Production Analysis

Production Analysis Papers—20 points each
Instructions—Read Carefully!
Write an analysis that responds to the prompts below with your original analysis and insight about the
production. We want to know what you thought about what you experienced and saw on the stage, not what
you liked or didn’t like.
Your analysis must express a point of view about the production and must be at least 2 full pages but no more
than 3 pages long. Assume your reader viewed the production. Provide context for your discussion and
analysis without retelling the entire plot of the play, if a brief synopsis of the story might help you set up your
arguments.
Pay attention to the production’s artistic credits. We recommend that you take notes while watching the show
so that you can properly reference artists’ names in your paper. Failure to credit artists properly will result in a
loss of points. The library link may also contain a note from the director or dramaturg, information that you
might find helpful on this assignment.
I. Prompts
• A Design Element. Examine the use of ONE design element in the production. (A design element
includes scenery, costumes, props, lighting, sound, or media design). Properly credit the artist whose
work you are critiquing. How did these specific design choices create meaning and contribute to the
world of the play and the storytelling? Use specific moments from the production to support your
aesthetic interpretation and analysis. How does this reinforced the setting of the play or the status, class,
gender, or relationship of a character;
• Choice of a Staging Moment or a Performance or another Point of Interest. You are free to choose
another aspect of the production to analyze; for example, a specific director’s choice, an actor’s
performance, a piece of choreography, or something else that captured your interest. How did these
choices create meaning? What does this aspect of the production suggest about the production as a
whole?
• Issues of Diversity: Examine the politics of the play by choosing an issue of diversity (such as race,
ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, religion, disability) and evaluating its depiction. How does the play’s
depiction reinforce or challenge conventional (traditional) understandings of the issue under
examination? What does this particular issue under examination suggest about the play as a whole?
Do not let the above prompts limit your response; rather, use them to inspire, expand, and deepen your
thinking about the play and its production.
II. Format
Follow MLA style guidelines: MLA Sample Paper. You paper must contain your name, the course number, your
recitation instructor’s name, and the date, formatted per the example provided. MLA guidelines can be found at
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/).
• Give your paper a creative title.
• Italicize play titles. They do not belong in “quotation marks.”
• When talking about a production that you have seen, use the past tense.
• You should name each artist whose work you are discussing.
• This is a scholarly paper. Use a formal voice. Avoid slang. Writing should be polished— your grade
for presentation includes grammar, syntax, and spelling.
• Proofread. Your writing should be free of typos, misspellings, and other mistakes.
• If you use any sources, be sure to include a citation. This applies to the dramaturg’s program
note. Here is the general format for citing a show’s program:
Program Notes. Name of Play by Playwright. Producing Company. Location. Date you saw
the show.
SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS
• Upload your production analysis paper and include the image file of your signed ticket stub or
program at the end of your paper (in Word or PDF format only) to the correct Carmen
Production Analysis assignment. We reserve the right to refuse late or emailed papers.
• Failure to turn in your paper in a readable format will result in a loss of points.
NOTE: This is an individual, not a collaborative assignment. The essay you turn in should be your own work.
In this course, we use Turnitin originality check on all written work. Avoid plagiarism!
III. Other Tips
Be honest! You do not have to express any particular opinion just to try to please your instructor. But
remember, you must support your opinions using specific examples and thoughtful analysis about the
production. It is not enough just to have an opinion, positive or negative. You must tell your reader why.
Talk about what really interested or excited you about the production!
Grading Rubric:
5 pts A Design Element
5 pts Point of Interest
5pts Issues of Diversity
5pts Presentation (organization, grammar, etc.)
5 pts Proof of Attendance and proper credit to production crew and actors
IV. Grading Rubric 25 points
Criteria
5
Sophisticated
(Paper goes above and
beyond the
assignment)
4
Skilled
(Paper
successfully
fulfills the
parameters of the
assignment)
3
Competent
(Paper fully meets
the parameters of
the assignment)
2
Fairly Competent
(Paper does not
address some
aspects of the
assignment)
1
Not Yet
Competent
(Paper does not
address the
assignment)
0
No Marks
(Paper
demonstrates no
effort to fulfill the
assignment)
Design
Element
This paper contains an
exemplary examination
of a production design
element. The writer
presents specific and
compelling examples to
support his/her aesthetic
interpretation. The
argument clearly and
compellingly articulates
how the design choices
create context and
meaning in the world of
the play.
This paper
contains a strong
examination of a
production design
element. The
writer presents
specific examples
to support his/her
aesthetic
interpretation. The
argument clearly
articulates how the
design choices
create context and
meaning in the
world of the play.
This paper contains
an adequate
examination of a
production design
element. The writer
presentsrelevant
examples to support
his/her aesthetic
interpretation. The
argument articulates
how the design
choices create
meaning in the
world of the play.
