1. Exam tute for Alex Year twelve Drama Exam structure Answering well Leah Allen MSC

2. Exam Structure You will have three sections First section deals with an unseen text that you need to analyse and develop answers for. Second section deals with your Australian Set Text. Third section deals with you World Set Text.

3. Study help Study the elements of drama, your stage types and geography. Study the theorists that you have looked at Study the roles you have undertaken – Designer, Dramaturg, Playwright, Actor will be in the exam. Study the texts you have looked at – you need to have a character you know, a scene you know, and you need to know a relationship. You need context for both texts.

4. Elements. Know them. The Human Context (Situation/role/relationships in the drama) Dramatic Tension (The Engine that drives the drama. The conflict of relationships, task, surprise and mystery) Focus (the central event, theme, issue, problem of the drama) Place (Where? – location, inner and wider worlds of the play) Time (time the play is set, day, year, season, time of day) Also links to Dramaturgical reasearch Dramatic Structure (The framework – linear/non linear narrative. Realism/non realism) Language (verbal and non verbal communication choices) Symbol (What is used that is symbolic or indicative?) Mood (How does the scene feel?) Dramatic Meaning (All the elements of drama combined create the dramatic meaning) Audience Engagement (How the performer has manipulated the conventions of drama to achieve a particular response)

5. Answering section one Section one is short answer. Dot points are fine. Use all sources of information, not just the script. Often extra information will be given to you in other forms, all are valid for evidence. When you are asked about approaches, it means what system/process you have used to create your decisions – using Laban, Stanislavski (realism or voice), Grotowski, Meyerhold.

6. Answering Section One Section one will need sketches. Bring pencils, eraser and make sure you sketch. If a vision or concept needs to accompany the sketch, you need to justify where they link. Annotate the diagram or sketch as well. Differences between a sketch and a diagram – following slide.

7. Sketches Diagrams Drawn Imparts information Can get you extra marks if done well Needs justification and annotation Needs labelling Picture form In colour Costume design Set design Lighting rig as if on roof Graphic organisers Cue sheets Budgets Venn diagram for comparison Fishbone diagram for rank and order

8. Answering section one Actor question will come up, sometimes linked with another role. Read carefully. Know what you need to do to prepare a character. Vocal choices rely on the elements of voice Non-verbal choices rely on the elements of movement If looking at multiple characters (examiners often ask for two characters and your approaches for both), what do you need to know???

9. Vocal choices Used to be known as Verbal communication. Terms have changed. You need to change too. Pace, pitch, pause, tone, clarity, emphasis, volume, dynamics. Why not projection????

10. Non-verbal communication choices No terminology has changed here. Gesture, facial expressions, proxemics, gait (walk), posture, levels (status). Make sure you link movement to emotion and objective. More of what is understood is shown, not said.

11. Answering question one Non-actor question – Possibilities are likely to be… Need to know what makes up the non actor roles, particularly those of designer – costume and set (aka scenographer), dramaturge, and director, and how to write a vision for all of these roles. If you know these three roles well, and are familiar with the others, you will find you can answer a section one question well.

12. Answering Section Two Cloudstreet is your text. One of the questions will be best suited to this text, and the others may not suit as well. It is very important that you answer each part of the question in as much detail as you can. Know each type of vision for this text, directorial as well as each designer. Know your dramaturgical research – the events in shown Cloudstreet and how they are represented, as well as what the social context of the characters is. Know one key scene, three quotes from the text and two key relationships for one key character. This should do.

13. Answering Section Three Caucasian Chalk Circle is your text. One of the questions will be best suited to this text, and the others may not suit as well. It is very important that you answer each part of the question in as much detail as you can. Know each type of vision for this text, directorial as well as each designer. Know your dramaturgical research – the events in shown Caucasian Chalk Circle and how they are represented, as well as what the social context of the characters is. Know the style and how we know its Epic Theatre.

14. Last minute help Don’t forget that your assignments are designed to take you through the course. Use your investigations in particular to assist with your answering section 2 and 3. Use past exam papers. The course has changed but the questions still use the same language. Use your terms.