Created by Daniela Ragusa, Professor of English
Drama Evaluation Essay Statement of Purpose: You will evaluate a play to make your recommendation to a specific audience regarding its quality to help them decide if they should spend their money and time to go see this live performance. Write 1000 words minimum and approximately 7 paragraphs according to the directions below.
MLA Format
Your Name
Prof. Name
ENG 1020
Due Date
Two Part Title
The two parts of the title should be separated by a colon and should include the title of the play you are reviewing and your take on the play so that readers will know your stance on it before they read the entire essay.
SCENE Start by describing a scene from the play that caught your attention as vividly as possible in your own words. Include an important quote and/or some brief dialogue from this scene as it is spoken by the characters. If you can’t capture the exact wording, just do your best to explain who is speaking and what the dialogue is about. After this paragraph, include an appropriate image here to illustrate your words: either a screenshot from the play that you found online, or a selfie of you standing in front of the theater or holding the playbook. You can’t take pictures inside the theater, so be creative. Credit the source for any image you find online.
John Malkovich as Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie
INTRODUCTION Introduce the play by giving its title as well as the playwright and the director’s names and the names of the actors who play the main characters (limited to four, if possible). Check the playbook you were given at the theater for these details. Briefly describe the play’s basic plot and the setting where the action takes place.
THESIS At the end of the introduction paragraph, add a strong thesis in the form of a recommendation to your chosen readers. Here are some ideas for readers--pick only one and be as specific as possible about who you imagine them to be: Local theatergoers seeking an enjoyable evening out; directors and/or actors who can learn from the staging of this play; high school or college students experiencing live performance as a worthwhile academic exercise; or
any other specific group of people who can relate to the play’s themes. Whichever choice for your intended audience, make your recommendation to them by explaining the life lesson they will learn from experiencing the play.
DESCRIPTION Write 1 paragraph describing the play’s basic plot to give readers unfamiliar with it a basic understanding of the story. Do not fall into the trap of summarizing the entire play from beginning to middle to end. Give your readers just enough detail so that they can understand the gist of the story (and the struggles its main characters face) without explaining everything in it. And try not to include any spoilers!
CRITERIA Write 1 paragraph clearly defining a criteria of your standards and expectations for a good play. What do you want to see when you go to a live performance to experience theater? Use some (not all) of the following drama terms in the explanation of your criteria as you deem appropriate: action, dialogue, monologue, stage, props, costumes, lighting, sound, etc. After explaining your criteria, don’t forget to explain how the play you are evaluating either does or does not hold up to your standards and expectations.
KNOWLEDGEABLE DISCUSSION Write 1 paragraph demonstrating your knowledgeable discussion of the play by referring to what another critic says about this play from the review provided to you (be sure to explain whether you agree with the reviewer or not and why.) You can find reviews in local newspapers and on websites. You can also quote from the playbook to show that you have read about the play and know details beyond just having watched it. Quote the director or the actors if you have the chance to attend a “talk back” after the play or a “Meet the Actors” event at school.
BALANCED AND FAIR ASSESSMENT Write 1 paragraph giving a balanced and fair assessment of the play: explain which elements were strong and which were flawed. Use some of the drama terms you have learned to explain what was done well that you enjoyed and what could have been done better with your clear recommendation for improvement. If you are giving a positive review, note at least one thing that could have been better (the running time?—too long, or short?) If you are giving a negative review, note at least one thing that was good (the lighting, set, or music?) Nothing is ever completely good or bad, so think of something you can say in opposition to your overall assessment.
CONCLUSION End your essay with a conclusion paragraph that gives your final recommendation on the play. Explain which specific audience you are trying to persuade with your recommendation—who would enjoy this play, and why? How might they relate to the play’s story or its characters? What message or life lesson will these viewers receive from the play?
Works Cited
Include a works cited page for all your sources: the live play, the image, the playbook, and the review. Use citation generators like ezbib or knightcite from the library page on the CT State website and be sure sources are alphabetized and properly formatted.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Drama Evaluation Rubric
/10 MLA Format & Two-Part Title
/10 Vivid Scene & Still Shot
/10 Introduction & Thesis
/10 Description
/10 Criteria
/10 Knowledgeable Discussion & quotes from the review
/10 Balanced and Fair Assessment
/10 Final Recommendation to Specific Audience
/10 Use of drama terms & quotes from the play
/10 Works Cited page properly formatted
Minus 10 Points for errors that impede understanding or lack of spellcheck.
Minus 5 points for every day past due-date, up to 7 days.
Comments