This paper contains
a lackluster
examination of a
production design
element. The writer
engages in
description rather
than analysis. The
argument consists
of opinions rather
than critical insights
that articulate how
design choices
create meaning.
The ideas in this
paper are
unfocused,
underdeveloped,
and/or
unconvincing.
Argument is
repetitive and
provides no critical
insight.
This paper failed to
fulfill the
requirement.
Point of
Interest
The writer choses an
exceedingly compelling
aspect of the production
to examine. He/She
demonstrates keen
critical insight about the
significance of this
aspect of production.
The argument clearly
and compellingly
articulates how this
point of interest informs
the play as a whole.
The writer choses
an interesting
aspect of the
production to
examine. He/She
demonstrates
critical insight
about the
significance of this
aspect of the
production. The
argument clearly
articulates how
this point of
interest informs
the play as a
whole.
The writer choses
an important aspect
of the production to
examine. He/She
demonstrates
insight about the
significance of this
aspect of the
production. The
argument articulates
how this point of
interest informs the
play as a whole.
This writer’s choice
betrays a lack of
interest in the
production. He/She
fails to provide
insight about the
significance of this
aspect of the
production. Little
effort is made to
connect this aspect
of the production
back to the play as a
whole.
This writer choses
an insignificant
aspect of the
production to
examine. His/Her
ideas are unfocused,
underdeveloped,
and/or
unconvincing.
Argument is
repetitive and
provides no critical
insight.
This paper failed to
fulfill the
requirement.
Issue of
Diversity
This paper contains an
exemplary examination
of an issue of diversity.
The writer presents
specific and compelling
examples to support
his/her critical analysis
of the play’s politics.
The argument clearly
and compellingly
articulates how the
play’s politics inform
the play as a whole.
This paper
contains a strong
examination of an
issue of diversity.
The writer
presentsspecific
examples to
support his/her
critical analysis of
the play’s politics.
The argument
clearly articulates
how the play’s
politics inform the
play as a whole.
This paper contains
an adequate
examination of an
issue of diversity.
The writer presents
relevant examples
to support his/her
critical analysis of
the play’s politics.
The argument
articulates how the
play’s politics
inform the play as a
whole.
This paper contains
a lackluster
examination of an
issue of diversity.
The writer engages
in description rather
than analysis. The
argument consists
of opinions rather
than critical insights
that articulate how
the play’s politics
inform the play as a
whole.
The ideas in this
paper are
unfocused,
underdeveloped,
and/or
unconvincing.
Argument is
repetitive and
provides no critical
insight.
This paper failed to
fulfill the
requirement.
Presentation This paper is written in
formal language,
consistently usesstrong
and varied sentence
structure, and employs
precise and
unambiguous wording
and coherent and logical
organization. The
writing demonstrates
clear enthusiasm for the
topic. All sentences are
complete and
grammatical. Paper has
been spell-checked and
proofread, and has no
punctuation or
formatting errors.
This paper is
written in formal
language,
consistently uses
strong and varied
sentence structure,
and employs
precise and
unambiguous
wording and
coherent and
logical
organization. The
writing
demonstrates an
interest in the
topic. The paper is
generally free of
grammar,spelling,
punctuation, and
formatting errors.
This paper is
written in formal
language. It
attempts to use
varied sentence
structure and
precise and
unambiguous
wording. The
writing
demonstrates care
for the topic. The
paper had one or
more of the
following problems:
organization was
difficult to follow;
contained multiple
spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and
formatting errors.
This paper is not
written in formal
language and is
hindered by one or
more of the
following:
disjointed/illogical
organization;
confusing sentence
structure; imprecise
or ambiguous
wording; grammar,
spelling,
punctuation, and
formatting errors.
This paper has all of
the following
problems: informal
tone and language;
poor organization;
awkward sentence
structure; imprecise
wording; grammar,
spelling,
punctuation, and
formatting errors.
This paper has all of
the following
problems: informal
tone and language;
poor organization;
awkward sentence
structure; imprecise
wording; grammar,
spelling,
punctuation, and
formatting errors.
Proof of
Attendance and
proper credit to
production crew
and actors
This paper provides
proof of attendance that
is submitted correctly
and gives proper credit
to all artists included in
the paper.
This paper
provides proof of
attendance and
give proper credit
to the artists
included in the
paper.
This paper either
does not provide
proof of attendance
or fails to give
proper credit to
some of the artists
included in the
paper.
This paper either
does not provide
proof of attendance
or fails to give
proper credit to
most of the artists
included in the
paper.
This paper either
does not provide
proof of attendance
or give proper credit
to the artists
involved in the
production.
This paper fails to
provide proof of
attendance and fails
to give proper credit
to the artists
discussed in the
paper.