Year 12 Drama ATAR
Overview
The Drama ATAR course focuses on aesthetic understanding and drama in practice as students integrate their knowledge and skills. They use the elements and conventions of drama to develop and present ideas and explore personal and cultural issues. They engage in drama processes such as improvisation, play building, text interpretation, playwriting and dramaturgy which allow them to create original drama and interpret a range of texts written or devised by others. Their work in this course includes production and design aspects involving sets, costumes, makeup, props, promotional materials, and sound and lighting. Increasingly, students use technologies such as digital sound and multimedia. They present drama to a range of audiences and work in different performance settings.
Students work independently and collaboratively, learning self-management skills, showing initiative and demonstrating leadership and interpersonal skills. The Drama ATAR course requires them to develop and practise problem-solving skills through creative and analytical thinking processes. They develop their capacity to respond to, reflect on, and make informed judgements using appropriate terminology and language to describe, analyse, interpret and evaluate drama, drawing on their understanding of relevant aspects of other art forms.
In this course, students engage in both Australian and world drama practice. They understand how drama has changed over time and will continue to change according to its cultural context. Through the Drama ATAR course, they can understand the experience of other times, places and cultures in an accessible, meaningful and enjoyable way. They understand the economic factors that affect drama practice and explore the vocational opportunities that drama offers.
Topics
Unit 3 - Reinterpretation of drama for contemporary audiences
This unit focuses on reinterpretation of dramatic text, context, forms and styles for contemporary audiences through applying theoretical and practitioner approaches.
Unit 4 - Contemporary and devised drama
This unit focuses on interpreting, manipulating and synthesising a range of practical and theoretical approaches to contemporary and devised drama.
Assessments
There are two types of assessment; performance/production and response:
- Performance/production tasks including practical examinations: 50% | Responses including written examinations: 50%.
Reporting
A brief interim report on class work and behaviour will be issued towards the end of term 1. The achievement for the unit will be reported as a college a - e grade as well as a percentage mark and a written examination mark. In addition, the student's approach to class work and behaviour will be reported via the usual key performance indicators.
Student expectations
Many lessons are presented as practical workshops. Tasks are rehearsed during class time. A major performance assessment will be held in the evening. Students are expected to continue their characterisation process, in preparation for a performance, at home. Further investigation of texts, including research, is required as homework.
