Play Writing Unit Plan Suggestions
Things to consider as you begin:
• What is the “outcome” of the unit?
o Our Pen for 10 initiative is focused on 10 minute plays or 10 minutes of dialogue from a longer work.
o Your outcome will determine a lot about the unit, but don’t forget it also determines what you have to read, grade, and give final comments on
o Does your outcome include a performance or final share? Are looking for writing or performing? Or both?
• Are you okay with playwriting teams?
o Inevitably students will ask can work on this together.
o It’s probably best to have an answer in advance.
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• Are you teaching this in conjunction with something else? What might be a good match for a playwriting unit?
o It can be really hard for reluctant writers to come into class everyday and face a blank page.
o Writing takes time and some of that time is used walking around with a plot and characters in your brain. Trying to speed through the process is probably harder than balancing two units at once.
o Maybe this is the time to do some theatre appreciation and you are watching and analyzing a film on some days and working playwriting the others? Maybe some dialect work on the odd days and writing on the evens?
• This is a great unit to do with your students.
o Challenge yourself to write along with your students.
o Or write your own 10 minutes and share with them from the beginning • Do you need to have a conversation with your students about cultural appropriation v. appreciation in writing?
o What happens when we try to tell other people’s stories?
o Is this something you need to consider before, during, or after the unit? • You know your students best.
o Please preview the links and activities provided.
o What works for one group might not be appropriate for yours.
• The start and the finish will be the hardest part.
o Students will struggle to come up with or tame an idea.
o There will be reluctant writers
o The middle of the unit will feel so easy, breezy, and beautiful.
o Committing to a date for a first draft and an edited final draft will help, but you probably can’t do that until you get a bit into the project.
Possible Introductory Activities(1-3 Class Periods)
Activity | Some notes | Resource Included? |
Read some 10-minute plays | 45-90 min; an intro activity, plays shared with permission from Hackett Publishing | Yes—See folder for scanned samples |
Analyze Some 10- minute plays | Use your favorite or go to play analysis tool, emphasize the idea that you can use this tool with a 10 minute play just like a full length because 10 minute plays have all of the elements of longer works. A great play is a great play, no matter how long it is. | Yes- We are sure you have your own, but just in case we have included a document entitled Play Analysis in our folder |
Yes You Can Write(You already do) | 45-90 min; An intro activity; grounded in improv | Yes—Yes You Can Write in folder |
Share insights from playwrights about their works, their process, etc. | Highlight some of your favorite writers through discussion, essays, or videos. Could take place throughout the process/unit. **Consider finding a wide variety of diverse playwrights so all students see themselves as writers | Samples: Working In The Theatre: Playwriting – from The American Theatre Wing David Henry Hwang The Playwright’s Voice—From The American Theatre Wing-- |
Playwriting Activities (5-8 classes)
Activity | Some Notes | Resource Included? |
Testing A Seed (Is this the right format for this idea?) | Where Do Ideas Come From? Theatre Folk Blog | |
Understanding Dialogue Activity | A good activity that allows student choice and provides a solid example of real dialogue | Yes—Understanding Dialogue Activity in folder |
Rich Characters | I do a values activity with my student actors, but I think it can work for writing as well | Yes—Values Lesson in folder |
Formatting | A lot of people have really strong feelings here. A couple of options are shared. Also, you and your students could look at your favorite | Yes—Formatting Possibilities 1 and 2 in folder |
plays, discuss formatting, and come to a conclusion yourself | ||
Getting Feedback | The handout included focuses on the idea that we can and should ask for specific feedback. | Yes- Asking for feedback |
What to do when you get stuck?? | Encourage students to write everyday and read/watch plays | Article about writer’s block Adapt activities from The Artist’s Way |
Other Playwriting Resources
Playwright’s Horizons has curated some scenes, conversations, and essays with writers, actors, producers | https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/trailers/ |
Suzan Loiri Parks—On Teaching (Teachers get yourself inspired) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnGEk5eODE |
A 10- Minute play about 10 Minute Plays PG-13, Funny, good for the instructor) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-xvV ADLI&list=PLFUAuU8sPwDYZ-ec9j9Blvy7r59-toABe |
How to Write a 10-Minute Play EM Welsh | https://www.emwelsh.com/blog/10-minute-play |
10-Minute Plays.com Sample plays Rules of the road How to produce an evening | http://www.10-minute-plays.com/index.html |
Playwriting Center Toolkit | https://pwcenter.org/playwriting-toolkit |
Theatre Folk’s Lindsay Price’s list of books and resources | https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/playwriting resources/ |