Foundations of Playwriting

This unit introduces students to foundational concepts, practices, and professional realities of playwriting. Students explore what makes a play, practice generating and shaping ideas, and begin identifying theme while building a personal writing practice to support subsequent drafting and revision units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the art and craft of playwriting by comparing at least three dramatic elements (character, conflict, dialogue) across two short plays or excerpts and producing a written comparison (300–500 words).
• Apply idea-generation techniques to produce three distinct play premises (1–2 sentence pitches) and expand one selected premise into a one-paragraph synopsis that outlines protagonist, central conflict, and stakes.
• Demonstrate understanding of the playwright’s professional life by creating a one-page personal practice plan that includes a weekly writing schedule, a revision workflow, and at least two concrete avenues for feedback and collaboration.
• Evaluate and articulate a play’s theme by composing a concise theme statement for a selected excerpt and supporting that statement with at least two pieces of textual evidence and a 200–300 word rationale.