Wednesday June 10th Unit 6: Lesson 3

Class Outline: Lesson 3 Read for 15 minutes, until 8:25. Reading Log # 6 due Thursday June 18 th Review last day’s lesson Sound effects

Last Day’s Lesson Parts of a radio drama: plot, characters, and dialogue Plot is often described as a series of actions and consequences that grows from the conflict that arises when two forces in a play come into opposition. The main characters are defined, not by their physical descriptions of characteristics, but rather by what they do and say. Dialogue is what the characters say. In a drama people do not just talk for the sake of talking. They say what the writer needs them to say to establish character and move the plot forward.

Sound Effects In radio drama, sound effects play a very important role. They help the listener understand the setting (e.g., bird sounds in a forest), movement (e.g., the footsteps of an approaching or retreating character), and action (e.g., the sound of an axe chopping wood). use sounds whenever you can to establish setting, movement and action. use sound to avoid awkward dialogue.

Examples “John, thank you for closing that kitchen door.” You don’t need this to establish that the door is closed. You can simply have the sound of the door closing after John enters. “I hear the sound of thunder right overhead.” You don’t need this to establish that it’s storming. You can have the sound of thunder, and then the characters can react naturally to it.

Remember Sound can also be used creatively to establish atmosphere, for example, in a drama set in the future. remember that silence is also sound, in a sense. Silence can be powerful if used appropriately and with purpose.

Activity Use one of the scenes you’ve written for another activity. Or, you can write a new scene from an existing story. Have small groups of students work together to incorporate sound effects into a scene in order to: establish the setting indicate movement by characters indicate actions increase tension establish atmosphere.