Monologues

ADA8 Final Summative

Task Outline
1. Watch Emily Webb’s monologue, “Take me back to my grave,” from Thornton Wilder’s play, Our Town:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCLHkaHOO80.
2. As a class, we will analyze and recap the monologue and discuss how you can use those findings to write your own monologues: “Goodbye Middle-
School.”
3. In the first part of your monologue (approx. ½ page or one minute minimum), you should follow Wilder's style and Emily's pattern of speaking by listing
several positive things about middle school that you will miss. You can incorporate storytelling (e.g. about memories) and other dramatic elements (e.g.
song, movement), but make it personal and powerful.
○ E.g. “Good-bye middle school...to my past life and many memories with Ms. Smith, Mr. Bacardi, Mr. Byrne, Ms. Wunder. Good-bye the warm
comfort of grade 7 and 8 classrooms, to my mom packing my lunch for me, and to outdoor recess in the field. I miss you already, sweet young
student...” etc.
4. In the second part of your monologue (also approx. ½ page or one minute minimum), you will incorporate irony by mimicking the same style as before,
but listing and describing more negative things you won’t miss about middle school; this can be comedic, dramatic, etc.
○ E.g. “Good-bye middle school… to days of Google Meet learning and screen fatigue. See ya being old enough for exams but not old enough for
semi-formals. Buh-bye! I don’t regret you but I’m fine leaving you behind, preteen years...” etc.
5. Rehearse your monologue and prepare for performances. Think about how you can avoid your piece sounding repetitive, how you will transition between
the two parts, etc.

Submission
You will get approximately four periods of in-class time to work on this synchronously, but some at-home work and rehearsal is necessary. Check Schoology for
the performance date and deadline for supplementary documents.
Assessment
Level 1 (+/-) Level 2 (+/-) Level 3 (+/-) Level 4 (+/-)

Knowledge Assignment is Assignment was Lines are memorized. Understanding of Lines are memorized and performed
This category reflects students’ incomplete or attempted but does not the text’s genre, context, and setting is without any hesitation, with proper
comprehension and understanding of results were far meet expectations. evident. Appropriate staging and pacing. Understanding of the play’s
course content and includes things such as below standards. performing conventions were used in genre, context, and setting is very clear
effectively using key terms, understanding performance. in portrayal of character. Appropriate
elements of drama, knowledge of ideas, staging and performing conventions
styles, techniques, conventions, and (e.g. cheating out) were upheld in
genres. (20%) performance and consistent.

Thinking Assignment is Assignment was Written monologue has features of Written monologue has engaging
This includes students’ critical and incomplete or attempted but does not communication/feeling, clear transition features of communication/feeling,
creative thinking skills such as planning results were far meet expectations. between parts, mimics structure defined. clear transition between parts, mimics
skills, analyzing, synthesizing and below standards. Feedback was sought out to better structure defined. Feedback was sought
evaluating information, problem solving, performance throughout rehearsals. out and taken to better performance
and decision-making. (25%) Time used wisely. throughout rehearsals. Time used very
wisely.
Communication Assignment is Assignment was Character is maintained throughout Character is maintained throughout
This reflects students’ abilities to incomplete or attempted but does not scene. Character decisions match what scene very effectively. Character
effectively share your knowledge and ideas results were far meet expectations. was detailed in written submissions. decisions match what was detailed in
with others in a variety of ways including below standards. Actor creates appropriate relationship written submissions and are relevant to
writing, orally, visually, and through with audience. Medium is considered. text. Actor creates impactful
dramatic presentations. (20%) relationship with audience, relevant to
medium chosen.
Application Assignment is Assignment was Performance incorporates all three of Performance incorporates all three of
This includes the application of knowledge incomplete or attempted but does not the actor’s tools (e.g. voice: emotion- the actor’s tools (e.g. voice: emotion-
and skills to performance and use of results were far meet expectations. based vocal inflection, body: distinct based vocal inflection that was non-
elements, principles, processes, below standards. physicality, mind: subtext is repetitive, body: distinct physicality,
technologies, techniques, strategies, considered). Blocking is relevant. Props mind: subtext is considered) in realistic,
conventions in performance. (35%) or costumes were used (where convincing ways. Blocking/gestural
applicable). movement is relevant and instinctual.
Props or costumes were used.