Course Syllabus

Theatre 211/English 245/RC Hums 280

Introduction to Theatre and Performance

***Please Note: This is the syllabus for Fall 2022. There will be some small adjustments made for Winter 2023, that I will be explicit about shortly.***

Dr. Jake Hooker

email: jakehook@umich.edu             

https://smtd.umich.edu/about/faculty-profiles/jake-hooker/

THIS COURSE WILL BE CONDUCTED ENTIRELY ONLINE AND ASYNCHRONOUSLY 

There are no required texts to purchase. All materials will be made available in weekly modules on Canvas.

Office Hours are by appointment. Click here to make an appointment in Jake’s Google Calendar

Course Objectives 

  1. To determine what "theatre" and "drama" have meant at different times in history, across various cultures, and what they mean now, and to do so by examining plays and performances in their theatrical and social contexts.
  2. To gain a fundamental understanding of how each of the theatre's constituent arts (acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage management) contributes to the making of a theatrical whole.
  3. To develop a sense of how theatre is a discipline without clear boundaries and how other practices intersect with and shape theatrical performance.

Paths to Completing This Course Successfully

You may do a variety of things to earn points. Throughout the course you may choose various assignments to complete, including:

  • Play Reports
  • Performance reviews (live and on-video)
  • Weekly Quizzes
  • Weekly Reflections
  • Creative Projects
  • Formal Research Paper

About earning points:

There are 1700 points available for the term, but note that you only need to earn 1000 to get an A. In other words, you do not *need* to complete all of the assignments available to you. 

Point scale for 3 credits:

  • 1000 and above - A+
  • 1000 points - A
  • 950 points - A-
  • 925 points - B+
  • 900 points - B
  • 850 points - B-
  • 825 points - C+
  • 800 points - C
  • 750 points - C-
  • 725 points - D+
  • 700 points - D
  • Below 700 points - F

Point scale for 2 credits:

  • 900 and above - A+
  • 900 points - A
  • 850 points - A-
  • 825 points - B+
  • 800 points - B
  • 750 points - B-
  • 725 points - C+
  • 700 points - C
  • 650 points - C-
  • 625 points - D+
  • 600 points - D
  • Below 600 points - F

Here's the breakdown of assignment categories and points. 

Week 0 Introductions (10 points)
Weekly Quizzes (10 points for 13 weeks = 130)
Weekly Responses (10 points for 13 weeks = 130)
Working in the Theatre Responses (10 points for 13 weeks = 130)
Performance Reviews (2 possible at 100 points = 200)
Quarterly Reflections (4 at 50 points = 200)
End of term Creative Project (450 points)
End of term Research Paper (450 points)

So, that's a total of 1700 points. But you only need to earn 1000 points get get an A (that's a change from the original syllabus).

One possible version of that is:

1 Week Zero Introduction (10 points)
2 of the 3 weekly assignments (260 points)
1 performance review (100 points)
4 quarterly reflections (200 points)
1 end of term project (450 points) = 1020 points

But you could also do more of the bigger point assignments, if that's how you'd like to engage with the course. That would look like:

1 Week Zero Introduction (10 points)
1 of the 3 weekly assignments (130 points)
2 performance reviews (200 points)
4 quarterly reflections (200 points)
1 end of term project (450 points) = 980 (so you could throw in a couple more weekly assignments)

But there are other options that work too! The only caveat is that you can only do ONE  end-of-term project.

All assignments are "optional" in the sense that you can pick and choose how you want to accrue the points you would like to earn, based on the grade you would like to earn. (If you're an overachiever, be conscious of earning too many points!)  While there are many ways to earn points, it is difficult to earn an A without engaging with some, if not most, of the weekly assignments. 

While you can turn things in a little late (up to a week), you will not be able to make things up once they expire. If you do not get the points you want during one week, you need to make up the points by doing more of the work later. I cannot take late work because, if I do, it would affect my grading and not allow for me to give prompt grades and feedback. 

