Playwriting Outside the Lines
Created by Steven Stack

Instructor Steven Stack leads this course in a unique way to teach playwriting. He will show you how to set foundations and guide posts for your students, and then give them freedom to play. The intent is to help students develop their own voice and create for creating sake. The 5 modules lead teachers through how to use this style of teaching playwriting, and includes handouts and resources to support the learning.

6 Modules
1 hours, 34 minutes
3 Credit Hours
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Standards Addressed
National Core Arts Standards
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
TH:Pr4.1.7.a - Consider various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr4.1.7.b - Use various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 8
TH:Pr4.1.8.a - Explore different pacing to better communicate the story in a drama/theatre work.
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Proficient
California VAPA Standards (2019)
6.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
7.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
7.TH:Pr4.a - Consider various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
7.TH:Pr4.b - Use various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
8.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
8.TH:Pr4.a - Explore different pacing to better communicate the story in a drama/theatre work.
Prof.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Prof.TH:Pr4.b - Shape character choices using given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
Prof.TH:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Acc.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Acc.TH:Pr4.a - Discover how unique choices shape believable and sustainable drama/ theatre work.
6.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Prof.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
6.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
6.TH:Cr3.a - Receive and incorporate feedback to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
8.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Prof.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Adv.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Colorado Academic Standards - Drama and Theatre Arts
Seventh Grade
DT.7.2.1.b - Students Can: Apply various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
Eighth Grade
High School - Fundamental Pathway
Common Core
Language
Language
Writing
Florida Sunshine State Standards
Critical Thinking & Reflection
TH.912.C.1.7 - Justify personal perceptions of a director's vision and/or playwright's intent.
Innovation, Technology & the Future
Organizational Structure
Skills, Techniques & Processes
Georgia Performance Standards - Theatre Arts
Grade 7 - Creating
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - ADVANCED DRAMA LEVELS I-IV -Creating
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
North Carolina Essential Standards 2024
Beginning High School Create
B.CR.1.2 - Create scenarios that communicate character, setting, plot, and conflict.
Intermediate High School Present
I.PR.2.1 - Develop scenes for formal or informal presentations.
Accomplished High School Create
Advanced High School Present
AD.PR.1.1 - Implement justified choices made in response to feedback and specific criteria.
North Carolina Essential Standards 2010
Beginning High School Standards - Communication
B.C.1.3 - Understand how to read and write scripts that communicate conflict, plot, and character.
Intermediate High School Standards - Communication
I.C.2.2 - Interpret scenes through formal and informal presentations.
Proficient High School Standards - Communication
P.C.1.3 - Create original works, such as monologues, scenes, or performance pieces.
Advanced High School Standards - Communication
A.C.1.3 - Use constructive criticism to improve original works both written and read orally.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Theatre Arts
HS 117.315 LI - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.317 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
Alberta, Canada
Playwriting - Drama 20
1 - demonstrate understanding of the basic structure of a play
11 - construct a conflict between two characters (protagonist and antagonist)
12 - construct a scene with two contrasting characters
13 - give and accept constructive criticism
2 - define and identify plot, character, thought and diction
3 - demonstrate understanding of script format
4 - generate and collect ideas that have dramatic possibilities
6 - identify character types and their functions and attributes
Junior Goal III Objectives
develop the ability to analyze and assess the process and the art
Senior Goal I Objectives
apply imaginative and creative thought to problem-solving situations
demonstrate a sense of inquiry and commitment, individually and to the group
demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment, individually and to the group
Senior Goal II Objectives
gain knowledge of disciplines that enhance dramatic process and product
British Columbia (2018)
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Reasoning and reflecting
Develop and refine ideas and technical skills to improve the quality of performance pieces
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
Receive and apply constructive feedback to develop and refine ideas
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
Receive, provide, and apply constructive feedback to refine dramatic works
Use self-reflection and awareness of audience to refine ideas
Ontario, Canada
Grade 7 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Grade 8 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grades 9 & 10 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Connections Beyond the Classroom
Grades 9 & 10 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - The Critical Analysis Process
Grade 11 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Connections Beyond the Classroom
Virginia Standards Of Learning (2020)
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
TI.2 - The student will apply a creative process for theatre.
Theatre Arts II: Dramatic Literature And Theatre History
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
TIII.1 - The student will demonstrate playwriting.
TIII.2 - The student will apply the creative process for theatre.
Theatre Arts IV: Advanced Acting And Directing
TIV.1 - The student will evaluate and refine original scripts for performance.