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HowtoformulateaviableResearchInvestigationQuestion

Hints&TipsSheetforIBTheatreteachers&students

Compiledby:JamesLehmann(IBTheatreTeacher,InternationalSchoolofGeneva,LaChtaigneraie)
withcontributionsfrom:AnthonyCunningham(IBTheatreTeacher,AmericanSchoolofTheHague)

FirstlyletusremindourselvesoftherequirementsoftheRItask:
TheIBTheatreSyllabusGuide(2007)statesonp27:'Studentsshouldselectaspecificaspect
ofaplayortheatrepiecefromthechosentheatricalpracticetoresearch,andthen
formulatearesearchquestiontoanswer.Studentsshouldcollect,editandpresenttheir
researchtocontributetoarealizationoftheplay/theatrepiecefromthechosentheatrical
practice.'
SoyourfirstquestionsregardingtheRIassignmentshouldbe:

1. WhattheatrepracticeorpractitioneramIinterestedinresearching?
2. Isthereaplay/text/pieceoftheatrefromthispractice?
3. Whatsourcesofresearchareavailabletohelpmewriteanessayona
specifictheatricalaspectofthisplay/text/pieceoftheatre?
Question2(above)concerningaplay/text/pieceoftheatreisimportantbecausethereareplenty
ofperfectlyviablepracticesandpractitionersbutnoplay/text/pieceoftheatreborneoutofthat
practice.Interestingthoughthesearetoresearch(andperhapsapplytoanIP)theyshouldbe
discardedforthepurposesoftheRI.
Question3(above)concerningresearchsourcesisimportantbecauseitcanprovechallengingto
digupsatisfactoryresearchonsomeofthemoreobscuretheatricalpractices.Thisiscertainlynot
areasontoavoidresearchingalesscommontradition,andindeedoriginalityisencouraged,but
studentsarestronglyadvisedtoinvestigateandconsulttheavailableresearchfirstbeforesettling
onafinalRIquestion.
Thespecificaspectshouldbeaspecifictheatricalaspect,suchasmasksorlightingdesignas
opposedtogeneralaspectsthathappentoappearinthechosenpiecesuchasthemesof
violenceorsociopoliticalresonance.SeealsothenotebelowaboutCircularRILogic.
TheResearchInvestigationisNOTacreativeexercise,itisaresearchexerciseitshould
informaproductionratherthanbea"howto"paper.
ItisthusstronglyencouragedthattheRIisnotaddressedtoahypotheticalindividualtakingona
specifictheatricalrole.
Forexample,notethedifferencebetween:
A)HowwouldacostumierdesignacostumeforPantaloneinServantofTwoMasters?
B)WhatarethecostumerequirementsforPantaloneinServantofTwoMastersaccordingtothe
costumingtraditionofCommediaDel'Arteatthistime?
ClearlyintheaboveexampleQuestionAisaddressedtoaspecificindividual(thecostume
designer)andshouldbeavoided.QuestionBsetsouttoresearchthemoregeneralall
encompassingprinciplesofthepracticeasappliedtocostumesandisthereforeamore
satisfactorystarttotheRItask.

TheRIQuestionValidationTest...
Formulatingaviablequestionisabsolutelyessentialtomeetingtherequirementsofthis
assignmentsuccessfully!StartingthetaskwithapoorlywordedorinadequateRIquestionmeans
youareseverelycrippledfromthebeginningandhavenohopeofreachingthehighermark
bandsintheassessmentcriteria.
Soonceyouhavedraftedyourquestionchecktoseeifitcanbreakdownintothefollowing
phrases:
Theconventions/theoriesof.....................................(theatrepractice/practitionerIhave
chosen)shouldbeappliedinthevariouswaysthatIwillexplaininthemainbodyofmy
essaytothe........................................(specifictheatricalaspectIhavechosen)ofa
realisationof.......................................(play/text/theatrepiecefrommychosentheatrical
practice/practitioner)
forexample...
Theconventions/theoriesof....EPICTHEATRE....(theatrepractice/practitioner)shouldbe
appliedinthevariouswaysthatIexplaininthemainbodyofmyessaytothe
..........LIGHTINGDESIGN............(specifictheatricalaspect)
ofarealisationof.....BERTHOLTBRECHTSMOTHERCOURAGE......(play/text/theatre
piecefromthechosentheatricalpractice/practitioner)
Etvoila!
IfyourRIquestionbreaksdowneasilyintosomethingliketheabovethenyoureprobablygoodto
gowritetheessay.
IfyourRIquestioncannotbebrokendowneasilyintosomethingliketheabovethenitprobably
lacksakeycomponentofthetaskandyouhavelittlehopeofmeetingtheassessmentcriteria
successfullygobacktothethreeinitialquestionsatthetopofthepageandstartagain!

CircularRILogic...
AnotherthingtobecarefulofisCircularRILogicwherebyanRIquestionfocusesonaSpecific
TheatricalAspectthatisalreadyitselfaconventionofthepractice.
Anexampleofthisis:
"HowshouldtheconventionsofEpicTheatrebeappliedtobreakingthe4thwallinBrechts
MotherCourage?"

Iadviseavoidingthiskindofquestionbecauseotherwisethisessayhastodiscusshowtoapply
conventionsofapracticetoaconventionofthatpractice,whichmakesnosense!
Unfortunatelyitsoftennotthatclearcutbecauseitseemstomethatsomethinglike'Masks'or
'Chorus'inGreekTheatrecanappearinResearchInvestigationseitherasaSpecificTheatrical
Aspectsorconventionsorboth.ThisissomethingIfindstudentscanhaverealdifficultiesgetting
theirheadsaround,asindeeddoIdependingonthedayoftheweek!Asalways,doallnecessary
checkingwellinadvancebeforesubmittinga2,500essaythatwillscorepoorlybecauseofafatal
confusioninthequestion.

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