IGCSE+Drama+10

** Welcome to IGCSE Drama 10 Semester One 2009 - 2010. ** This page contains assessment tasks and rubrics for students in the grade 10 IGCSE drama task. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me on: ngregoriades@stmaur.ac.jp or through the discussion thread of this page.

__ASSESSMENT ONE: Group Scripted Performance.__ You will develop the two scenes we have already selected from //Steel Magnolias// for performance. Think carefully about your character (remember Stanislavski's Fundamental Questions!) and her relationship with the other women in the scene. How are you going to manipulate the elements of acting (voice, physicality/movement, facial expression, energy, focus) to create a believable and multi-layered character? You will also need to start thinking like a director and manipulating elements such as atmosphere, pacing, tension, blocking and contrast to create a clear and engaging scene. Remember also to use the elements of stagecraft (set, costume, props, lighting, sound and make-up) to help create meaning and atmosphere from the script. Always, always refer back to the script when making decisions for performance. The script is the blueprint and will give you the clues you need. One important thing to be aware of it the style in which the script is written. If a script is comic, it will feel very awkward to an audience if it is performed as a tragedy. Identify the style of the script early on in rehearsal and find ways of bringing the style out. Having said that, there is also A LOT of room for you own interpretation of the script. All well-written scripts give the actor and director (and you need to start thinking of yourselves in both of these roles) room to manouver and create. You will be assessed on your acting technique, your contributions toward the rehearsal process and your ability to work well within an ensemble. This piece will be presented in front of an audience during dress rehearsal and filmed at a later point as part of your IGCSE coursework. 
 * __ Task Title: Group Scripted Piece __**



||  || ** Grade D ** ||   || ** Grade C ** ||   || ** Grade B ** ||   || ** Grade A ** ||

// Do you recognise the possibilities for interpretation in a script? Do you develop these possibilities in your performance? Do you use the elements of directing (i.e. blocking, pacing, intentions, tension, contrast, mood) to develop the script into an effective piece of theatre? // // Do you use stagecraft elements (i.e. lighting, sound, costume, props and make-up) to enhance your piece? // ||  || You see one or two possibilities in the script and attempt to develop them.
 * **//__ Devising Dramatic Material from Scripts __//**

You use a few of the elements of directing but not to good effect.

You use a few of the elements of stagecraft but not to good effect. ||  || You understand the possibilities in the script and you develop some of them.

You use some of the elements of directing to good effect.

You use some of the elements of stagecraft to good effect. ||  || You understand the possibilities in the script and you develop most of them through a skilful use of the elements of directing and stagecraft. ||  || You understand the possibilities in the script and you develop them through a skilful use of elements of directing and stagecraft. ||

// Does your use of voice, movement, body language, gesture, blocking, pacing, tension and contrast make the story clear and engaging for an audience? // // Do you perform with an awareness of the style of the piece? // ||  || You use some of the elements of acting to make the story clear. ||  || You use most of the elements of acting to make the story clear. You perform with a degree of stylistic awareness. ||  || You use most of the elements of acting to make the story clear and engaging. You perform with some stylistic awareness. ||  || You use most of the elements of acting to make the story clear and engaging. You perform with sensitive stylistic understanding. ||
 * **//__ Performance Skills __//**

// Do you work well with the group to develop, rehearse and perform the piece? // ||  || You work well with the group some of the time but sometimes you do not contribute to the rehearsal process OR you dominate it. ||  || You work well with the group consistently but only in one of the three domains (development, rehearsal, performance). ||  || You work well with the group consistently in two of the domains (development, rehearsal, performance). ||  || You work well with the group consistently in all three of the domains (development, rehearsal, performance). ||
 * **//__ Ensemble Skills __//**

__ASSESSMENT TWO: Group Devised Piece__. In this assessment, you have an opportunity to devise your own original piece of theatre based on one of the topics assigned by the IGCSE examiners. In groups of two to six, you will create a piece of theatre based on one of the following topics:. As in the first assessment task, you will need to think like an actor and a director but also like a writer. However, you do not need to write out a script if you do not feel that this would be the best way of developing your piece of theatre. Instead, you can, __if you feel this is the way your group works best__, create the piece by improvising and polishing scenes without writing a script out. You will be assessed on your acting technique, your contributions toward the rehearsal process, including creating the piece itself, and your ability to work well as an ensemble. This piece will be presented in front of an audience during a dress rehearsal and then later filmed as part of your IGCSE coursework. Both the group scripted AND the group devised pieces will be sent off to Cambridge along with EITHER your monologue OR solo performance from last year and count for 60% of your IGCSE mark.
 * __ Task Title: Group Devised Piece __**

||  || ** Grade D ** ||   || ** Grade C ** ||   || ** Grade B ** ||   || ** Grade A ** ||

