PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE  MASTER SYLLABUS
ORAL INTERPRETATION SPH 2800
Class Hours: 3.0								Credit Hours: 3.0
Laboratory Hours: 0.0								Date Revised: Spring 00
Catalog Course Description:
	Art of reading aloud; development of interpretive techniques--both individual and group--and their application to selected passages of prose, poetry, and drama.
Entry Level Standards:
	There are no prerequisites for SPH 2800 but the student should have a general (high school) knowledge of literature and a willingness to perform.  No demonstrated competency in performance is required.  Students will need to schedule rehearsal time with other students for group projects.
Prerequisites:
	None
Textbook(s) and Other Reference Materials Basic to the Course:
	Oral Interpretation by Charlotte I. Lee and Timothy Gura (Houghton Mifflin Co.).
I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:
	Week					Topic
	1					Overview.  Basic principles of oral interpretation
	2					Analyzing a selection
	3					Individual readings
	4					Individual readings, literary genre and form
	5					Vocal development/individual readings
	6					Use of the body in oral interpretation
	7					Interpretation of prose.  The use of narration
	8					Individual readings.  Techniques of drama
	9					Drama readings.  The structure of poetry
	10					Poetry readings
	11					Readers' Theatre/Chamber Theatre
	12					Staging Reader's Theatre productions/in-class exercise in Readers' Theatre
	13					Individual final programs
	14					Individual final programs
	15					Individual final programs/evaluation
	16					Final Exam Period
II. Course Objectives*:
	A.			Better understand the basic structures of literature.  I.2, I.5
	B.			Relate literary intent to performance.  I.5
	C.			Perform to a higher level of competency.  II.1, II.2
	D.			Organize the basics of staging a performance.  I.5
	E.			Understand the basics of staging a performance.  I.5
	F.			Grasp the problems and necessities of rehearsal.  I.5, III.2, III.3
	G.			Prepare group presentation.  I.5
	H.			Organize rehearsal and performance through group dynamics.  III.3
*Roman numerals after course objectives reference goals of the university parallel program.
III. Instructional Processes*:
Students will:
	1.				Research and write reports on a specific aspect of Oral Interpretation. Communication Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Information Literacy Outcome
	2.				Develop research skills using the Internet and library resources to find information pertinent to essays requiring documentation. Communication Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Information Literacy Outcome, Transitional Strategy
	3.				Stand in front of an audience and deliver a well-rehearsed reading/performance. Communication Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
	4.				Critique each other to give feedback, to help classmates improve, and to understand more thoroughly principles of Oral Interpretation. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Personal Development Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
*Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference Pellissippi State's goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process.
IV. Expectations for Student Performance*:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
	1.			Analyze literature through plot structure, theme, mood, and character.  A
	2.			Compare the literary structure of one genre with another.
	3.			Discover the author's and/or critics' views of literary works.  B
	4.			Discover how some literary works relate better to oral interpretation and why that is.  B
	5.			Accept evaluative criticism of elements of verbal and nonverbal performance style.  C
	6.			Dissect, edit, and combine literary material to form a performance script.  D
	7.			Block, costume and stage a reader's theatre performance.  E
	8.			Script, rehearse, and perform literary material.  D, F
	9.			Write narration and stage directions for a reader's theatre.  G
	10.			Appreciate the various needs of readers and technicians in order to run an efficient rehearsal/performance.  H
*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.
V. Evaluation:
	A. Testing Procedures: 15% of grade
			15% of final grade comes from quizzes which cover lecture and textbook material.
	B. Laboratory Expectations: 20% of grade
		20% of final grade comes from two papers that will be assigned related to concepts discussed in class.
	C. Field Work: 65% of grade
		65% of final grade comes from five in-class readings/performances. The grades are broken down as follows:    a. First reading (10 %)    b. Second reading (10 %)    c. Third reading (10 %)    d. Fourth reading (10 %)    e. Fifth reading (25 %)
	D. Grading Scale:
		A   = 94-100 B+ = 90-93 B   = 84-89 C+ = 80-84 C   = 74-79 D   = 70-73 F   = 69 or below
VI. Policies:
	Attendance Policy:
		Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to attend all scheduled instructional activities. As a minimum, students in all courses must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course. Individual departments/programs/disciplines, with the approval of the vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, may have requirements that are more stringent. Since much of the practical learning is classroom-based in performance and instructor/peer evaluation, student attendance is required in the course. The same standard for absenteeism for all Speech Communication/Theatre performance courses applies:  a student may miss no more than the equivalent of two weeks (12.5%) of class without making up the absences through attending other classes approved by the teacher or completing other assignments at the teacher's discretion.  If a student misses more than 25% of his/her classes the student fails the course.