Unit
The Autobiographical Monologue
Created by Gai Jones
4 lessons
monologue
All students have something to say and a story to tell. They can relate to their personal stories better than anyone else. All students have a lot of material which can be used as part of an original monologue.
In this unit, students will write an autobiographical monologue based on their personal expertise, memories, distinct point of view, sense of truth, and life experiences.
Through the process, students will be encouraged to explore past stories, objects, and images and other personal material.
Start here
The overview lays out the objectives for the course, including lesson outline, assessment, and time management suggestions.
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1Lesson 1Introduction and Warm-Up ExercisesIn this lesson, students will be introduced to the objective of the unit (to write an autobiographical monologue), reflect on their thoughts and fears when it comes to the writing process, and engage with exercises that introduce the concept of using personal connection and narrative to create characters.
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2Lesson 2Comic and Serious PerspectivesIn this lesson, students will experiment with thinking from a comic and a serious perspective, which might offer possibilities for their original monologue.
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3Lesson 3Brainstorming for an Autobiographical MonologueThis is a brainstorming-through-exercises lesson to give students the opportunity to explore possible personal inspirations for their autobiographical monologue.
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4Lesson 4Writing an Autobiographical MonologueIn this lesson, based on their brainstorm material, students will look at their memories, notes, and images, choose a subject, and write on the character for their monologue. They will then write a first draft of their monologue in a quick-write fashion. After a break, students will analyze what they’ve written, and write a second draft. The unit ends with a reflection or students reading their work aloud.
Standards Addressed
Speech Drama 10
Speech Drama 20
Improvisation Drama 10
- 10 demonstrate appropriate rehearsal methods
- 11 apply the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, climax and plot in planned and unplanned scenes
- 14 discover how various emotions affect one vocally and physically
- 15 initiate a dramatic situation in response to a given stimulus
- 16 make logical choices spontaneously within the boundaries of situation and character
- 20 critique the work of self and others through observation and expression of specific detail
- 24 select and use vocal techniques appropriate to a character
- 25 select and use language appropriate to character and situation
- 26 use body language to add physical dimensions and depth to a character
- 27 demonstrate economy in movement and speech by making appropriate selections
- 28 demonstrate how attitude, and change in attitude, affects a character
- 29 demonstrate understanding of and apply the concept of status
- 30 demonstrate understanding of and apply the concepts of a character’s objectives and motivation
- 5 create experiences through imaging, visualizing and fantasizing
Improvisation Drama 30
Acting Drama 20
- 1 analyze a script for explicit character clues
- 10 critique the work of self and others through observation of specific details
- 11 demonstrate understanding of antecedent action, acting beat, operative word, transitions, interior monologue
- 12 analyze script for clues to create antecedent action
- 14 identify and use operative words in a script
- 15 analyze script for a character’s transitions
- 17 create and use an interior monologue
- 2 create, select and sustain physical details of the character from scripted material
- 3 demonstrate understanding of and identity motivation and objectives (overall, main and immediate).
- 5 demonstrate a character’s main objective within a scene
- 6 demonstrate a character’s immediate or moment-to-moment objectives within a scene
- 7 demonstrate the ability to play a character from the character’s point of view
- 8 demonstrate the ability to memorize required text
Acting Drama 30
Movement Drama 10
Playwriting - Drama 20
Improvisation/Acting Level III - Advanced
Junior Goal II Objectives
- become familiar with disciplines that enhance dramatic process
- become familiar with dramatic terminology and script format
- develop belief in, identification with, and commitment to a role
- develop the body and voice as tools of communication
- explore specific techniques demanded by various dramatic forms
Junior Goal III Objectives
Junior Orientation
- communicate through use of voice and body
- offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
- recognize the purposes of and participate in warmup activities
- share ideas confidently with others
- show awareness of story sequence
- speak, move, and generate ideas spontaneously
- support positively the work of others
Movement Level I - Beginning
Speech Level I - Beginning
Speech Level II - Intermediate
Improvisation/Acting Level I - Beginning
- 1 use warm-up techniques for preparation of body, voice and mind
- 11 create a dramatic situation in response to varied stimuli: objects, pictures, music
- 4 create experiences through imaging, visualizing and fantasizing
- 6 understand and apply the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, climax and plot
- 9 communicate a clear beginning, middle and end in spontaneous and planned scenes
Improvisation/Acting Level II - Intermediate
Junior Goal I Objectives
Theatre Studies Level 1 - Beginning (performance analysis)
Theatre Studies Level III - Advanced (The script)
Senior Goal I Objectives
- demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively and constructively to the group process
- demonstrate the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
- demonstrate the ability to offer, accept, and reflect upon, constructive criticism
- extend physical and vocal capabilities
- extend the ability to control and express emotions
Senior Goal II Objectives
- be capable of creating and expressing a believable character from scripted and non-scripted material
- develop techniques that enhance vocal and physical communication
- develop the ability to select appropriate physical and vocal expression for feelings, ideas and images
- develop the ability to understand and apply the specific presentation techniques demanded by various dramatic forms
- explore various approaches to analyzing a script for purposes of study and/or presentation
- gain knowledge of disciplines that enhance dramatic process and product
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