// Can you identify when a decision is working or not? Can you identify the appropriate intentions and styles behind a piece? Can you shape dramatic material to make its meaning(s) and atmosphere(s) clearer? Can you reflect on the piece as it is being created to make it better? // ||  || You can identify when a decision is working or not but you don’t really know what to do to make it better. ||  || You can identify whether or not a decision is working and you can suggest or make basic changes to the course of action. You identify the style and intention of the piece but you don’t do anything to enhance it. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You can adapt and shape the piece to communicate its meaning(s) and atmosphere(s). You produce work that is skilful and imaginative. You identify the style and intention and you make some attempts at enhancing it. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">Your work is highly skilful and imaginative. Your work not only fits in with the style and intentions of the piece but effectively use them to enhance your performance. Your reflection on the piece as it is being devised is mature and results in more effective material being created. ||
 * **//__ Devising Dramatic Material __//**

// Does your use of voice, movement, body language, gesture, blocking, pacing, tension and contrast make the story clear and engaging for an audience? // // Do you perform with an awareness of the style of the piece? // ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You use some of the elements of acting to make the story clear. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You use most of the elements of acting to make the story clear.
 * **//__ Performance Skills __//**

You perform with a degree of stylistic awareness. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You use most of the elements of acting to make the story clear and engaging.

You perform with some stylistic awareness. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You use most of the elements of acting to make the story clear and engaging.

You perform with sensitive stylistic understanding. ||

// Do you work well with the group to develop, rehearse and perform the piece? // ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You work well with the group some of the time but sometimes you do not contribute to the rehearsal process OR you dominate it. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You work well with the group consistently but only in one of the three domains (development, rehearsal, performance). ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You work well with the group consistently in two of the domains (development, rehearsal, performance). ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You work well with the group consistently in all three of the domains (development, rehearsal, performance). ||
 * **//__ Ensemble Skills __//**

__ASSESSMENT THREE: Rehearsal Log Wiki.__ Instead of using book journals like we did last year, I am asking you to record and reflect your rehearsal process in a wiki instead. The purpose is the same as last year's journals - if you reflect on your rehearsal process, I believe that you will produce more polished and engaging performances. However, in a wiki format you can (and will be expected to!) incorporate other media such as pictures, videos, websites that you have researched and whatever else you feel is relevant to your creative process. You need to have an entry on your wiki at least once a cycle. You will need to write in depth and using specific examples from the rehearsal room about the decisions you are making for your performances. Furthermore, you need to use media such as pictures or videos and comment on them in addition to the textual entries. Finally, you will need to make connections between your rehearsal process and the outside world, by commenting on what may be happening in your own life that is connected to the character(s) you are portraying or the scripts you are developing OR what is happening in the world around you that is relevant to the pieces you are creating OR by finding clips or pictures or website of what other theatre companies are exploring OR by commenting on live theatre that you have seen.
 * __ Task Title: Rehearsal Log Wiki __**



<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration: none; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;"> ||  || ** Grade D ** ||   || ** Grade C ** ||   || ** Grade B ** ||   || ** Grade A ** ||

// Do you write at least once a cycle? Do you explain the choices you make in rehearsal and why? Do you comment on what is and is not working and why? Do you offer constructive feedback on a classmate’s performance? // ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You write one entry per cycle but it does not say much about your rehearsal process.(i.e. “This was good.” OR “This was bad.” without explaining what was good or bad about it or why it was good or bad.) ||   || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You write at least one entry per week which gives a few details about your rehearsal process. (You cover some of the aspects mentioned in the Grade B category but not all of them.) ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You write at least one entry per week which offers considerable insight into your rehearsal process. You mention what is working and why, what isn’t working and why as well as what changes and new decisions you have made and why. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You fulfil everything required for the Grade B category AND you comment constructively on at least one other person’s rehearsal process. ||
 * **//__ Writing __//**

// How much other media do you use? Do you use it to comment effectively on the development of your performances? Examples of other media include: pictures, diagrams/drawings, videos, links to websites, sound files. // ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">There is evidence of use of other media in your wiki but it does not add to the explanations about your rehearsal process. (For example, you have a picture but you don’t explain how it fits in with your performance.) ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You incorporate a bit of other media and make brief comments about how it is connected to your rehearsal process and your performance. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You incorporate some other media and make some good links between it and your rehearsal process and performance. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You incorporate a variety of other media and the links between it and your rehearsal process are clear and valid. ||
 * **//__ Use of Other Media __//**

// Can you connect what you are doing to activities done in class? Can you show links to the real world? Real world links include: what is happening in your own life, in school, in the wider world around you and what other theatre companies (that you have seen live or on the internet) are doing. // ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You make a few valid links between your rehearsal work and class activities OR the real world. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You make a few valid links between your rehearsal work and class activities AND the real world. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You make some valid links between your rehearsal work and class activities AND the real world. ||  || <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; msobidilanguage: X-NONE;">You often make valid links between the rehearsal work and class activities AND the real world. ||
 * **//__ Connections to Class Activities and the Real World __//**