MW 10:30 –11:45
Room: HGH 124
Instructor: Barnaby Dallas
Office: HGH 137 (in the University Theatre)
Office Hours: M (2:30 to 3:30) T (1:00 – 3:00)
Phone: (408) 924-4573
Email: barndallas@ksjs.org
Course Objectives
This course has two primary objectives: to develop advanced academic writing composition skills and to introduce writing skills for professions within radio, television, video, multimedia, and drama.
Skills Developed
* the ability to respond critically in writing to a performance
* the ability to design and write a research paper
* the ability to perform library research
* a professional resume and cover letter
* the ability to rewrite effectively
* an advanced proficiency in punctuation, grammar, and general composition
Course Description
Writing skills will be developed and expanded through performance essays, responding in writing to assigned reading, the development and revision of a research paper, and professional industry specific writing.
In Class Response Essay
You will write three in class response essays to the assigned reading (500 words each). These essays will re-introduce you to the five-paragraph essay and the “styles of arguments” for the composition of a persuasive essay.
Content, grammar, and punctuation will be reviewed and class discussions on the reading will stem from these essays. All in class essays must be rewritten.
The Performance Essay
You will write and present a 750-word performance essay. This essay will review and critique a theatre, film, radio, or television performance. Content, grammar, and punctuation will be reviewed and the essay must be rewritten.
Reviews and editorials from The San Jose Mercury News, The New York Times, Newsweek, Variety, and other regional and national publications will be reviewed in class and serve as models for the performance essay.
The Interview
You will interview a working media or theatre professional and write a 750-word essay. The instructor must approve subjects and the interview will be presented in class.
The Research Paper
The paper will focus on some pioneering or “first effort” in television, radio, film, or theater. Find an actor, director, writer, or producer in your medium whose efforts (struggles, in most cases) introduced some new aspect in their field. This should be somebody you can learn from and use as a model for your career. You may also choose a specific performance that changed its medium.
Individual assignments will be given to help you develop your research paper over the semester. See the research paper assignment sheet for sample topics and all related assignments.
A Dramatic Scene
Dramatic principles and screenplay formatting will be reviewed in class and you will write a properly formatted dramatic scene. All scenes will be read in class and rewritten.
Industry Writing
You will be guided in the composition of professional resume, a cover letter, and a formal project / business proposal.
You will be encouraged to develop a project that you can pitch to your industry. For example: directors and writers will develop a story treatment and pitch for a movie, television show, or documentary. See the project assignment sheet for sample topics.
Assignments Words % of Grade
Performance essay 750 10
3 in class response essays 1500 10
10 abstracts 1000 10
Interview 750 10
Research paper. 2000 20
Dramatic Scene 1000 10
Resume / cover letter 250 10
Project 750 10
Oral presentations / class participation -- 10
Total 8000 100
All writing assignments are graded on a scale of 45-100 and are averaged at the end of the semester for the final course grade. All assignments will be rewritten and the rewrite grades will be used to determine your final grade.
Course Prerequisites
Passage of the WST, Upper-division standing, and completion of CORE GE.
Required Texts:
1. Zinsser, W. (1998). On Writing Well (6th Edition). Harper, Collins & Row.
2.Gibaldi, Joseph, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Sixth Edition)
Optional Texts:
See or read The Glass Menagerie, by Arthur Miller and Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. See class schedule for dates of performances.
TA 100 W Research Paper Guidelines
Assignment:
A library research paper (2000 words) to meet the following objectives:
1. an opportunity for increased background knowledge in your field of interest.
2. practice in doing library research
3. practice in writing a clear, interesting, informative essay.
Audience: Your scholarly peers.
Subject and Purpose:
The paper will focus on some pioneering or “first effort” in television, radio, film, or theater. Find an actor, director, writer, or producer in your medium whose efforts (struggles, in most cases) introduced some new aspect in their field. This should be somebody you can learn from and use as a model for your career. You may also choose a specific performance that changed its medium.
Some possibilities:
Film: Choose a director, actor, writer, or producer and examine the style or “look” that makes his or her work distinctive. What types of theme, subject matter, characterization surface in the work? How has this individual broke new ground? Introduction of a new genre? A new technique?
Theatre: Focus on an experimental or controversial work by a playwright, director, actor, or theatre group.
Television: Explore the first of any programming genre (sitcom, reality television, for example). Programming that broke new ground through casting, subject matter, writing, showing under represented groups.
Radio: Examine a revolutionary radio personality. Explore innovative formats.
Steps to Complete Research Paper:
1. Subject proposal: Explain your area of interest and a possible topic. These will be reviewed and discussed in class to help you narrow and develop your thesis.
2. Library orientation. On February 11th you will attend a session in the library with a research librarian. You will learn where to find sources in the library and what constitutes a good source.
3. Preliminary bibliography. (20 sources)
4. Present your thesis
5. Abstracts / annotated bibliographies. Give a brief summary of the source and how it is relevant to your paper. (10 sources)
6. Outline and oral presentation. Each student will hand in an outline and give a 5 to 10 minute presentation to the class.
7. Rough draft. This will be reviewed and given back to you for a rewrite.
8. Final paper.
(See syllabus for all due dates)