Play Writing 4/15/2019

Standards
■ CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or
events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-
structured event sequences. Objectives
■ CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.A ■ Students will understand important
Learning to write
Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, elements of play writing.
plays like situation, or observation and its significance, establishing one

PLAY WRITING
or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or ■ Students will be able to identify three

Standards Objectives
Shakespeare characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or qualities that made Shakespeare a good
events. playwright.
■ CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.B
■ Students will be able create their own two-
Mrs. Mann Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, page script of a unique self-written scene of
description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop
11th-12th grade English experiences, events, and/or characters.
a play.
■ CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.E
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is
experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the
narrative.

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Watch this! What did YOU think? IMPORTANT ELEMENTS

OF A PLAY
■ Setting
Take a moment to reflect on the video…
■ Scene

■ Characters

■ What did you like about the scene? ■ Exposition

■ Plot
■ If you were the director of this play, what would you
■ Rising Action
change? (If nothing, then why?)
■ Climax

■ What elements stood out the most to you? ■ Falling Action

■ Denouement
■ Have you ever watched a play in real life? If not,
which of Shakespeare’s plays would you most like to ■ Conflict

see? ■ Dialogue

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed at the Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Directed by Dominic
Dromgoole, 2014.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

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Play Writing 4/15/2019

Stop! CHARACTERS Characters: Common

Mistakes
■ Characters – Who the actors are pretending to be.
■ Too many characters: The more characters in a
■ Important things to think about when deciding on characters : play the more confusing it can be. Keep
As we work our - als and objectives characters who are vital to the plot/conflict.
Take a moment to way through this ■ Characters aren’t believable: Characters should
write down some - Interesting characters are unique.
presentation, fill in behave and speak in a way that is believable (that
of those key the definitions of - Characters are fully developed and believable. doesn’t mean they have to be boring).
elements that may
those unfamiliar ■ Each character should be important – no need to add additional characters if ■ Characters aren’t unique: Give each character a
be unfamiliar to terms in your
you. they’re not needed in the plot. specific voice and persona. Don’t allow each of
Lecture Notes. your characters to sound and behave the same.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

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Think About It!

Take a moment to copy your answers in your Lecture Notes
SETTING & SCENE Exposition: The inclusion
of important
background information •Beginning of play
of a plot or narrative.

Rising Action: Events

Who is your favorite
character in one of
Shakespeare’s plays?
■ Scene – One segment of actions within a greater sequence of events in a play. PLOT leading to the climax.
Conflict is arising.
•Middle of play
■
- Allow for enough scenes to build the plot/conflict development.
Setting – Time and place of a scene (setting may change from scene to scene)
Exposition Climax: Plot reaches its
- Setting should be specific. The more details the better! Rising Action most intense moments.
The height of tension in •Turning point in play
What makes them so
special?
Climax a play.

Think About It! Falling Action

When writing a play, think: Denouement
Falling Action: Events
following the climax. •Winding down of play
■ When does this scene take place?
What are their wants
and desires?
■ What can be done in this scene to further the plot?
Denouement:
■ What information do we get from this scene? Resolution or conclusion
of the conflict.
•Conclusion

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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Play Writing 4/15/2019

Now You Try! Plays MUST have conflict Conflict: Common

Label the chart with the components that make up a play’s plot.
• Obstacles that get in the way of
Mistakes
characters achieving their goals ■ No conflict – There should be at least one obvious
and desires. obstacle keeping the character from what they
Climax desire.
■ Why does it matter? – Be sure to make it clear
Four categories of conflict: why the conflict is so important! Conflict should be
clear and easily understood to the audience.
• Man vs. Man
CONFLICT
Exposition ■ Conflict was easily resolved – Create an
Denouement
interesting climax. The climax is meant to be
• Man vs. Self intense. Don’t allow the resolution come too easily
• Man vs. Society to the character.
• Man vs. Nature

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Now You Try!

DIALOGUE Think About It! ■ On your lecture notes, complete this scene with at least six additional lines of dialogue. Be sure to use dialogue to show
(not tell) what’s going on. Make it purposeful and interesting!

Michael opens the front door…

■ When writing dialogue, think about it: Rebecca: Michael, it is 3:00 AM, where have you been?
Show don’t tell – The story should be told through the actions and
dialogue of the characters, with minimal narration. - What dialogue could be cut out without Michael:
harming the story plot line?
Dialogue should be believable.
- Can you think of a way to say this that is Rebecca:
more character specific?
Dialogue is character specific – each character has their own “voice.” - Are you allowing the characters to tell the Michael:
story through their own words?
Rebecca:
Dialogue is purposeful and meaningful.
Michael:

Rebecca:

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Play Writing 4/15/2019

ACTIVITY BRAINSTORM
■ Before you start writing, complete a brainstorm to help you get some ideas

■ Create a two-page script of a unique self-written scene of a

play.
Characters Setting/Scenes Conflict/Plot
- Include at least two main characters Main Character # 1 Scene 1 Main Conflict
- Create a clear setting
- Include an important conflict central to the plot
- Create interesting and character-specific dialogue.
Show don’t tell the story!
Main Character # 2 Scene 2 Denouement/Resolution

This is not a complete play. You are only required to write one
important scene.

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