Course Outline

Course Code: ENG 550 (Sec-1)

Course Title: Playwriting

Course Type: Lecture / Tutorial

Level: MA

Course Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Israfil

Credit Value: 3

Full Marks: 100

Assessment Methods

Mid Term Examination	25%
Attendance & Participation	25%
Presentation	10%
Assignments	20%
Quizzes
Other types of examination (group presentation)	10%
Total	100%

Course Summary and Objectives

This course aims to introduce students to some of the tools and techniques involved in playwriting. The course examines the flexibility and variety of story-telling medium and will look at some of the many different approaches available to the playwright. It investigates the underlying bases of theatrical fiction and focuses on the fundamentals techniques in structuring the STORY in terms of ‘dramatic conflict’ (plot, act-structure, character development, conflict, dialogue, rhythm and format) and the five-phase sandhi as discussed in the Naiyasastra. The students will be encouraged to explore their own interests and develop their own creative processes.

Additional Content:

1. To understand what is a play and identify the basic differences between a play and others forms of writing. 
2. To understand literary form of a play/ theatre. There are two kinds of form. 
• Fixed form: where the content of a play is fixed or determinate by the pervious thoughts or ideas. For example, Tragedy, Comedy, Melodrama. 
• Organic form: (where the concept or key idea is fixed but the structure of the play might be changed or not. It is a idea based writing. For instance, developing a play regards to improvising a thought or concept.
3. To develop basic knowledge about literary styles such as: 
• Classism, neoclassicism, Elizabethan period /Renaissance
• Other genre of art form: Realism, Naturalism, Absurdism, Surrealism, post- modernism etc.
4. Growing sense of aesthetics (to know what aesthetics is, what is art & what is non-art) by reading best writings, watching theatre shows and films around the world. 
5. To identify the key thoughts/concepts of the play and choose best one among of them.
6. Pick up content from multiple sources like - social context, newspaper, imagination, true event, interview with individuals, urban sub-communities etc.
7. To develop a story line up (it may be parallel or nonparallel) 
8. Developing plot (remembering the point of start, middle and ending) 
9. Drafting and discussing with good listener to get some better options
10. Dialogue (Dialogue lies at the core of a play. And the dialogue must be followed by the form and style so that it seems logical.
11. Logical selection and arrangement of plot, character, thought, diction, music, spectacle, action, dialogue etc. 
12. Checking the first draft and rewriting / eradicating illogical thought, idea dialogue etc. which are not be allowed differences to the core concept.
13. To take a break or hang out somewhere else if it works. 
14. More practice.

Skills

1. CLO 8: Students will be able to pick up the suitable event from real life to present it into a dramatic form.
2. CLO 9: Students will gain practical knowledge in writing plays of diverse styles and lengths, involving different emotions.
3. CLO 10: They will be able to formulate their plays for the stage.  
4. CLO 11: They will be able to analyze a play involving scholarly approaches and critical theories.    

Attitude

1. CLO 12: Students will develop an attitude of accepting the opinions and criticisms of others in the process of composing their plays. 
2. CLO 13: They will be inspired to observe life from different perspectives and to transform the acquired ideas of life into plays with creative imagination.
3. CLO 14: In the process of writing plays, their sensible approaches in observing the reality and human life will help them in communicating with others and solving critical problems in different stages of their lives.

Part B: Course Content [Total 12 Sessions] Each Number indicates a single Session.

1. Introduction to creative writing through writing exercises.
2. Nature of drama, writing exercises, reviewing home works.
3. Exploring the differences among narrative monologue and dialogue.
4. Midterm-1 on monologue. Exploring the ways how to get ideas.
5. Exploring the ways how to build characters. a. Rough writing exercises. b. Field visit.
6. Language: techniques and exercises for writing dialogues.
7. Settings: Who, where, when, what and how. Quiz – a. scene making, preparing a character.
8. Plot & structure: techniques and exercises for crafting a plot. Assignment collects.
9. Midterm-2 on a 10 minutes play. Dramatic and narrative.
10. Examining narratology of few Bangladeshi plays. Techniques and exercises for crafting a narrative. 
11. Theatre Games and Improvisation will help the students for their imagination. These include:

• Concentration of Attention, 
• Magic IF, 
• Given Circumstances,
• Adaptation, truth and believe, communion, 
• Emotional Memory, Sensorial exercises etc.

12. Writing, reviewing and submitting the plays. Students’ written plays will be performed by themselves in front of an audience. The performance can take place through:

1. Spectators’ responses to the students’ 10 minutes plays.
2. Workshop on exploring the individual’s potentials of students for each of their 30 minutes plays.

Teaching & Learning Strategies

1. Interactive lectures and seminars. 
2. Lectures presented by Power Points using well-designed slides.
3. Preparing and distribution of handouts and reading materials.
4. Play readings (individual and group-wise).
5. Instant writing exercise in class.
6. Providing links to recorded video materials, play productions and important films on great plays or playwrights.
7. Researching story’s characters, setting, actions, sound and dialogue.
8. Group work.
9. Developing creative ideas for playwriting.
10. Giving feedback for the original playwriting project of the students.
11. Presentation.