AngeloStateUniversityDepartmentofVisualandPerformingArts

TH4301:SENIORSEMINARClassSyllabus Prof.MikeBurnett Summer2017

CourseDescriptionThecapstonecourseforallareasofdrama,emphasizingportfoliodevelopmentandotherpreparationforentryintothedramaprofession. LearningObjectiveso Describetheinterrelationshipsofhis/hercourseofstudyinTheatreand

howthesecoursesrelatetoacareerinthediscipline.o Exploredifferentgraduateschoolrequirements&createapacketof

applicationmaterialso Developresume/coverletterforjobandgraduateschoolpositionso Completeacapstonecontenttestinhis/herdisciplinetodemonstrate

masterylevelofcourseworko Researchdifferentregionaltheatrehubs&Artssupportagencieso Completeamockaudition/portfoliopresentationo Evaluatehis/herindividualtranscriptstodetermineavarietyof

potentialcareeralternativesandlearntheexpectationsofprofessionalsinthosefields

Thestudentwilldeveloptheorganizationalpatterns,skills,andknowledgeessentialtoexcelintheprofessionalworldoftheatreoringraduateschool.

CourseRequirementsDiscussionFacilitationResume/CoverLetter/HeadshotGradSchoolPacketArtAgencyDiscussionRegionalHubDiscussionWebsiteAudition/PortfolioPresentationCapstoneExamParticipation

ContactInformationProfessorMikeBurnettE-mail:michael.burnett@angelo.eduOfficePhone:325-486-6190OfficeLocation:CarrFineArts/Education,Room#165OfficeHours:M/T/W/Th–byappointment

“Greattheatreisaboutchallenginghowwethinkandencouragingustofantasizeaboutaworldweaspireto.”-WillemDafoe“Allthebestperformersbringtotheirrolesomethingmore,somethingdifferentthanwhattheauthorputonpaper.That'swhatmakestheatrelive.That'swhyitpersists.”-StephenSondheim“Thetheatrewascreatedtotellpeoplethetruthaboutlifeandthesocialsituation.”-StellaAdler“Practicemeanstoperform,overandoveragaininthefaceofallobstacles,someactofvision,offaith,ofdesire.Practiceisameansofinvitingtheperfectiondesired.”-MarthaGraham

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TextsLetterstoaYoungArtistbyAnnaDevereSmith(allstudents)AuditionbyMichaelShurtleff(performance)ShowcasebyRafaelJean(design/tech)**GeneralistsandEducationmajorsmustchoosewhichfinalprojecttheywishtopursueandchoosetheappropriatetextAnoteaboutthetext...itdoesnotreallymattertomewhicheditionyouchoosetopurchaseforthisclass,providedthatifyouuseaneditiondifferentfrommine,youcheckwithmetomakesurethatthereadingassignmentsmatchup,andthattheinformationcontainedwithinisallthere.Itisalsopermissibletosharetexts,thoughitwillbedifficultattimesthroughoutthesemester.GradingPolicyGrade Distribution: DiscussionFacilitation 10Resume/CoverLetter/Headshot 10GradSchoolPacket 10ArtAgencyDiscussion 10RegionalHubDiscussion 10Website 10Audition/Portfolio 20CapstoneExam 10Participation 10 TOTAL 100A90-100B80-89.9

C70-79.9D60-69.9

F00-59.9

Thegradeof“C”isgivenforworkthatcompletesalloftheassignmentrequirementsandissubmittedontime.Grades“A”or“B”aregivenforworkthatmeetsthe“C”requirementsandclearlydemonstratesthoughtanddevelopmentinappropriateskillsandaestheticunderstanding.

IwillNOTacceptanylateassignments,exceptduetoexcusedillnesses.Eachassignmenthasbeencreatedsothatitemphasizesthecurrenttopicinclassandpreparesthefoundationsforthenextproject.Skippinganassignmentwillmorethanlikelybeahindranceanddetrimentaltoyourworkontheproceedingassignments.Critiques:Therewillbebothone-on-oneaswellasgroupcritiques.Wewillcritiquebothwork-in-progressandfinishedprojects.BeadvisedthatmembersoftheASUFacultyandothertheatreprofessionalswillbeinvolvedinsomecritiques.DuringcritiqueTheFullparticipationofeachstudentwillbeexpected.

