COURSE SYLLABUS

Acting I
The University of Texas at Dallas

Course: Drama
Instructor: Kathy Lingo
Semester: Spring 08
Course Start/End Date: Jan. 7 – May 14, 2008

| Course Information | Technical Requirements | Course Access | Communications |

| Assessments | Scholastic Dishonesty | Course Evaluation | Course Schedule | Addendum |

Course Information
Course Description and Rationale

Acting is an expressionistic and mechanically aesthetic art. Theatre today is the study of
psychology, sociology, anthropology, communication (written and oral), technology,
kinesiology, and biology. As a matter of fact, today’s generation of actors are influenced
by all the sciences. It is an endeavor where humans must work with machines,
technology, and space. In addition, today’s actor must be acutely aware of his/her body
and its potential to physicalize a character. Therefore, a good actor is intelligent,
possessing acute sensory and intellectual perception. Most of the time, good actors are
thought to be clever because they can absorb and conceptualize information quickly.
Their senses must be sharp; fully committed to being mentally and physically in the
moment. In this course, the person and/or character (physical and mental), situation (the
social and human condition) and message (the objectives of meaning) will be examined
holistically.

Great Acting is the absolute understanding of two words, control and submission. It is
the contradictions of human nature that makes a character interesting. ie. Her house is
in disrepair, but she has 5,000 dollars worth of shoes in her closet. He hates to spend a
penny on simple luxuries, but will spend a fortune on vitamins and doctors. The actor
must be in constant control of his body and environment, yet completely submit to his
character and fellow actors. We are constrained by the conditions, but liberated by our
interpretation and expression. To coin the expression “what is up is down”. Acting
requires multi-dimensional thinking.

This course is designed to explore the intellectual and sensory skills needed to create
and develop a character. It will focus on aligning the mind and the body to work
harmoniously together in order to process and convey the message of the character and
the playwright. We will study the different methods of character development and
experiment with the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of acting. Ultimately, the
course will teach the student actor to embody a character in order to present a portrayal
consistent with the presentational style of the 21st century. Course work will include
class exercises, acting assignments, assigned readings, class projects and the creation
and maintenance of an actors notebook.
 Prerequisites :

College level reading and writing skills are a must, but this is only the beginning. A
good actor must posses self discipline, self respect and respect for others, gracious
manners and a respect for protocol and process.

Learning objectives:

Ability to strategically analyze information written and oral

Ability to assess what information most accurately and reliably responds to the
needs of the character, the play and the audience.
Ability to interpret artistic literature from different perspectives
Ability to understand how play stimulates the mind and enhances personal
knowledge of one’s self
Ability to understand and express the ethical obligations of the actor to the
playwright, the director and the character.
Ability to understand the beginning elements necessary to shape a variety of
characters within the individual

Instructor Information

1. Contact information: 972.883.4152, 0ffice JO 5.406B

2. Web site: klingo@utdallas.edu

Course Materials

1. Required and recommended texts and materials

Robert Cohen, Acting One, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill

2. Other resources or tools

If your performance is filmed in class, you must bring the instructor a blank CD to
procure a copy of your performance. Several maybe required throughout the
semester and will be announced in class prior to assignment due date.

Students must wear comfortable, flexible clothes to class. We will be working

with our minds and our bodies, therefore the body must be unconstrained and
free to form without worry of inappropriate exposure of body parts. We will be
moving from the floor to the rafters.

Shoes must be comfortable, flexible and protective. No flip flops or sandals

allowed. Hard heeled or other shoes are only allowed through costuming.
Textbooks and some other bookstore materials can be ordered online through MBS Direct
Virtual Bookstore or Off-Campus Books online ordering site. They are also available in stock at
UTD Bookstore and Off-Campus Books.

Course Policy

1. Make-up exams: Exams will be in the form of performed assignments and will only
be allowed if official emergency documentation can be proved.

2. Extra Credit: Students will be given due dates and assignments in advance. Extra
Credit work will not be given.

3. Late Work: refer to make-up exams to whom the curtain is held for

4. Participation: We will be doing in class activities and participation is a must, as

well as part of the student’s grade.

Technical Requirements
In addition to a confident level of computer and Internet literacy, certain minimum
technical requirement must be met to enable a successful research learning experience.

Course Access and Navigation

Communications
Your course tools and resources are built-in communication tools which will be used for
interaction and communication. Some external communication tools such as regular email and a
web conferencing tool may also be used during the semester. Please see more details about
communication tool information.

Student Assessments
Grading Information

List point values and weights for all assessment tasks

Monologue Work (Points) 20 %

Actor’s Notebook/Journal 10%
Scene Work 20 %
Class Assignments 10 %
Class Participation 10 %
Final Project 20 %
Character Bio Performances 10 %
Total 100%

List grade criteria for course

 Scaled Score Letter Equivalent
90 -100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D

Students can check their grades by clicking “My Grade” under My Tools on the course menu
after the grade for each assessment task is released.

