Course Syllabus

Drama 92020 - 2021 Syllabus

Faculty

Section Teacher
F Mr. R. Luke Fredeman

Contacting Me

As the teacher for this course, I can be contacted in the following ways:

  • Name:  Mr. R. Luke Fredeman
  • Office:  213A
  • Email:  lfredeman@stgeorges.bc.ca
  • Phone: 604 221-3625

I am available for contact during these times: Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 4:00pm

Course Description

Drama is a highly social activity which forces students to rely on the good will and co-operative spirit of their classmates.  Building self-confidence and developing trust are essential for any student to enjoy success in this subject.  Also, students need to participate at a high level if they are going to experience the learning outcomes of various drama activities.  This course is about challenging oneself, about allowing creative forces to have free reign, and about empathizing with others.  Certainly, along the way, students will gain some insight into developing believable characters; they will consider how characters speak, move, think, feel, and listen.

Course Expectations

St. George’s School expects all students at the Senior School to be interested and motivated in achieving their personal best while at the School. We expect students will be engaged in their endeavours, responsible to their studies, classmates and teachers, and demonstrate integrity in their pursuit of learning.

Throughout the school year, we will be reinforcing that drama requires trust and respect in order to ensure a safe creative environment where students feel empowered to take significant risks.  As a result, it is vital that you stay committed to and focused on the tasks at hand.  Working within established parameters within your on group will all you to explore some interesting characters, situations, and relationships.  Concurrently, your focus will allow others the latitude to work to their potential.

We will always assumed the best of each other.  Seek clarification before jumping to conclusions.  Endeavour to explain our thoughts and actions.  Listen carefully and actively.  And, finally, be prepared to accept other people's perspectives and to make amends

 

Workload

You should find the workload in this course most manageable since we will be endeavouring to complete the lions share of it during class time.  There will, however, be times when you may need to write and to revise scripts, to memorize lines, and to collect appropriate prop and costume items at home.

Submitting work

Students in this course are expected to complete work assignments on the date assigned and to submit their work on Canvas.

If circumstances prevent the student from completing a work assignment on the assigned due date, the student must inform the teacher prior to the due date for the work assignment. The teacher will provide a second due date through 5th block system. 

Instructional Aims

Based on the B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum, students will learn through the following experiences:

  • Movement and Voice skills to improve characterization
  • Listening, viewing, and reading activities to improve your knowledge of narrative structure and character relationships
  • Creating scenes individually and collaboratively
  • Providing, accepting, and implementing peer and teacher feedback

Learning Outcomes

Based on the B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum, students will learn and be evaluated on the following knowledge and skills:

  • Take creative risks to experience and express thoughts, emotions, and meaning
  • Choose and combine dramatic forms, elements and principles to create particular meaning and effect
  • Interpret and communicate ideas through symbols, movement, spacial awareness and imagery 
  • Apply and develop technical skills and concepts for new audiences and performances
  • Demonstrate understanding of personal, social, cultural, historical, and environmental contexts when responding to / creating drama
  • Demonstrate responsibility as a dramatic artist by giving/receiving feedback respectfully, collaborating effectively, and avoiding plagiarism / cultural appropriation.
  • Reflect on, revise, analyze and document creative process to make connections and improve performances.

Assessment and Evaluation

A student's final mark will be determined by evaluation of their ability to demonstrate proficiency in these skills and learning these concepts.

Major assessments for this course include:

  •  Movement Based and Tableaux Exercises
  •  Interpretative Drama Retelling
  •  Parodies
  •  Whole class scene building process

Skills

  • Displaying character specific voice, movement, gesture, & expression work
  • Showing growth in understanding narrative structures & character relationships
  • Becoming familiar with performance realities in our space
  • Displaying a critical eye for both one's own work and for other's work during rehearsals and performances

Content

  •  Understanding character archetypes
  •  Building Character through preparation and exploration
  •  Taking the audience's perspective and developing appropriate   drama for them 
  •  Reflecting on narrative and character development

We anticipate adjustments may be made throughout the year due to the extenuating circumstances we are facing. Any adjustments will be posted here and discussed as a class.

Both the school’s assessment expectations and supports that teachers provide can be found online. Academic dishonesty to any degree is not acceptable.

There are a variety of academic supports available at St. George’s for students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the range of supports available to them which include:

  • Faculty support
  • 5th Block
  • Head of Grade
  • Student Success Centre
  • Personal Counselling

First Peoples Principles

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured to live, work, and play on this land together.

As part of contribution to reconciliation, this course makes First Peoples Principles of Learning visible in class by:

  • Considering fictional and non-fictional representation of First People's experiences
  • Examining the effects of excluding First Peoples

Literacy/Numeracy

This course makes literacy/numeracy visible by using the following comprehension tasks and strategies:

  •  Developing an understanding of narrative structure
  •  Writng collaborative scripts
  •  Reading and responding to dramatic works

Learning Resources

Resources that will be used as part of this course include:

  •  Various films
  •  YouTube Acting videos

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

St. George's School Student Code of Conduct

St. George’s School shares a proud tradition as a learning community committed to both academic excellence and character development. We strive for growth within our personal lives while maintaining respect for and contributions to the broader community.

The purpose of the Student Code of Conduct is to ensure that

  1. A safe, caring, and productive teaching and learning environment exists.
  2. We maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective interests and responsibilities.
  3. There is clarity around standards and expected student behaviour at school, in the community, and online through social media.
  4. We encourage and practice environmental stewardship.