GradeAppealProcessAsstatedintheASUOperatingPolicyandProcedure(OP10.03)astudentwhobelievesthatheorshehasnotbeenheldtoappropriateacademicstandardsasoutlinedintheclasssyllabus,equitableevaluationprocedures,orappropriategrading,mayappeathefinalgradegiventhecourse.Theburdenofproofisuponthestudenttodemonstratetheappropriatenessoftheappeal.Astudentwithacomplaintaboutagradeisencouragedtofirstdiscussthematterwiththeinstructor.Forcompletedetails,incudingtheresponsiblilitiesofthepartiesinvolvedintheprocessandthenumberofdaysallowedforcompletingthestepsintheprocess,seeOP10.03atwww.angelo.edu/opmanual/docs/Section_10_Academic_Policies-Students/OP_10.03_Grade_Grievance.doc

LecturesAlargeportionofthisclassistobedeliveredseminarstyle.Somedaysoftheclass,discussionwillbeleadbystudents.Onsomedays,theprofessorwillhaveapreparedlecture.Topicsforthelectureswillcomefromapollingoftheclassatthebeginningofthesemestertofindelementsofthetheatreprofessionorgraduateschoolthatareofinteresttotheclassbody.ElectronicDevicesStudentsareexpectedtouseallelectronics(personalandASU)inaresponsibleandcourteousmanner.Student’sthatdisruptclasswiththesedevicesorfailtofocusupontheircourseworkbecauseofinappropriateusagewillbeaskedtoleaveandwillreceiveanabsenceforthatday.

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AttendanceandParticipationPolicyQualityparticipationinclassisrequired.Studentscontributetothelearningenvironmentanddemonstratetheirunderstandingofthematerialbyparticipation.Therefore,attendanceisrequired!!!Studentsarerequiredtoattendallscheduledclassmeetings,arriveontime,stayfortheentireclassperiod,andparticipateinallactivities.Theattendancepolicyisasfollows:

ØAttendancewillbetakenatthebeginningofeachclassperiod.0-5minuteslatewillcountasatardy.Studentswhoaremorethan5minuteslateforclasswillbeconsideredabsentforthatclass.Tardinessisseriouslyfrownedupon.2Tardiescountas1absence.

ØMyattendancepolicyisstrict.Missing2classeswillloweryourfinalgradeby10%.Everyclassmissedafterthatwillresultinanother10%reduction.

ØMissingmorethan4classeswillresultinaFailinggradeforthesemester.ØStudentswholeaveclassearlywithoutpriorconsentwillbemarkedabsent.ØStudentswhoarelateforclassonpresentationdayswillonlybegiventheallottedclasstimeto

completetheirpresentation.ØAnexcusedabsencewillbegrantedonlyfordocumentedheathandfamilypurposes.(Thismeans

youmustprovide“officialdocumentation”suchasanofficialdoctor’s/clinicnote,anewspaperclipping,orofficialuniversityletteretc.tobeexcusedwithin24hoursofmissingtheclass.)

ØStudentsrepresentingASU(travelinggroups,classfieldtrips,etc.)willbegrantedanexcusedabsence,butpriornotificationmustbegiventomeinwritingatleastoneweekinadvance.

ØRemember,anabsenceisnotanexcuseforalateassignment.Ifyouhavepriorknowledgeofyourabsence(suchasaclasstrip),pleaseturninyourassignmentpriortoyourabsence.Note:Doctor’sappointmentsaretobescheduledatatimeastonotconflictwiththisclass.Havingadoctor’sappointmentisnotanexcuseformissingclass.

ØMissingclassonascheduledpresentationdaycanjeopardizeyourgradeforthesemester.Missingclassbecauseyouhaven’tfinishedanassignmentisaquestionablechoiceandresultsinbothalowergradeontheassignmentandthelossofvaluableclasstime.

