Script Analysis Lesson 8

Script Analysis Lesson 8

KWBAT analyze the plot structure of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.

Open Ended

DO NOW: If the playwright does not divide the play into smaller parts, it is left up to the director. What is this called and how does the director decide how to divide the play?

Play Progressions- From Smallest to Largest

• Beats- The smallest unit of progression. Expresses a singular thought. You can find beats by reading aloud and trying to find places where natural pauses occur.

• Unit- A unit is made up of several related beats. Think of one overarching topic seen throughout several beats.

• Scene- A scene is a collection of units marked by a change in a time or place. A scene is like a tiny play.

• French Scene- Some plays are not divided into scenes and thus we refer to French scenes, aka any time there is an entrance or exit that creates a new group of characters on stage.

• Act- Largest progression. A group of scenes. An act ends with an intensely dramatic moment.

Multiple Choice

This is the smallest unit of play progression. It can be helpful to identify these by reading the text aloud and looking for natural pauses or breaks in your speaking.

• Unit

• Beat

• French Scene

• Act

Multiple Choice

This is the largest form of play progression and the end of which is usually marked by an emotionally intense event.

• Act

• Beat

• Unit

• French Scene

Multiple Choice

This type of play progression includes a group of beats that all have to do with a similar topic.

• French Scene

• Scene

• Unit

• Act

Multiple Choice

This type of play progression is usually broken down by the playwright and is marked by a change in location or time.

• Beat

• Act

• French Scene

• Scene

Marking Beats in a Play Text

• Beats are more than just pauses. Beats occur when there is a change in emotion, dynamic, or tactic.

• You can identify beats by looking for any of these three things: (1) a character entering or exiting, (2) Situational shift- something new is introduced, the topic of conversation changes, something intrudes on the action, a new discovery is made, or (3) the character changes their tactic, or the path they are taking towards reaching their objective.

• Scoring a script means to mark it up in order to make specific choices about the dramatic choices you are going to make when you are performing a character.

• Beats are marked in a play script by drawing a horizontal line between characters' lines and noting the characters objective, or goal, during that beat. For example, "to brag" or "to punish."

Example of Script Scoring of Beats

Horizontal lines to show where the beats happen and action words to describe the objective, or goal of the character, during that moment.

Let's Try It Together

• Identify Beats

• Identify Objectives

• Identify unifying topic of the Unit

• Note these things in Part 2 of your Classwork Document

Breakout Rooms

• This is a summative. So, please, try your very best.

• We will move into breakout rooms to provide opportunity for discussion. However, every individual must turn in a copy of their own work.

• Be a leader: If your group is not discussing the excerpt or collaborating, try leading the way.

• Ms. Keen will move into breakout rooms to help facilitate conversation.

• Identify 2 beats, 2 objectives, and 1 unifying topic of the unit.

Multiple Choice

What does Walter do that Mama attributes to him gaining his manhood?

• He gets the money back

• He goes out and finds Willie Nelson

• He tells Lindner that his family is hardworking and that they WILL be moving to Clybourne Park

Open Ended

EXIT TICKET: What do you think was symbolic about Mama staying behind and grabbing her plant before leaving the old house?