COM 231-ORAL PERFORMANCE OF LITERATURE

Spring 2001/9a.m./

Class meets Mon, Wed, & Fri in Independence Room 217

 

Professor-Dr. Quainoo/Office #164 Independence Hall

Phone # 401/874-4730/E-mail vquainoo12000@yahoo.com

Office Hours: MWF 11a.m. & By appointment

 

Welcome to Com 231!  This performance course is designed to help you strengthen your audience appeal through the use of dynamic presentations of literature.  Combining appreciation of the human voice, healthy respect for literature and dramatic methods of presenting, oral performance is a wonderful way to develop your own personal speaking style and build your confidence.  Three characteristics about this course that I want you to remember:  First, you have to practice.  Second, you have to practice more.  Third, you have to practice even more.  Well, you get the point.  In this class, attendance and a willingness to rehearse, review, re-do, repeat...in other words, consistent practice is the order of the day.  One more important reminder-oral performance can be fun too!  Again, welcome!

 

ASSIGNMENTS

          For all assignments, you will need a performance styled notebook.  No performances allowed without notebook.

 

1. The Robert Frost Exploration & Performance-Select one of Frost's poems.  Write and develop your own essay of an event in your life that exemplifies some aspect of the Frost poem that you selected. After editing and re-writing, you will prepare your manuscript for "performance" or public reading in class. (One-page stylistic analysis)

(5 minutes) 75 points

 

2. The Ernest Hemingway Exploration & Performance-Select from two of Hemingway’s stories.  Select from two poems and edit your selections into a presentation using a specific theme. (Two page written thematic analysis)

(10 minutes) 100 points

 

3. The Tennessee Williams Exploration & Performance-In pairs select an excerpt from the play A Glass Menagerie. Select from two poems and edit your selection into a dramatic presentation. (Three page written character analysis)

(15 minutes) Dress Rehearsal Mandatory 75 points 

 

4. Final Examination  100 points

 

5. Attendance & Class Participation-75 points

Total Possible Points=400 points

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

WEEK #1 Jan 17-19                           INTRODUCTION

 

WEEK #2 Jan 22, 24, 26                    WHAT IS INTERPRETATION

                                                            Chapters  1, 2, 3,  & 8

 

WEEK #3 Jan 29, 31 & Feb 2*            ROBERT FROST PREPARATION

                                                            Feb 2nd –Frost Written Analysis Due

 

WEEK #4 Feb 5,7,9                            PERFORMANCE #1

 

 

WEEK #5 Feb 12, 14, 16                    PERFORMING THE PROSE SCRIPT-Chap 6

                                                            SPOTLIGHT ON EARNEST HEMINGWAY

WEEK #6 Feb 19, 21, 23*                  Chap 4-23rd-Hemingway  Written Analysis Due

*Monday, 19th-Columbus Day-No Classes

 

 

WEEK #7 Feb 26, 28, Mar 2               PERFORMANCE #2

 

 

WEEK #8 Mar 5, 7, 9                          PERFORMANCE #2 Continued

 

WEEK #9 Mar 12-16              SPRING BREAK/No Classes

                                                            Chap. 5 & 7

 

WEEK #10 Mar 19, 21, 23             SPOTLIGHT ON TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

 

 

WEEK #11 Mar 26, 28, 30             DRAMATIC SCRIPT PREPARATION

 

 

WEEK #12 April 2, 4, 6                  CHAP 9, 10

 

 

WEEK #13 April 9, 11, 13*                  CHARACTER ANALYSIS

                                                            Apr 13-Williams Written Analysis Due

 

WEEK #14 April 16, 18, 20                    PERFORMANCE # 3

 

 

WEEK #15 April 23, 25, 27                    PERFORMANCE #3

 

*Written work due

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

WEEK #1 Jan 17-19                           INTRODUCTION

 

WEEK #2 Jan 22, 24, 26                    WHAT IS INTERPRETATION

                                                            Chapters  1, 2, 3,  & 8

 

WEEK #3 Jan 29, 31 & Feb 2*            ROBERT FROST PREPARATION

                                                            Feb 2nd –Frost Written Analysis Due

 

WEEK #4 Feb 5,7,9                            PERFORMANCE #1

 

 

WEEK #5 Feb 12, 14, 16                    PERFORMING THE PROSE SCRIPT-Chap 6

                                                            SPOTLIGHT ON EARNEST HEMINGWAY

WEEK #6 Feb 19, 21, 23*                  Chap 4-23rd-Hemingway  Written Analysis Due

*Monday, 19th-Columbus Day-No Classes

 

 

WEEK #7 Feb 26, 28, Mar 2               PERFORMANCE #2

 

 

WEEK #8 Mar 5, 7, 9                          PERFORMANCE #2 Continued

 

WEEK #9 Mar 12-16              SPRING BREAK/No Classes

                                                            Chap. 5 & 7

 

WEEK #10 Mar 19, 21, 23             SPOTLIGHT ON TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

 

 

WEEK #11 Mar 26, 28, 30             DRAMATIC SCRIPT PREPARATION

 

 

WEEK #12 April 2, 4, 6                  CHAP 9, 10

 

 

WEEK #13 April 9, 11, 13*                  CHARACTER ANALYSIS

                                                            Apr 13-Williams Written Analysis Due

 

WEEK #14 April 16, 18, 20                    PERFORMANCE # 3

 

 

WEEK #15 April 23, 25, 27                    PERFORMANCE #3

 

*Written work due