Many assignments are simple - follow the guidelines and you will get all the points. 

You may take the quizzes as many times as you like to get the points you desire. They are open book and not time limited. 

Because I am building this course for the first time, you will not be able to "work ahead" because I will only be able to post each module until the beginning of each week. The logic of this course is that it is organized by weeks and that a week is Monday through Sunday. Material for each week will be posted no later than Monday at 9 am and the work for that week will be due Sunday at midnight. 

 

Values and Ethics Guiding This Course

COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY. Theatre is a collaborative endeavor and even though this course is conducted remotely and asynchronously, I try to do what I can to foster a feeling of community. 

ACCESS, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION. I am deeply committed to creating an inclusive classroom that respects ​every person, including people who (for any number of reasons) might not be in the room. As Dr. Brea M. Heidelberg has written, “In the higher education setting, which is still largely White and heteronormative, . . . culturally responsive teaching requires consideration of the voices that are not represented in the room, until such time that the sociopolitical factors preventing them from being there are addressed” (“Teaching Culturally Responsive Performing Arts Management in Higher Education,” in Tobie S. Stein, Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Performing Arts Workforce [Routledge, 2020], 117).

  • We construe inclusivity in the broadest possible terms and aspire to promote a welcoming and fully representative learning environment with respect to race, ethnicity, social and/or economic class, sexuality, religion, gender, age, and ability, and also diversity of thought, experience, and outlook upon the world. Moreover, we believe that individuals ​with different experiences, backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives ​(including citizenship status) enrich the classroom in incalculable ways. 
  • We commit to referring to students by the names and pronouns they use (e.g. she, they, ze, he). If you have a name that differs from the one that appears on the roster, please inform us. Please note that all U-M folx can designate their personal pronouns via Wolverine Access (Student Business -> Campus Personal Information -> Gender Identity ). 
  • Let us know if you need any learning accommodations due to learning differences/disabilities, physical needs, religious practices, medical needs, citizenship status, or any other reason(s). If you have a disability, we encourage you to take advantage of the support at U-M’s Services for Students with Disabilities (734-763-3000). SSD typically recommends accommodations through a Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations (VISA) form--but if you don’t have a VISA form, please talk to us anyway! We recognize that the VISA form is a bureaucratic hurdle that can sometimes inhibit rather than enhance accessibility at U-M. Any information you provide is private and confidential and will be treated as such. 

WELLNESS AND SELF-CARE. All of us experience stressors that can impact both our academic experience and our personal well-being. These may include academic pressure and challenges associated with relationships, mental health, alcohol or other drugs, identities, finances, etc. If you are experiencing concerns, seeking help is a courageous thing to do for yourself and those who care about you. If the source of your stressors is academic, please contact Jake and/or Amy, so that we can find solutions together. For personal concerns, U-M offers many resources, some of which are listed here: Resources for Student Well-Being. You can also contact SMTD’s on-site counselor, Emily Hyssong (LMSW), at emhyss@umich.edu to request an appointment to talk, or contact U-M CAPS at 734-764-8312. In a crisis situation, call 911 or 734-996-4747 (U-M Psychiatric Emergency Services).

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. As artists, professionals, and citizens, you have a responsibility to engage in your work honestly. The faculty and administration of University of Michigan support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. You are responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. If you are unsure of these standards, consult the OWL at Purdue’s guide. Also, please review SMTD’s procedures for dealing with academic misconduct. As per SMTD’s policy, if we suspect a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirm that violation, or if a student admits the violation, we will report the incident to SMTD’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Lapses of academic integrity (e.g., plagiarism of books, articles, websites, or papers written by others; self-plagiarism; copying and pasting material from other sources without quotation; etc.) will result in significant consequences, at minimum a failing grade (E) for the assignment.

