Course Description

This course is non-performance-oriented. Rather, it is designed to develop a refined appreciation of theatre in relation to the other fine arts. Fundamentals of play analysis and dramatic structures are included. Many facets of theatrical production and the artists who accomplish them are discussed.

Texts

The course materials are available in the Course Materials List.

Use the  University Store Price Comparison site to compare all of the options for your text available through the University Store, plus several online options to help you find the best price. Digital and print options are available.

Required Text

1. The Essential Theatre (11th edition), by Oscar G. Brockett, Robert J. Ball, John Flemming, and Andrew Carlson. 
2. Other course materials are accessible through the course via the BYU-I library or churchofjesuschrist.org.

Study the textbook, scripts, and selected articles carefully. They will be the basis for weekly quizzes and major exams.

Required Equipment

• Microphone and Webcam

Course Objectives

Theater is essentially a communal and experiential art form. Some consider it to be the most human of all the arts. To the extent possible in an online setting, course objectives will be pursued utilizing interactive and experiential processes.

Each student will accomplish the following:

• Develop an understanding of theater by examining the creative work of playwrights, directors, designers, and actors.
• Refine critical aesthetic judgments while expanding familiarity with dramatic literature/production practice of various historical periods, cultures, genres, and styles.
• Actively engage with written and produced plays to enhance perception of their related processes of creation, interpretation, and performance/production.
• Expand comprehension of theatrical practitioners, events, developments, and vocabulary/terminology.
• Acquire analytical skills to become a more perceptive, active, respectful, and discerning theater participant or consumer.
• Enhance awareness of the relationship between the arts and the gospel of Jesus Christ by examining the teachings of modern prophets.

Course Requirements

1. The expectation is that you spend 9–12 hours per week reading and completing the various weekly assignments. Make sure you plan your time wisely so that you complete all your assignments to the fullest extent. This course includes required synchronous meetings.
2. Each week you will read material in the textbook. You might also be asked to read/view a play or summarize an article. A quiz or exam will be given each week that covers the readings and other assignments. Most weeks you will write and submit written reports that relate to the weekly readings and assignments.
3. Your active participation in weekly discussion boards for the class is essential to achieving course objectives. The activity is a key component of your learning process during the semester. You will be evaluated every week on your discussion board contributions.
4. You are required to seek out and attend two full-length live theater performances this semester. A production analysis will be written for each production you view; one will be due mid-semester and one at the end of the semester. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your instructor.
5. During one week of the term, you will participate in and help create and deliver a group presentation. Each group member will be required to actively participate in the creation of the presentation and in facilitating the discussion board for the week.

Grades

(Philosophy and Policy)

Your best efforts must be combined with quality in order to achieve high grades.

Letter Grade	Description
A =	excellent work
B =	good work
C =	average work
D =	below average work
F =	poor or incomplete work

The grading scale written below will be used to determine final grades.

Letter Grade	Percentage
A	93–100%
A-	90–92%
B+	86–89%
B	83–85%
B-	80–82%
C+	76–79%
C	73–75%
C-	70–72%
D+	66–69%
D	63–65%
D-	60–62%
F	59% and below

Assignment Breakdown (in points):

Assignment	Points
Syllabus Quiz	5
12 Weekly Quizzes (40 points each)	480
Midterm Exam	150
Final Exam	160
1 Group Presentation	150
6 Article Reports (25 points each)	150
2 Production Analyses (100 points each)	200
2 Play Reports (50 points each)	100
2 Video Reports (50 points each)	100
12 Discussion Boards (including the Icebreaker)	110
6 Peer Evaluations	90
Accountability Quizzes	24
Total	1,719

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted in this course unless there is an emergency situation. You will need to work out those circumstances with your instructor as soon as the emergency arises. Instructors will make the final decision regarding the acceptance of late work.

Extra Credit

You can earn up to 25 points of extra credit at the end of the semester if you submit a personal philosophy paper that discusses your view about the value and place of theater in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' culture (see Week 14 module).

Proctored Exams and Assessments

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to this help guide article (Links to an external site.).

AI policy

Work derived from generative artificial intelligence (Al) resources without express permission from instructors is not considered the students' original work. Students should not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist with writing or any other aspect of their course work unless they have permission and guidance from an instructor. Some instructors may ask students to use AI for specific purposes, but if not, students should assume that they must ask for permission in order to use AI tools or simply not use AI at all. If students aren’t sure of an instructor’s policies, they should ask for clarification.

Dishonest use of AI:

•           Giving AI a prompt and submitting what it writes as your own work.

•           Combining content from several different AI prompts and submitting as your own work.

Ask your professor about:

•           Using AI to fix your grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors

•           Using AI to generate ideas for paper

•           Using AI to write portions of an assignment but clearly indicating which parts were written by AI and which were written by you

•           Using AI for outlines and organization

•           Using AI for summarizing or paraphrasing technical language

•           Using AI to write a sample paper and then modeling your own work after the work of the AI bot

Additional Information

Code of Honor

You made a commitment to live the BYU-I Honor Code when you signed your application form. A major goal of the institution is to provide quality educational opportunities in a wholesome spiritual environment. All students are asked to observe every point of the Honor Code, including those regarding personal and academic integrity. Your willing participation is invited and expected.

University Policies

The materials in this course are also intellectual property and taking any materials from the course and posting them outside of this course in any manner (such as posting on Course Hero) will be construed as theft. If you post course materials without authorization, the instructor has the right to impose an appropriate academic sanction (e.g., give you a failing grade for the assignment and/or fail you from the course).

You made a commitment to live the CES Honor Code; including Academic Honesty and the Dress and Grooming Standards when you signed your application form. A major goal of the institution is to provide quality educational opportunities in a wholesome spiritual environment. All students are asked to observe every point of the Honor Code, including those regarding personal and academic integrity. Your willing participation is invited and expected. Dishonesty may result in expulsion from the course, with a failing grade (at the instructor's discretion) and other consequences as determined by the university.

Policy on Sexual Discrimination/Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Title IX office.

Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course includes required synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.