THEATER IV

NAME: _____________________________

REVIEW UNIT TEST # 2 PLAYWRITING

Your second test will be on Monday, January 16, 2017 during class time (Block 3 10:05am 10:45am).
The test is out of 50 points and it is divided in two parts: (1) Elements of playwriting (20PTS) and (2)
Playwriting Technique (30PTS). You will have the entire class period to complete your test. Because you are
doing a creative task in a limited time frame, I will allow up to 10 minutes of extra time, if you choose to do
so.

PART 1: Elements of Playwriting

This section of the test will include questions about the following:
1. Aristotles Six Elements of Drama
a. What are they?
b. Why is each of them important?
c. Why did Aristotle pick each of them?
2. The Creative Process and how it relates to Aristotles Six Elements of Drama
a. Ideas / Inspiration
i. What are ideas?
ii. Three sources of inspiration
b. Research
i. Why is it necessary?
ii. How can it help the playwright?
c. Character / Plot / Setting
i. Why is each of these important?
ii. How does each of them affect a play?
iii. How can we effectively use them?
iv. What is conflict? Why is it necessary?
v. Classic Plot Structure
d. Dialogue
i. Different forms of dialogue (interruptions, simultaneous, trail-offs, etc.)
ii. What is unnecessary dialogue?
iii. Stage Directions Action vs. Activity
e. Script
i. Vocabulary
ii. Formatting
f.

Rehearsal and Performance

i. Why should we not forget about these when writing?

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THEATER IV

NAME: _____________________________

PART 2: Playwriting Technique (30PTS)

This section will test your ability to use your knowledge of Part 1 and apply it to creating a moment
of theater, also known as a play. This part of the test will be formatted like the plays you have been
writing in class and at home (two characters, one conversation, classic plot structure, etc). I will use
the following rubric to grade:
FORMAT

Title & Playwrights name (1pt)

Character Descriptions (1pts)
Setting & Time (1pt)
Playwright's Notes (1pt)
Stage Directions (1pt)
Two characters (1pt)
20 lines of dialogue (10pts)
10 lines per character (2pts)

CONTENT
CATEGORY

3PTS

2PTS

1PTS

CONFLICT

Conflict between the

characters is clear,
cleverly developed and
resolved.

Conflict is apparent but

is not developed nor
resolved in an
interesting manner.

No conflict is present in
dialogue or stage
directions.

CHARACTER

Characters are unique,

well-developed, have
clear objectives,
obstacles.

Characters are
somewhat unique with
objectives and
obstacles that are
sometimes apparent.

Characters are basic,

do not have objectives
nor obstacles,

DIALOGUE

Dialogue is used
efficiently and precisely
to reveal and deepen
plot, character, and
conflict.

Dialogue is used to
Some unnecessary
dialogue is present.

Most dialogue is
unnecessary and does
not reveal character
traits, deepen the
conflict or move the plot
forward

PLOT

The play contains all

five steps and presents
each of them in a clear
and interesting manner

The play is missing one

or more of the steps.

The play is missing or

fails to develop two or

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