Study Guide

Field 048: Theater
Sample Constructed-Response Assignment

The following materials contain:

Directions for the Constructed-Response Assignment

For each constructed-response assignment in this section, you are to prepare a written response of approximately 150–300 words and type it in the response-box on-screen. Read the assignments carefully before you begin to write. Think about how you will organize your responses. You may use the erasable sheets to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your score will be based solely on the version of your responses typed in the on-screen response box presented with each assignment.

As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Purpose: The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
  • Content Knowledge: The extent to which the response accurately and effectively applies the relevant content knowledge and skills
  • Support: The extent to which the response provides relevant, specific support
  • Rationale: The extent to which the response provides sound reasoning about the topic

The assignments are intended to assess subject matter knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit a valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in the field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Be sure to write about the assigned topics. You may not use any reference materials during the test. Remember to review what you have written and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Sample Constructed-Response Assignment

Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a given topic related to one or more of the following: playwriting, performance, direction, design, production, or management of dramatic works; theater history; dramatic literature; and theater education.

Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.

Many works of dramatic literature employ one of two basic structures: character centered or event centered.

Using your knowledge of theater history and dramatic literature, write a response in which you:

  • select one theatrical work by a major twentieth-century American playwright (e.g., O'Neill, Albee, Wilson, Hellman, Williams, Miller);
  • identify the structure of the work you have selected (i.e., character centered or event centered) and describe the general characteristics of this type of structure; and
  • explain how the work you have selected exemplifies this structure.

Sample Strong Response to the Constructed-Response Assignment

   With titles ranging from Dog Day Afternoon to Star Wars to Bridesmaids, event-centered dramatic writing appears more frequently in film than in theater. However, with the play Inherit The Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee created a theatrical work that follows these familiar conventions.
   Unlike most plays, event-centered works are not centered around the journey of a central character, but around a larger event or occurrence. Whereas character-centered works typically consider whether a character or characters will achieve a given objective, event-centered works examine how the larger event will engage and shape the characters. Possible subjects include large-scale disasters, family reunions, bank heists, and, of course, historical trials.
   In creating a fictionalized dramatization of the Scopes Monkey Trial, Lawrence and Lee chose a single event that would give the play its structure. The first act focuses on the preparation for the trial, the second act shows the testimony during the trial (focusing particular attention on Drummond’s climactic questioning of Brady), and the third act examines the trial’s verdict and direct consequences.
   Although Inherit the Wind would essentially collapse without the event of the trial as its backbone, it is interesting to note that some of the individual scenes in the play are character centered. One example occurs in the first act, in which Rachel Brown tries to convince Cates to confess his wrongdoing. The scene rests on whether or not Rachel will achieve her objective, but the central event of the play requires Cates to maintain that he was right in teaching Darwin to his students.

Performance Characteristics

Responses are scored holistically based on the following performance characteristics:

Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment
Content Knowledge The extent to which the response accurately and effectively applies the relevant content knowledge and skills
Support The extent to which the response provides relevant, specific support
Rationale The extent to which the response provides sound reasoning about the topic

Scoring Scale

The four points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point Score Point Description
4
 The "4" response reflects a thorough understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response thoroughly achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates an accurate and effective application of relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides high quality, relevant, and specific support.
  • The response reflects sound, effective reasoning about the topic.
3
 The "3" response reflects a general understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response largely achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates a generally accurate and generally effective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides some relevant support.
  • The response reflects generally sound reasoning about the topic.
2
 The "2" response reflects a limited understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response partially achieves the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates a limited, partially accurate and partially effective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides limited relevant support.
  • The response reflects limited reasoning about the topic.
1
 The "1" response reflects little or no understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response achieves little of the purpose of the assignment.
  • The response demonstrates an inaccurate or ineffective application of the relevant content knowledge.
  • The response provides little or no relevant support.
  • The response reflects poor reasoning about the topic.
U
 The response is unrelated to the assignment, is unreadable, is primarily in a language other than English, or does not contain a sufficient amount of original work to score.
B
 There is no response to the assignment.