ØRegardlessofattendance,youareresponsibleforclassnotes,handoutsanddeadlines.Therearenomake-ups.Ifyouareabsentontestdaysorwhenassignmentsaredue,youwillreceiveazeroforthatgrade.Pleaseseetheprofessoriftherearesomespecialcircumstances.

Rationale:Ivalueattendanceandparticipation.Aclassisonlyasusefulasthetimeyouputintoit,and,morethanlecturing,Ithinkwelearnfromactivediscussionanddebate.BaseScore:The10%pointsforparticipationincludescomingtoclassandparticipating,ifnotinthelargeclassdiscussion,inthesmallergroupsatleast.Ifyouarereserved,Iunderstand,andIwon’taskyoutodoanythingthatImightassigninclassthatanactormightenjoy.But,oralcommunicationisakeypartofthetheatreanditisessentialthatyoulearntocommunicateasatheatreartist.Usingclasstimetodiscussnon-classtopics,non-engagement,andabsencewilleatawayatyourgrade.TheCatch:Worsethanabsenceandnotparticipatingisactivelydetractingfromthelearningenvironment.Ireally,really,really,reallyhatehavingtostoptheclassbecausesomeoneischattingwiththeirfriends,writingnotestoeachother,makingfaces,texting,orreadingthenewspaper.Itisdisrespectfultothoseofyourclassmateswhohavepaidgoodmoneyandwanttolearnsomething.Thishasafarworseeffectonyourgrade.Inotherwords,ifIhavetosaysomethingtoyou,orifIjusthaveabadfeelingofanykindaboutyouthatday,Iwillsubtractpointsfromyourparticipationgrade.Ifyouarecontinuallydisruptive,Iwillaskyoutoleavetheclassroom,whichwillresultinanabsenceforthatdaybeingrecorded.TheSolution:Ifyoufeellikesleeping,chatting,giggling,orbeinganywhereelse,justdon’tshowup.Believeme,itwillbebetterforyourgradethanbeingaskedtoleaveclass.

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PlagiarismPlagiarism:Whatitmeanstodoit,andtheconsequencesofbeingcaught.Iwasastudentmyself,andIunderstandthepressuresstudentsfaceinthisdepartment.It'sgettingclosetotheendofthesemesterandyoujustopenedashow.Youhavetworesearchpapersdue,anactingscene,andsomefinalexams.Youhaven'tstartedonyourfinalprojectbecauseyou'vebeeninrehearsaleverynightuntilmidnight.Yourscenepartnerhasbeenflakingoutonyou.You'vefallenbehindinallofyourclasses-andyoudon'tparticularlylikeanythingwe'vestudiedinthisclass.Really-you'dratherdealwithanyotherassignmentsthanthinkaboutthisclass.Understandable.Youcancutdownonallofthis,youthink,ifyoujustfindsomequickmaterialontheinternetandcopyitin,workinsomeofthematerialfromyourfriend'snotes(youdidn'tgotoclassthedaywediscussedit),and"voila!"Apaper!Worseyet,youfindjustthepaperyou'relookingforfromtheinternet.Only$10apage...thisistooperfect!Afterthefinalexamyougetanemailfrommetellingyouthatyourpaperseemstomatchanotheronefoundonline.Itwillbeinvestigated.Youfindyourselfinadisciplinaryhearing-yourscholarshipisrevoked,youflunkTheatreHistoryor,worse,youareexpelledfromtheUniversity.Youwanttofinishyourdegreeelsewhere.Youauditionforanothergradprogram.They'dtakeyouinaheartbeat,theysay,butitappearsthatyouwereexpelledfromaschoolforacademicmisconduct;theycan'tpossiblyadmityoutotheprogram.Othergraduateprogramsturnyoudown.Employersforstupidbankjobsevenbalkatyourrecord.YouwasteyourlifeworkinginaninsuranceofficejobthatyourloserbrothergotyouinKalamazoo.Materialsthatareavailableforyoutoplagiarizeareavailabletometoreview.Ihavereadmostoftheprintedsourcesyouarelikelytouse,andIalsocanpurchaseready-madeessaysfromthesamevendors...iftheycanselltoyou,whatistostopthemfrommakingmoneyfromme?Plagiarismisalousyshortcut,notjustbecauseitleadstothetragicscenarioIoutlinedabove,butalsobecause:1.ProjectsandPapersputtogetherfromliftedsourcesareusuallyofpoorquality.Ifyouthinkthepeoplewhoproducethesepapersforhirearebetterwritersthanyou,thinkagain.Theyareusually'C'qualitypapersatbest.2.Youlosemyrespect,andtherespectofothersonfaculty.Itwillaffectthewayweevaluateyouinthefuture.3.Youcheatyourselfofanopportunitytolearn.Idon'tassignprojectsformyownenjoyment!IassignpapersbecauseIwanttogiveyouanopportunitytoexploreingreaterdepthatopicyoufindinteresting.Iwanttohelpyoulearntobeabetterwriter-toorganizeyourthoughts,tothinkonadeeperlevel,andtoanalyzematerialsmoreeffectively.Whatagreatopportunity!Youpaidalotofmoneyforsuchanopportunity-andyoucheatyourselfofthat.Thinkofhowmuchmoneyyouarewastingbyjust'gettingby.'Remember:Anypaperyouwriteyourself,withyourownresearch,willusuallybegoodenoughfora'B'gradeorbetter.Iappreciatetheeffortastudentputsintoaresearchproject.Findatopicyoulike.ASKMEifyouhaveanyproblems.Iamhappytohelpyou-evenifyouhavetoremindmeagazilliontimes.Itakeplagiarismveryseriously,andIWILLcatchyou.I'mterriblyzealousaboutit. So,don'tdoit. The above text was taken from http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jewestla/plagiarism.html and adapted in places to fit this course.

