University Of Southern California



University Of Southern California

Course Syllabus

SOT #-495 section 63214

Course Name: Experimentals

Title: #495 section 63214

Units: 2

Session: Spring 2008

Instructor: Cheryl Gates McFadden

Office Phone: (213) 740-9293 (USC SOT Office)

Email: gmcfadde@usc.edu

Office Hours: Mon/Wed 11:50am — 12:50 pm. PED room 208 or by appointment please. Students are encouraged to use office hours as an opportunity to speak privately with the instructor about individual in-class progress.

Time: 1 p.m. until 2:50pm

Days: Monday and Wednesday

Location: PED 202

Final Exam: Wednesday, May 12th 8-lOam

Course Description

This course will be a semester’s work on a particular theme/s chosen jointly by the teacher and students. The first half of the semester will involve creative research, creative writing, leading to the development of written and visual images which will be crafted by the class into a theatre presentation at the semester’s end. Students will explore a variety of texts and media during class exploration of the themes. Original text by the students written for assignments will be used during the rehearsal process, and perhaps for the final presentation.

Goals and Objectives

1. To work as an ensemble in the development of a script.

2. To sharpen improvisational skills which may lead to text and physical representations.

3. To examine the theme/s through many different lens

Process and Progression

Week 1 1/4 Intro and course outline/ first writing exercise

1/6 Begin discussion of themes/ second writing exercise

Week 2 1/21 National Holiday. Class canceled

1/23 presentation and improvisation with material

Week 3 1/28 Action figure assignment

1/30 final decision of theme choice/ improvisation

Week 4 2/4 DEVELOPiNG THE PIECE WITH TBA ASSIGNMENTS

2/6 “ “ “

2/13 “ “ “

Week 6 2/18 “ “ “

2/20 “ “ “

Week 7 2/25 “ “ “

2/27 “ “ “

Week 8 3/3 “ “ “

3/5 “ “ “

Week 9 3/10 Midterm text sequenced and assembled

3/12 Presentation of scenes

SPRING BREAK

week of March 17

Week 10 3/24 Begin rehearsals of material

3/26 “ “ “

Week 11 3/31 “ “ “

4/2 “ “ “

Week 12 4/7 “ “ “

4/9 “ “ “

Week 13 4/14 “ “ “

4/16 “ “ “

Week 14 4/21 Final assemblage of material, props and set pieces

4/23 Tech and dress Rehearsal period begins

Week 15 4/28 “ “ “

4/30 “ “ “

Final Exam: Final Presentations in Massman, 5/1 5/2

~Process and progression subject to change according to the needs and progress of the group ~

Grading

30 Preparation/ exploration of Ideas/ application of techniques learned in class/ research efforts/ adjustments and evolution in work from week to week

40 Participation and showing up for class and rehearsals

This includes: students’ engagement in exercises in class and group projects and rehearsals, and the student’s contribution of ideas on a consistent basis.

30. Completion, presentation and execution of all projects and final

presentations. There should be an evident understanding of the

course work in the presented projects

100. total points

This is a semester course with the objective of understanding the acting process through improvisation, theater games and acting exercises. The student will learn by doing. Attendance is extremely important. A student’s grade will be reflected by their attendance, preparation, and individual participation as well as participation within assigned groups.

Rules for the class: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Try to attend all classes. Notify me ahead of time if you will miss class. After three absences your grade is in serious jeopardy. Students must bring assigned work in on the day it is due. Class will begin every week with relaxation/concentration exercises.

TEXT Assignments

Reading handouts

Note: Please assemble your scene paperwork into an organized format. Please always have your class binder with you with all handouts.

You are to familiarize yourself with these texts and when assigned, commit them to memory.

Outside research will be required.

Final Presentations

Experimental final presentation will be a required both as a participant and as an observer.

Attendance and Time Requirements

1. Students are expected to be in class: dressed, and ready to work by 1pm sharp.

2. Attendance is mandatory.

3. Three episodes of tardiness equal 1 absence.

4. Late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor.

Guidelines

Failure to adhere to the following guidelines will significantly affect the Class work portion of your grade.

Students should dress in movement attire. Refrain from wearing jeans or clothes, which may inhibit their full range of movement unless it is a specific choice for personal clown work. During clown improvisations actors are required to wear their chosen or evolving costume and to bring all necessary props and equipment for their exercises to class.

Note from the DSP

Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability

Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be

obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to

TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is open Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00. The office is in Student

Union 301 and their phone number is (213) 740-0776.

Note on Academic Integrity

Dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students, and the School of Theatre. Therefore, USC policies on integrity will be enforced in this course. Papers suspected of containing plagiarized material (the unacknowledged or inappropriate use of another’s ideas’ wording, or images) will be verified for authenticity by the School of Theatre through internet services. I expect you to familiarize yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current “SCcampus” usc.edu/deptlpublications/scampus).

This syllabus serves as your contract for course THTR --495 Spring Semester 2008.

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