FREEDOM FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT. We are committed to creating a learning environment for students that is free of Prohibited Conduct, including gender-based and sexual harassment, sexual violence, retaliation, and a hostile environment based on discrimination and intimidation. We recognize and acknowledge the power differentials between instructors and students, and the prohibition of “Covered Relationships” (sexual, romantic, or dating) between instructors and students. The SMTD community understands that sexual violence can undermine academic success and we encourage anyone dealing with sexual misconduct to talk to someone about their experience. SMTD has an on-site counselor—Emily Hyssong (LMSW)—assigned from the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Email her at emhyss@umich.edu for an appointment. CAPS services are always free and confidential. In addition, confidential support and academic advocacy are immediately available through U-M’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) on their 24-hour crisis line at 734-936-3333 and at the SAPAC website. In addition, alleged violations can be non-confidentially reported to U-M’s Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) via email at institutional.equity@umich.edu or by phone at 734-763-0235. Some of our personal commitments are as follows (all of which are informed by best practices offered by the U-M SACUA working group on sexual and gender-based misconduct in April 2022):

  • We will conduct office hours with our doors open. Students who wish to have confidential conversations with one of us may schedule a private meeting via Zoom or may ask to have a closed-door meeting. But this closed-door meeting must be made on your request in writing, even on the spot. We will never suggest a closed-door meeting because of the uneven power dynamic between students and professors.
  • We will document all pre-scheduled meetings between students and me via Google Calendar (or other software) and/or university email. Students who sign up for an appointment using Google Calendar and/or email to request an office hour appointment will receive an email confirmation or a Google Calendar (or other software) invitation from one of us; or, upon email confirmation and request, we will send a Google Calendar (or other software) invitation for this meeting. The purpose of this is to provide a permanent record of the meeting and to ensure that all class activities are documented and transparent. Students who choose to drop by for informal meetings are welcome to do so, but there will be no documentation provided. (See above for open-door policy.)
  • We will choose meeting locations and conduct meetings with student and instructor safety in mind.
    • All individual meetings between instructor/student will take place at university venues.
    • Off-campus meetings, trips or events will engage with course material. Off-campus meetings will not involve alcohol, and we will do our best to choose venues that do not serve alcohol, whenever possible. The location/day/time of any off-campus meetings between the instructor and students will be documented in Google Calendar (or other software).
  • We will conduct all individual communications using the University platforms of email or Canvas, with the caveat that we may use non-University platforms set up by students (such as GroupMe) only if they include all students in the class. There will be no instructor-student private communications on any non-University platforms, such as social media, GroupMe, personal phone numbers, What’s App, Slack, etc.
  • We will offer information to you about how to report sexual and gender-based misconduct, and we are available to share information with the University at your request. Examples of Individuals with Reporting Obligations (IRO) include:
  • Other resources that are available to you:
    • Report a violation to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights
    • Report a violation to the U-M Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office (ECRT)
    • Ann Arbor Campus & Michigan Medicine: 734-763-0235
    • Additional resources for U-M students: https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/student-resources
    • Report to the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) / Special Victims Unit -- Emergency: call 911. To report an incident, call 734-763-1131
    • Ann Arbor Police: If an emergency, call 911. Non-emergency Dispatch: 734-994-2911
    • Avalon Healing Center 313-474-SAFE  Avalon Healing Center offers immediate crisis intervention, advocacy and medical-forensic healthcare for survivors of sexual violence of all ages 24 hours a day 7 days a week. A team of multifaceted and diverse professional counselors centered around empowerment and empathy toward survivors provide services that are survivor-centered, trauma informed and culturally competent.
    • Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) 734-764-7771 sapac@umich.edu The SAPAC Survivor Care Team consists of full-time, professional Case Managers and Advocates, and highly-trained U-M Master of Social Work interns. Our team is here to help, and provides a wide array of supportive services for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and gender-based harassment.
    • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)  734-764-8312 Services include tele-counseling, crisis support, and virtual outreach.