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AcademicAdvisingTheCollegeofArtsandSciencesandDepartmentofVisualandPerformingArtsrequirethatstudentsmeetwithaFacultyAdvisorassoonastheyarereadytodeclareamajor.TheFacultyAdvisorwillsetupadegreeplan,whichmustbesignedbythestudent,facultyadvisor,andthedepartmentchair.Communication,MassMedia,orTheatremajorswhohavequestionsaboutadvisingordeclaringamajorinthedepartment,cancall942-2031.UndeclaredmajorsaresupportedbyASU'sCenterforAcademicExcellencelocatedinLibraryA312,andcanbereachedat942-2710.AcademicHonorCodeViolationsofacademicintegrityareveryseriousmattersandareclearlydocumentedintheASUStudentHandbook.Theworkastudentsubmitsinaclassisexpectedtobethestudent'sownworkandmustbeworkcompletedforthatparticularclassandassignment.Plagiarismmeansintentionallyorknowinglyrepresentingthewordsorideasofanotherasone'sown.Thismayincludeyourownpreviouswork.Plagiarismincludesquotingorparaphrasingfromothersourceswithoutacknowledging/citingthesourceofyourinformationorpresentingquotedmaterialasyourownwords.Youmustbeveryclearaboutattributionofsourcesandyoumustknowhowtocitesourcesinapaper.PleaseseefullHonorCodePolicyathttp://www.angelo.edu/cstudent/documents/pdf/Student_Handbook.pdfNon-DiscreminationPrejudiceofanykindwillnotbeacceptedintheclassroom.Thisincludesage,race,politicalstance,religiouspreference,andethnicity.Studentsareallowedtodisagreeandvoiceopinionsiftheydosoinanon-offensivemanner.IncompleteGradesThegradeI(incomplete)isgivenwhenthestudentisunabletocompletethecoursebecauseofillnessorpersonalmisfortune.A grade of I can only be granted for documented health and family purposes. In the event of prolonged illness, please contact me personally or have a family member contact me as soon as possible. Furthermore, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office of Student Services at 942-2193 and document your circumstance. �Note: An incomplete will not be granted for students missing more than six (6) classes and/or for students who do not contact the Office of Student Services.AnIthatisnotremovedbeforetheendofthenextlongsemesterautomaticallybecomesanF.AgraduatestudentwillbeallowedoneyeartoremoveagradeofIbeforeitautomaticallybecomesanF.TograduatefromASU,astudentmustcompleteallI’s.StudentswithDisabilitiesAngeloStateUniversitycomplieswiththeAmericanswithDisabilitiesActinmakingreasonableaccommodationsforqualifiedstudentswithdisabilities.Ifyoususpectthatyoumayhaveadisability(physicalimpairment,learningdisability,psychiatricdisability,etc.),pleasecontacttheDeanofStudentLifeandStudentServicesat942-2191Ifyouneeddisabilityaccommodationsinthisclass,pleaseseemeassoonaspossible.InGeneralIdonotacceptlateassignments.However,ifyouarehavingtroublekeepingup-pleasecomeandseeme.Iwouldmuchratheryoucomeandtalktomethanletyourworkslide.Iaminduringmyofficehours,duringtheshop,andothertimes,andIcanbeeasilyreachedbyemail.YouwillfindIamusuallyprettyagreeableifyoutaketheinitiativeandcommunicatewithme.

