Dramatic Monologue
| Grade | Work Samples |
|---|---|
| End of Stage 5 (end of Year 10) | |
| Grade C | Frances Jamie |
Description of activity
Students are given a selection of visual portraits of a range of individuals in different contexts and choose one of the portraits and interpret a character from it. They prepare a 2-3 minute dramatic monologue as that person in a way that reflects their interpretation of the character and the relevant context, for presentation to the class. Students use class time and out-of-class time to prepare this assessment activity.
Context
Students have studied a range of texts that focus on character, characterisation and context (eg poems, pen portraits by Dickens, dramatic monologues such as Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, cartoons and books) and have considered different ways to develop a narrative and how composers create and develop characters in both print and visual texts. They have considered how characterisation is shaped through the use of visual images, stereotypes, caricatures and figurative language, and how their knowledge of language features can be transferred to different types of texts.
Areas for Assessment
Outcomes
A student:
1. responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis and pleasure
5. transfers understanding of language concepts into new and different contexts
6. experiments with different ways of imaginatively and interpretively transforming experience, information and ideas into texts
11. uses, reflects on and assesses and adapts their individual and collaborative skills for learning with increasing independence and effectiveness.
Criteria for assessing learning
(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their ability to:
- compose a coherent oral text using the conventions of a monologue such as:
- the creation of an engaging and suitable persona
- the disclosure of relevant aspects of character and situation throughout the monologue
- a sustained sense of audience
- respond imaginatively to a visual text that explores the complexities of the chosen character and his/her context by:
- the use of language forms and features, and structures of text appropriate to the character
- the use of appropriate and imaginative gestures and mannerisms
- the presentation of key attitudes of the character
- demonstrating the character's context
- present a view of the world through a monologue constructed and delivered imaginatively and interpretively demonstrating:
- creativity
- a clear purpose evident throughout the monologue
- reflect on the English skills that have been applied to the development and presentation of the dramatic monologue.