Your instructor also keeps an old fashioned grade book. Due to past technological
misfortunes, some operator errors and some systems errors with webct, your instructor
chooses to use elements of both, maintaining the whole organization of the class in
written format. You may always set an appointment with me to discuss your grades, if
assignments are not posted on the web. There will be assignments and submissions
posted on webct.

Participation
How can one take an acting course and not participate, mentally and physically, at all
times? Theatre is a collaborative art. Absences are taken seriously and only one “free
get out of jail” card is given per semester. In other words, 10 points will be deducted
from your participation grade with each absence after the first one. Only absences
where emergency/medical documentation is provided will be excused. Theatre requires
discipline.

Please do not come to class ill. Remember, it’s a collaborative event and we don’t want
to create a tragedy or comedy of errors with others health.

Participation includes contributions and reactions to classroom and studio work, verbal
expression of ideas to others, enthusiasm for topic in those expressions and overall
involvement/behavior in class activities. Students must speak up, but do so
appropriately.

Assignments

This is a performance based course. The student will edit literary works, to perform
monologues and scenes for assignments, which will have time and objective
requirements. Editing is a skill that requires analytical and organizational understanding.
Each piece will require different forms of editing and many times require manipulation of
the written word to form a complete scene or different perspective. Each piece and
performance must be examined and graded on an individual basis.

Performances will be graded in written and oral forms at the discretion of the instructor.
Performances will be discussed openly in class for learning purposes. A copy of the
edited work or monologue must be submitted to the instructor prior to performance, as
well as submitted to the webct site. Students are to take detailed notes of criticisms and
comments made by the instructor and others during critique sessions. These sessions
will be used to evaluate and grade the development of the character and the actor.
 The Bio Performance will be given from the character’s perspective. They are to based
upon personal research of author, character, period and the intention of the entire piece
of literature. In this performance we should be able to see the characters objectives and
the audience should be able to employ/view/comprehend the “mind’s eye” of the
character. We should be able to see into the characters’ rational for every action and
should define the motivating features, actions and thoughts that support those
objectives.

This is an example of a potential grading rubic which views acting in a clinical sense.
Acting is objective and subjective, and the development of a character continues
throughout the actor’s life. There are always variables to consider when determining the
quality of a performance. Here is a basic way to begin to determine what I am looking for
in your performances if you take a technical perspective. However, I find it very difficult
to quantify or numerically represent the feelings and emotions that a good performance
can manifest in the minds and hearts of the audience.

Excel Miss
Characteristic Assessed -lent Good Fair Poor -ing

Character Development
Development/Justification 4 3 2 1 0
Clarity of the Condition/Situation 4 3 2 1 0
Clarity of the Objectives/Agendas 4 3 2 1 0
Research Questions/Limitations/Definitions 4 3 2 1 0

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Organization/Interpretation/Invention 4 3 2 1 0
Relationship to all problems/characters 4 3 2 1 0
Completeness of Coverage 4 3 2 1 0

METHODOLOGY
Appropriate Design of Character 4 3 2 1 0
Sampling/Instrumentation of Physicality’s 4 3 2 1 0
Explicit Analysis of Character 4 3 2 1 0

OVERALL EVALUATION
Organization/Continuity/Completeness 4 3 2 1 0
Interpretive Style/Technical Quality Editing 4 3 2 1 0
Embodiment of Character in Piece 2 1 0
 Total Score: ____ / 50

The method of evaluation discussed in our textbook and will be reviewed in class, is
the G.O.T.E. method: Goal, Other, Tactics and Expectations. Character development
requires many performances of the same piece and should evolve with each
experience.

Goal: Is what the character is trying to accomplish. Each character has their’ own
agenda and motivators. All must be revealed through how the character peruses the
goal.

Others: What are all the struggles/obstacles in acquiring the goal, internal and
external.

Tactics: The way we try to acquire our goals. Do we entice or force the goals, agenda
and/or objectives of the character in the work.

Expectation: Cohen represents this element as having a connection to “E” words in

general: excitement, energy, enthusiasm and may I add execution. “Look at any fine
play, and the chances are that the author created characters who not only desire goals
but crave them.” (pg. 53) This goes beyond a clinical study of character development.

Group Projects

Groups/Teams will be assigned when necessary in class and will be announced in a timely
fashion. The Instructor may also use group sign-up sheets to form groups for group
assignments or projects. A private discussion area will be set up on the Discussion board for
internal group communications, if needed. A group chat room can also be created for each
group to use. A web conference system Elluminate Live is available for use. Teams can
schedule a live web conference for team work. Please see communication tool information
on how to make reservation and other web conference information.