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Formating/PaperRequirementsØ AllwrittenassignmentsaretobeTYPEDusingeitherTimes New Roman,Arial,Century,or

Cambria,inSize12ofcourse.Ø Double-spaced.Ø Allwrittenassignmentsshouldbewellthought-outandincompleteØ sentences.(FYI:Yes.No.arenotcompletesentences!)Ø Don’tforget:Spellcheckisyourfriend!Ø Proofreadinghelpsalot,too!Ø PapersmustbesavedinMicrosoftWordformat(either.docor.docx).Ifitisnotinthisformat,I

willnotgradeitandyouwillgetafailinggradefortheassignment.Ø AllAssignmentswillneedtobesubmittedviaBlackboardbytheassignmentdeadline.Iwillnot

acceptprintedpapers.Ø Lateassignmentswillnotbeaccepted.

ReadingsforClass/DiscussionTherewillbedatesthissemesterwherewewilldiscuss,indepth,LetterstoaYoungArtistandotherassignedreadings.Studentsareexpectedtoreadtheselection.Studentswillcompileashortlistof3comments/questionsoneachreadingandpostthemontheBlackboardblogPRIORtotheclassperiodbeginning.Studentsmustalsocommentonatleast2otherpostsperassignedreadingAFTERtheclassmeetsandBEFOREthenextclasssession.DiscussionFacilitation–LettersforaYoungArtistEachstudentwillbeassignedtoateamtoleadtheclassdiscussionoverasectionofthetext,LettersforaYoungArtist.Theteamshouldprepareadiscussiontolastnolessthan10minutesormorethan20minutes.DiscussionFacilitation–ArtAgencyEachstudentwillpresentinformationoveranArtAgency(foundinthebackoftheLetterstext.)Youshouldprepareahandoutandgiveabriefoverviewoftheiragencytolast7-10minutes.Theinformationshouldberelevanttotheclassandpresentinformationastothevalueoftheagencytoatheatreartist.DiscussionFacilitation–RegionalHubEachstudentwillpresentinformationoveraregionaltheatrehub.Youshouldprepareahandoutandgiveabriefoverviewoftheatresintheregion,costofliving,andotherimportantitemstoatheatreartist.Youwillchoseoneofthebelowhubs(noonemaypresentaduplicatehub)Atlanta Orlando Minneapolis Houston DFWChicago Seattle St.Louis Pittsburgh/Cleveland Charlotte

GraduateSchoolPacketEachstudentwillprepareagraduateapplicationpacketforatheatregraduateschooloftheirchoosing.Thepacketmustbecompletewithrequirementsfromtheschool,andelementscreatedtocompletetherequirements.StudentsmustalsoresearchtheGREandfindinformationregardingcostanddates.

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FinalExamThefinalexamforthiscourseisintheformofacapstoneexam.Thequestionswillcovertheatrecoursestakeninthecourseofyourstudytocompleteyourtheatredegree.GREOption–TheGREcanbetakeninlieuofthefinalexam.AstudentwhochoosesthisoptionmustnotifytheprofessoratthetimeofGREregistration(submittingproofofregistration),andsubmittheGREbeforethefinalexamperiod.Ascoreconversionwillbeappliedtocalculateyourfinalexamgrade.

