Bear River High School

Grade Level: 12

Repetitions for Credit: No

Prerequisites: None

Graduation Requirement: Yes - UC/CSU 'B'

 

Expository Reading and Writing Course: Students in this year long, rhetoric-based course develop advanced proficiency in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing.  The cornerstone of the course - the assignment template - presents a process for helping students read, comprehend, and respond to nonfiction and literary texts.

Grade Levels 9-12

Repetition for Credit: Yes

Prerequisites: None
Graduation Requirement:VPA/CTE/World Language-Performing Art - UC/CSU 'F'

 

Theater Arts is a survey course that covers all aspects of theater.  The course will cover acting techniques such as vocal expression, facial expression, stage movement, emotional expression, and methods of character creation and analysis.  Improvisational games and techniques will also be taught and played. All elements of theatrical production will be studied, discussed, and learned, such as set, costume, and lighting design; house management; publicity; stage management; and dramaturgy.  An in-depth unit on theatrical history will also be included.  Students will study comedy and tragedy and create their own scenes using the elements of comedy.  Students will learn the beginnings of theatrical tradition from the time of primitive man to the present.  Theatrical historical periods will include Greeks, Romans, Medieval, Shakespeare, American Theater (including Musical Comedy), Japanese theater, Bollywood, and modern theater.  Dramatic structure will also be studied, and students will write a variety of original scripts for scenes, monologues, and short plays.

 

Grade Levels 10-12

Repetition for Credit: Yes Max 20

Prerequisites: None
Graduation Requirement:VPA/CTE/World Language - UC/CSU 'F'

 

The focus of this course is to extend and refine student experiences in "authentic" performance endeavors.  Students will be able to expand their study of theatrical elements in the class, engaging in both the performance and technical aspects of productions.  The course will concentrate on deeper levels of acting technique and theory, dramatic literature, theater history, and scriptwriting and stage performances.  Students will develop artistic perception, creative expression, and aesthetic valuing; develop the ability to connect and apply what is learned in drama to other art forms, subjects, and careers.  In this course, students will learn theatre terminology for the stage, acting, direction, and technical aspects of production.  Much of the course content will be studied through active, hands-on projects.  Students will learn to do acting warm-ups, improvisations, monologues, and two, three, and four-person scenes.  Performances and some selected in-class work may be video-recorded for analysis and evaluation.  Students will read and analyze scenes and plays.  They will write brief scenes based on short stories, parts of novels, and/or their own inspiration.  Finally students will research artists in the theatre and attend and review at least one live stage performance per semester.  Students will also participate in the fall and spring program productions in addition to the end-of-year culminating program performance at the end of the spring semester.  This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Theater Arts (or equivalent) and audition and wish to further their work in theater.  The course emphasis will be on performance, through scene work, monologues, audition, preparation, improvisation, and research.  Directing will also be emphasized throughout the year as students work independently and in direct connection with the instructor.

 

Grade Levels 10-12

Repetition for Credit: No

Prerequisites: None
Graduation Requirement:VPA/CTE/World Language - UC/CSU 'F' (Honors)

 

Professional Drama Honors focuses on the preparation and performance of live stage performances to help students prepare for a career in professional acting in film, television, or stage work.  This course offers students the ability to explore and study a wide spectrum of time periods of dramatic literature as well as differing styles of acting skills, theories, and performance from Greeks, Shakespeare, Noh, Melodrama, Modern, Film/TV, and Musical Comedy.  Students will learn and understand techniques of auditions, rehearsals, researching for roles (dramaturgy), and performance techniques.  All enrolled students are required to attend rehearsals on a daily basis, as well as a variety of performances on weekends, evenings, and afternoons.  Students will  be expected to present and reflect their own achievement of learning goals throughout the course. Students receive an Honors designation on their transcripts.