We wil be playing lots of theatre games in this class, as long as time allows. These
games require group work. These are a part of your participation grade and may be
turned into specific group projects of performance. Ie. Critique groups maybe formed
to work on character development in peer review type of setting.

Assignment submission instructions: You will submit your assignments (in the required file
format with a simple file name and a file extension) by using the Assignments tool on the course
site, when applicable. Please see the Assignments link on the course menu or see the icon on
the designated page. You can click each assignment name link and follow the on-screen
instructions to upload and submit your file(s). Please refer to the Help menu for more
information on using this tool. Please note: each assignment link will be deactivated after the
assignment due time. After your submission is graded, you may click each assignment’s
“Graded” tab to check the results and feedback. For the team project assignment, one group
member will submit the assignment for the group and all group members will be able to view the
results and feedback once it’s been graded.
Online Tests/Quizzes

Quizzes maybe given at any time the instructor feels necessary.

Final Examination

Your final in this course will be a monologue or a scene, or combination of both, with
specific requirements to be fulfilled. It will be a piece of work that should demonstrate all
the skills you have acquired throughout the semester. It maybe a continuation of a
previous work explored in class or a specific project developed between the student and
the instructor. Detailed requirements will be given in class based upon individual and
class needs.

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Scholastic Dishonesty
The University has policies and discipline procedures regarding scholastic dishonesty. Detailed
information is available on the Scholastic Dishonesty web page. All students are expected to
maintain a high level of responsibility with respect to academic honesty. Students who violate
University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty
harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic
dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

Course Evaluation
As required by UTD academic regulations, every student must complete an evaluation for each
enrolled course at the end of the semester. An online instructional assessment form will be
made available for your confidential use. Please look for the course evaluation link on the
course Homepage towards the end of the course.

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Course Outline/Schedule
This course outline and schedule is purely tentative. It is a form of organization that is
intended to help the instructor reach the objectives of the course, but when dealing with
human elements and development, there are always variables. The instructor has the right to
change the dates, times and assignments as she deems necessary. Instructions will be clearly
discussed in class and students are required to take notes of all class discussions, which is part
of their notebook assignment.

WEEK STARTING TOPIC/LECTURE READING ASSESSMENT /

DATE ACTIVITY

0 Course Access and

Self-Orientation
1 Jan 8-10 Welcome Chapter 1-5 and 11 In class exercises
 Syllabus Review from text
First Assignment Given
Importance of Play Students will be
Dealing with asked to go out an
Nervousness observe others
Taking notes and your behavior and try to
notebook. embody in class
exercise
(Completely
Nonverbal first and
then with
dialogue).
2 Jan 15-17 Character Individual research Students must
Development research, edit,
Character Bio and memorize and
Elements/Breaking perform a 5 minute
Down the Scene monologue in class
The Psyche of the which has been
Actor and the Character approved by
What to look for and instructor.
edit in a piece

3 Jan 22-24 Taking direction and Chapters 6-10, 12-15 Performance Of

giving criticism Character Bio and
Monologue
4 Jan 20-31 Monologues Chapters 16-23
Workshop
5 Feb 5-7 Monologues Due Student
Performance
6 Feb 12-14 Scene Work (Duets) Skill sharping and
impromptu games.
Student
performance.

Students must
research, edit,
memorize and
perform a 10
minute duet in
class, which has
been approved by
instructor.

7 Feb 19-21 Scene Work (Duets)

. Feb 26-28 Duets Due Midterm grades
8 submitted
9 March 4-6 Duets Due Performance and
Participation
10 March 11-
13 Spring Break
11 March 18- Refining the Role of Discussion and
20 the Character class exercises
12 March 25- The Group Becomes Discussion and
27 One class exercises
13 April 1-3 Catch-up Day
14 April 8-10 Workshop for Final Performance and
Participation
15 April 15- Workshop for Final Performance and
17 Participation
16 April 22- Final Performances Acting Notebook Due Performance and
24 Participation

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Syllabus Addendum
Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each
student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations
which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and
discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered
students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules
and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI,
Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook
of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the
Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in
interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship.
He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules,
university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating
the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or
criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.
Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done
by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of
individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work
or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any
other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism
(see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which
searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some
issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The
university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T.
Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it
originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of
confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted
information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all
communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T.
Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other
accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration
procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements
from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper
paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to
attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other

fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious
effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with
whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members
retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be
resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy
of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided
by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the
grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal
to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an
Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of
the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at
the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete
grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long
semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is
not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a
grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities
equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the
Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments
necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be
necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of
dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be
substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is
hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be
rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special
services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals
requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for
the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are
exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible
regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will
be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the
absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student
who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized
for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed
period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of
observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has
been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the
student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or
his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the
legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of
the chief executive officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and
University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information
regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address given below.
Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

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