THTR T500 Sec. 4350 T. Shafer
Research Methods and Materials
8:00-9:15a TR 3 cr. hrs.
Other than incoming graduate students in Theatre and Drama,
admission to this course is by written permission of instructor
only.
The objective of the course is to familiarize students with research
resources an methods, to develop skills in documentation and argument, and
to improve writing styles, all to support a successful graduate career in
research and production. We'll engage in specific research projects that
will broaden a knowledge of theatre bibliography; we'll look at
computerized resources for research and communication; we'll study various
collections at IUB libraries related to theatre studies; and we'll engage
in a final project that emulates the creation of a script and
production.
- TEXTS:
- Required:
- Ball. Backwards and Forwards.
- Callow. Orson Welles: The Road to Xanadu.
- Else, trans. The Poetics of Aristotle.
- Gibaldi. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 4th
ed.
- Simons. The Performing Arts: A Guide to the Reference
Literature.
- Williams. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace.
- Recommended:
- Bly. The Production Notebooks.
- Jonas, Proehl, and Lupu. Dramaturgy in American Theatre: A
Source Book.
- REQUIREMENTS:
- Assignments using Williams book on writing style (almost daily).
- Research projects on serials, theatre biography, and production
history.
- Final project (Orson Welles)
- EXAMS:
- There are no exams. Evaluation is given to written work and oral
presentation.
- OTHER:
- An Oral report is part of each of the research projects and the final
project.