PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MASTER SYLLABUS
ACTING I
THEA 2200
Class Hours: 3.0   Credit Hours: 3.0  
Laboratory Hours: 0.0   Date Revised: Spring 01  
       
Catalog Course Description:    
  The mechanics of acting in terms of physical movement, body control and character-building techniques. Students will select and interpret various roles in class.
Entry Level Standards:    
  The student is expected to be able to read on a college level, write using correct spelling free of major grammatical errors, and employ primary research techniques to gather information.
Prerequisites:    
   None
Textbook(s) and Other Reference Materials Basic to the Course:  
  There is no textbook for the course.
I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:    
  Week Topic
  1 Overview.  Basic Principles.
  2 Relaxation and Observation
  3 Theatre Games
  4 Play Structure
  5 Objective/Goals/Intentions 
  6 Scene Work
  7 Theatre Exercises
  8 Character Development
  9 Sub-Text
  10 Scene Work
  11 Theatre Exercises (cont.)
  12 Scene Work
  13 Character Development (cont.)
  14 Final Scene Work
  15 Evaluation
  16 Final Exam Period
II. Course Objectives*:    
  A. Understand the importance of relaxation to effective performance I.5
  B. Recognize the value of highly developed skills of observation  I.5
  C. Understand how to represent human behaviors and emotions in performance  I.5
  D. Evaluate a script and discern the sub-text within the text.  I.2, I.5
  E. Identify Objectives and Obstacles within a text and play them.  I.5
*Roman numerals after course objectives reference goals of the university parallel program.
III. Instructional Processes*:     
Students will:      
  1. Participate in improvisational exercises and theatre games. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
  2. Watch live or recorded plays and films and write reports specifically critiquing the acting performances. Communication Outcome, Personal Development Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome, Active Learning Strategy, Transitional Strategy
  3. Read works (chosen from a selection) on the craft of acting and write a position papers on same. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome
  4. Keep a written daily journal on work done in class. Personal Development Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome
  5. Critique fellow class members’ scene work; Perform scene work in class and be critiqued on same. Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Active Learning Strategy, Transitional 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. Attain the state of relaxation and readiness necessary for performance. A
2. Replicate specific human behaviors in performance. B,C,D
3. Perform, from memory, a scene in front of a live audience. C,D,E
4. Interpret a script. C,D, E
5. Evaluate a performance. B,C
6. Give critical feedback on a performance. B,C
*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.
V. Evaluation:
A. Testing Procedures:
 N/A
B. Laboratory Expectations: 50% of grade
 Scene Work
 Participation in Class Exercises and Theatre Games
C. Field Work: 40% of grade
Play Reports
Book Reports
Class Journal
D. Other Evaluation Methods: 10% of grade
 Attendance
E. Grading Scale:
   A   =   94-100
   B+ =   90-93
   B   =   84-89
   C+ =   80-83
   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.