Resume/CoverLetterEachstudentwillcreateanappropriatetheatricalresumeandcoverletter.Theseelementswillbecompletedintwoparts.Thefirstpartwillbecritiquedbytheclassasawhole,andthenreturnedtothestudentforrevisionbeforethefinalsubmission.WebsiteEachstudentwillcreateanappropriatepersonaltheatricalwebsitetomarketthemselvesasatheatreprofessional.Productionphotos,videos,resumes,headshots,andsamplesofdesignworkareamongtheareastobeconsideredforthewebpage.Thisassignmentwillbecompletedintwoparts.Thefirstpartwillbecritiquedbytheclassasawhole,andthenreturnedtothestudentforrevisionbeforethefinalsubmission.

Audition/PortfolioEachstudentmustcompleteeitheranauditionoraportfoliopresentation.AuditionRequirements:Thestudentwillcompileanotebookof20auditionmonologues,eachnotlastinglongerthan1minute.Thestudentcanreplaceamonologueswitha16barcuttingofamusicaltheatrenumber(upto5monologuescanbereplaced).Thestudentmustpresent5monologues/songs(memorized)atanaudition.Theauditionerwillselect2ofthemonologues/songsandthestudentwillselecttheother3topresent.Themonologuesshouldbefromdifferentgenresandtimeperiodsandstyles.Aresumeandheadshotwillbesubmittedaspartoftheauditionnotebook.PortfolioRequirements:Thestudentwillcreateadigitalandhardcopyportfolio,whichwillbepresentedtotheauditioner.Theportfoliomustbenoshorterthan20pagesandshowexamplesoftheatredesignortechnicalworkandotherrelevantart/theatrework.Educationmajors:Youmaychooseeitheranauditionorportfolio(oracombination),tailoredtoyoureducationaljobsearch.Generalistmajors:Youmaychooseeitheranauditionorportfolio.

PLEASENOTETIMEMANAGEMENTANDTIMELYTASKCOMPLETIONareessentialtosuccessinthiscourse!Blackboardassignmentsaredueat11amonthedaytheyarescheduled.Otherassignmentsaredueatthebeginningofclassonthedaytheyarescheduled.BackingUpFiles:Losingworkduetofaileddigitalmediaoroverwrittenfilesisnotanexcuseforlatework!Studentsareexpectedtoimplementaneffectivebackupstrategyforsavinganddocumentingalltheirdigitalfiles.NOTE:ASULabcomputersarenormallyerasedattheendofeachday.

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ClassCalendar Day Date Topic READING

ASSIGNMENT DUE (11am)

M 5-Jun Class Overview/Portfolios/Resumes - What can I do with a Theatre Degree??

T 6-Jun Job Searches/Resumes/Cover Letters

W 7-Jun Lecture TBD Letters: Basics

TH 8-Jun Resume critique - in class Resume - draft 1

M 12-Jun Websites, Cover Letter critique - in class Cover Letter - draft 1

T 13-Jun Lecture TBD Letters: Relationships W 14-Jun Resume Final Resume Final

TH 15-Jun Cover Letter Final, URTA Letters: Work Cover Letter Final

M 19-Jun Art Agency Presentations Art Agency Discussion

T 20-Jun Lecture TBD Letters: Matters of Mind

W 21-Jun Lecture TBD Letters: Matters of Heart

TH 22-Jun Website critique - in class Website - Round 1

M 26-Jun Regional Hub Presentations Regional Hub Discussion

T 27-Jun Lecture TBD Letters: Keeping the Faith

W 28-Jun Grad School Packet Grad School Packet

TH 29-Jun Lecture TBD Letters: Art/Society, Death of Cool

M 3-Jul Website Final Website - Final

T 4-Jul NO CLASS - 4th of July

W 5-Jul Audition/Portfolio Presentations

TH 6-Jul Final