Sketch Writing: Day 2 & Workshop

Sketch Writing:

Complete your sketch today in class (hopefully by 10:15). After 10:15, we will get into small groups and share/read our sketches with each other. Peer editors should help identify any grammar mistakes or make suggestions on how to strengthen or improve the scenes you read. Writers should listen and take notes, ready to update and correct mistakes for next class.

If you finish earlier than 10:15, do the following:

• Give one or two of your characters a monologue (long speech) that helps define:
• The setting of the play/sketch (allow the character to speak about what we cannot see on stage; setting)
• The character speaking (what is his/her motivation to speak or act?)
• The other character(s) speaking (give us details about who these characters are)
• The background or history of the character before this moment (backstory)
• An important event that happens off-stage before or during the scene (exposition)
• Add detail to your script by making vague nouns into specific ones, or passive verbs into active ones. 
• Correct your grammar (call me over if you have questions about your grammar...!)

Rubric:

• Your script should be between 5-9 pages in length (in play publishing format)
• Your script should have a consistent format (skip a line between each new speaker or line of dialogue! No need for quotation marks; see models of play scripts for assistance...)--NOTE: DO NOT DOUBLE SPACE YOUR SCRIPT!
• Your script should be well written, detailed, and match the tone or intentional theme of your scene. Your dialogue and story should be interesting and creative, but also produceable for the stage.
• Your script should be free of grammar/mechanical errors.
• Your script should have a brief character list and description of your setting (usually this includes time and place information)
• Your play/script should only use 1 setting (this is not a film script)
• Your script should have a title page with the name of the title, your name and full address (including zip code and phone # or email address)
• Your play should be complete and ready to submit Wednesday to Geva's play writing contest. 

HOMEWORK: We will submit your scripts Wednesday to Geva. Make sure your script is the best it can possibly be before next class.

Also, check out this contest about overcoming odds/struggles.  You may submit to this contest for extra credit (deadline is Wednesday as well).