The core values which provide the foundation for the Student Code of Conduct are:

  • Empathy
  • Humility
  • Integrity
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Resilience

Conduct Expectations

  1. I commit myself to strive for honourable behaviour in my daily life, according to the standards as set forth by the School. I will try to be faithful to my parents, my School, my friends, and myself.
  2. I will avoid bringing any ill-repute to the School at any time, including evenings, weekends, or over any school break or holiday.
  3. I will comply with all school policies as they relate to upholding the standard of excellence of St. George’s School at all times.
  4. I understand, accept, and will respect all of my school-related commitments and responsibilities.
    • I will arrive to school on time and attend all classes, assemblies, practices, rehearsals, and field trips as outlined by my teachers.
    • I will obtain necessary permission to leave class or school.
  5. I will take pride in my personal appearance.
    • I will be dressed appropriately at all times for all events as outlined by the School.
    • I will abide by the grooming rules as outlined in the Standards of Dress and Appearance section and always observe the accepted standards of personal hygiene.
  6. I will behave in a way that always brings credit to the School, with integrity, empathy, respect, and humility.
    • I recognize that the taking of tests and exams requires an exemplary standard of honesty and will not misrepresent myself by cheating, copying, or plagiarizing.
    • I recognize that integrity is a clear expectation and that borrowing of possessions of others without their consent is stealing.
    • I will care for all property, whether it is public or a peer’s personal possessions.
    • I will avoid disruptive behaviour at all times, and will strive to treat all others with great respect.
    • I will adhere to the School’s policies regarding the appropriate use of technology, including online communication, electronic devices, and the internet.
    • I will avoid any possession, use, or distribution of alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cannabis and illicit drugs or related paraphernalia, weapons, replica weapons, or any other dangerous or illegal items or substances.
  7. I will demonstrate responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. It is the commitment and obligation of all students, faculty, parents/guardians, and administration to ensure that all academic work stems from the student’s own efforts. Academic Dishonesty erodes the ethical climate of honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness, and trust in our school community. At St. George's School, Academic Dishonesty to any degree is not acceptable. In addition to any other consequence, students found to have engaged in Academic Dishonesty shall not receive a mark for work that is the result of Academic Dishonesty.

Academic Dishonesty includes any conduct with the intent to gain an unfair advantage in connection with an academic assessment. Academic Dishonesty can occur in many ways. Common forms of Academic Dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, falsification, plagiarism, and tampering.

  • Cheating occurs when an individual undermines the integrity of an assessment (including homework and other assignments, reports, projects, quizzes, tests, exams, or other forms of performance evaluations). Examples of cheating include:
    • Copying any part of an assessment;
    • Allowing others to copy any part of an assessment;
    • Improperly giving or receiving assessment information;
    • Using unauthorized resources for or during an assessment;
    • Submission of the same assessment more than once; and/or
    • Skipping classes to avoid an assessment.
  • Falsification: occurs when an individual has changed information in order to make one believe something that is not true. Examples of falsification include: 
    • Falsifying research findings, whether in laboratory experiments, field trip exercises, or other assignments;
    • Alteration or falsification of academic reports or other academic records for any purpose;
    • Submission of false credentials;
    • Making false representation on an application for admission; and/or
    • Requesting the extension of a deadline or delaying the taking or sitting of an assessment citing reasons known to be false, including submitting false documentation supporting that request.
  • Plagiarism: occurs when an individual submits or presents the work and/or idea of another person as his or her own, in essence lying. This includes the copying of images, sound, video, and other forms of intellectual property. Examples of plagiarism include:
    • Lack of recognition given to the original author for phrases, sentences, and ideas of the author incorporated in a paper or project; and/or
    • A portion of a document is copied from an author, or composed by another person, and presented as original work of the student.
  • Tampering occurs when individual has interfered with information for the purpose of academic gain. Examples of tampering include:
    • Unauthorized access to, use of, or alteration of computer data and information;
    • Gaining academic advantage by using technology that inhibits the use of the resources by others;
    • Damage to or destruction of library or laboratory resources; and/or
    • Willful or negligent damage to the academic work of a fellow student and/or teacher.

Academic Supports

There are a variety of academic supports available at St. George’s for students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the range of supports available to them which include:

  • Faculty support
  • 5th Block
  • Head of Grade
  • Student Success Centre
  • Personal Counselling

Bullying

St. George’s School does not tolerate bullying. Students are prohibited from bullying.

Bullying is conduct that is unwelcome to others, including other students and faculty members. This includes conduct which a reasonable person knows, or ought reasonably to know, is unwelcome to the recipient. Unwanted physical contact, verbal abuse and threats, unwelcome remarks including jokes, innuendo, or taunting (in verbal, written or digital form) about a person’s body, race, gender, attire, (perceived) sexual orientation, or religion are all forms of bullying. Other examples of bullying may include but are not limited to:

  • Physical violence such as hitting, pushing or spitting at another student;
  • Interfering with another student’s property, such as by stealing, hiding, or damaging it;
  • Using offensive names when addressing another student;
  • Teasing or spreading rumours about another student or their family;
  • Belittling another student’s abilities and achievements;
  • Writing offensive notes or graffiti about another student;
  • Unreasonably excluding another student from a group activity;
  • Ridiculing another student’s appearance, way of speaking or mannerisms; and/or
  • Misusing technology (internet or mobiles) to hurt, intimidate, embarrass, or humiliate another person.

Anyone who is the target of bullies is encouraged to report the bullying and not to suffer in silence. Speaking out and reporting bullying ensures the School can appropriately address the bullying and may help prevent other students from future bullying.

Students are required to:

  • Refrain from engaging in any kind of bullying;
  • Intervene to help support any student who is being bullied, unless it is unsafe to do so; and
  • Report to a member of faculty, staff, or administration any witnessed or suspected instances of bullying.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due