No cell phones, ever. I do not want to see them.
Evan Meltsakos
ReplyDelete9/4/19
Death of a Salesman
This summer past summer was not too exciting in terms of reading due to the fact that I didn’t read any of the books from the list. Last year in Survey of American Literature I read multiple books novels in class. Out of all of them I was very interested in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. I was shocked by how Willy Loman’s confused and chaotic emotions and mind were displayed at the very beginning of the novel. As I was reading, I felt like I was listening to Willy fight with himself and his wife at the same time. He would contradict himself a lot like when he was talking to his wife Linda about Biff and said, “Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. That’s one thing about Biff-He’s not lazy.” Willy would also switch topics as he is speaking, which shows that there is so much going on in his mind. One example is when he said, “There’s more people!That’s what’s ruining this country!The competition is maddening!Smell the stink from that apartment house!And the one on the other side...How can they whip cheese?
In my opinion, Willy’s rapidly changing behavior and life crisis at his age is very relatable to people today in the workforce. From what I have observed, people with tough jobs that require a lot of hard work tend to age faster mentally and it is seen by friends or family. Because I was able to relate to the novel so easily, I would definitely put Death of a Salesman up there on the list.