first assignment

Assignment

The Comprehensive Outline is the requirement of lesson one and will be used in the feedback before anything else is written.



Discussion Topic



After posting your assignment submit your Discussion Topic in the Classroom.



Read the Dictionary of Terms, The Rules of Thumb, The Example Comprehensive Outline and the Example Ist Draft of the Play.

General Outline

:





Name of Play: See Past the Hump

Names of Characters:

Central Character: Helen Larane born as any normal infant. Things changed at the age of two.



Supporting Character #1: Big sister-Sarah is Hellen's older sister of by 2 years. She was the one who changed Helen's life forever.



Supporting Character #2: Big brother-Teddy & Ray were three and one when the accident happened



Minor Character(s): Mom-Betty .. married when she only twelve.. she was only sixteen when this story happens



Dad-John was 35 when he married to Betty

Doctor Williams hometown doctor that made house calls



Synopsis of Play: General comments not specific to a scene

See Past the Hump

Synopsis

Summer, 1944. In a small bedroom, four children are playing. One would get on the foot board of the bed. Then would jump on the back of another. Helen was the youngest when her big sister (who was four) jumps off unto Helen's back for her turn for a “piggy back” ride.





Helen's begins her child hood with a broken back that turns into a hump. Her struggles are embarrassment for her and from her family. She overcomes the childhood bullies, and moves into having a family of her own.



Scene1: Overview



Helen and family are playing. This rough play causes her to have a broken back. The doctor visits and gives the bad news. She will be laid up in her bed for months at two years old.



Scene 2: Overview



Beginning to notice that Helen's back is changing{{/b}



Scene 3: Overview



Helen finds school hard to handle. Children are crule to those who are different.



Scene 1 Setting:



1. The Central Character will give one or more monologues.



2. The two Supporting Characters will give one or more monologues.





3. The Central Character will appear in the first scene.

Helen appears crawling from out of under a bed. Her brothers are on each other's shoulders, and her sister is standing tall on the high foot board of the bed.



4. The Central Character will be involved in one or more dialogues.



Helen cries in pain when jumped

Helen speaks to parents

Helen speaks to doctor



5. Should run not more than about eight minutes.





6. The Dramatic Premise is in evidence.



7. Foreshadowing is evidenced.



8. A symbol is evidenced.



9. Give initial snapshot of the Central Character.



10. First Crisis

Helen back is broken



Scene 2 Setting:



1. Must include the three primiary actors.

Helen



Mom

Dad

Doctor



2. Should run not more than twenty minutes.



3. Must include an element of humor.



4. Show evidence ot the "Dramatic Ingredinets.”



5. Show Central Character realization of the problem



Helen hears the Doctors report from her bed.



6. Second Crisis



Helen will not be able to play with other children or get out of bed. She will be restricted to the bed.



Scene 3 Setting:



1. Show third crisis/climax



2. Must include the Central Character



3. Show conflict leading to resolution



4. Show change in the Central Character.



5. Runs about ten minutes



6. Have a happy ending.



My Outline Filled Out

Comprehensive Outline



Name of Play: See Past the Hump





Names of Characters:







Central Character:



Supporting Character #1.



Supporting Character #2.



Minor Character(s):.



Synopsis of Play.















Scene 1:















Scene 2:















Scene3:













Scene 1 Setting:





1. The Central Character will give one or more monologues:













2. The two Supporting Characters will give one or more monologues:







3.The Central Character appears in the first scene.



*Note: Don't just say "Yes" or "No." Explain in more detail...(Why or how or whatever..)*







4. Is the Central Character is involved in one or more dialogues?











5. List and explain the essence of the dialogues with/among the supporting characters(s).











6. How long do you anticipate the first scene will run?











7. State the Dramatic Premise and explain how it is evidenced.











8. Where is foreshadowing is evidenced.









9. What kind of symbolism is used and where is it evidenced?











10. Give initial snapshot of the Central Character. .













Scene 2 Setting:









1. Must include the three primary characters.





Yes, The three primary characters are included in the monologues and dialogues.





2. Should run not more than twenty minutes.





It looks to me like eight minutes of read time...





3. Give further evidence of the "Dramatic Premise."











4. Where have you included the element of humor?











5. Where have you included the element of Symbolism: .









6. Show evidence of the "Dramatic Ingredients.





One Central pivotal character: _____Strong inner need or desire that must be satisfied:





7. Highlight dialogues/monologues…











8. Show Central Character realization of the problem.









Scene 3 Setting:









1. Dialogues:











2. Must include the Central Character.











3. Show conflict leading to resolution:











4. Show change in the Central Character.











5 Dramatic Ingredients:





Conflict comes to a head.: __________________



…Resolution is Achieved: _________________________



Central Character is a changed person:





6. Run time:











7. Has a happy ending.









Yes, Everyone lives happily ever after.







Note: This was my first pass through the Comprehensive Outline…Had I wanted I could have gone back again and easily expanded it to twice it’s size before even beginning to write the first line of actual dialogue. What I provide here is a minimum example of what yours needs to look like.



The big point to take from this exercise is that you can see the play beginning to emerge from the bones of your outline with a structure that includes the major ingredients of what it takes to write a good play.