Write a 2 paragraph response paper for history of theatre class, comparing and contrasting the Italian Renaissance and the English Renaissance. Guidelines : a) show quality interaction with the question that indicates thought beyond answers covered in class (we are not looking for repetition of what we already know but your thoughts on the matter) b) choose the best evidence from the course experience you can for your answer (course experience includes anything that involves your enrollment in this class) c) utilize the best original analysis you can provide for your evidence d) use the best word choice and grammar possible. It is a small amount of space, so make every word count.  Instructions: 1) Give your RP an interesting title. This is the place to be most creative in an attempt to draw the reader into your text. 2) You will respond according to the following template, numbering both sections: Section 1. Summarize your personal and general experience with the reading, readings, performance, or concept involved in your chosen question (How did it make you feel?  Did you agree or disagree with its ideas, characters, styles, or qualities? Did it resonate with anything in your personal life?  Was it difficult or easy to experience and why?). Feel free to use an informal writing style and first person. [4-6 meaty but concise sentences] Section 2. Provide an argument (i.e. convince the reader of your answer) in response to your selected question in one paragraph using the following organization. Please use this format or you will not receive credit for the assignment:  Thesis sentence —the “thesis statement” of your paragraph or what you intend to prove, including all of the pertinent information that may be involved in answering the question (like the play or performance involved, your key terms, and your assertion regarding the question). Lead-in sentence(s) —one or two sentences that establishes the context for the evidence you provide. Evidence sentence(s) —the specific example or examples from the class experience that best helps you answer the question.  Analysis and Conclusion —this is the longest part of the paragraph, explaining what the evidence means and how it applies to your assertion and other aspects of the question. Use a formal writing style, and do your best to avoid first person. [1 paragraph—10-12 meaty but concise sentences] 3) You have only a small amount of space to make a lot of mistakes. Be careful Every time you use the title of a play, like Oklahoma , it should be italicized. all caps or underlined. Watch your grammar and punctuation. There is practically no difference between form and meaning. Make your margins 1 inch on all sides and double space your text. Use 12 font, Times Roman.  4) Use action verbs (avoid is, was, were, am) and specific nouns (avoid that, them, those, there) Vary sentence structure and length. *Some of the plays that were watched in class are Inherit the win.

1. Write a 2 paragraph
response paper
for history of theatre class, comparing and contrasting the
Italian Renaissance and the English Renaissance.
Guidelines
:
a) show quality interaction with the question that indicates
thought beyond answers
covered in class (we are not looking for repetition of what we
already know but your thoughts on the matter)
b) choose the best evidence from the course experience you can
for your answer (course experience includes anything that
involves your enrollment in this class)
c) utilize the best original analysis you can provide for your
evidence
d) use the best word choice and grammar possible. It is a small
amount of space, so make every word count.
Instructions:
1) Give your RP an interesting title. This is the place to be most
creative in an attempt to draw the reader into your text.
2) You will respond according to the following template,
numbering both sections:

2. Section 1. Summarize your personal and general experience
with the reading, readings, performance, or concept involved in
your chosen question (How did it make you feel? Did you agree
or disagree with its ideas, characters, styles, or qualities? Did it
resonate with anything in your personal life? Was it difficult or
easy to experience and why?). Feel free to use an informal
writing style and first person. [4-6 meaty but concise sentences]
Section 2. Provide an argument (i.e. convince the reader of your
answer) in response to your selected question in one paragraph
using the following organization. Please use this format or you
will not receive credit for the assignment:
Thesis sentence
—the “thesis statement” of your paragraph or what you intend
to prove, including all of the pertinent information that may be
involved in answering the question (like the play or
performance involved, your key terms, and your assertion
regarding the question).
Lead-in sentence(s)
—one or two sentences that establishes the context for the
evidence you provide.
Evidence sentence(s)
—the specific example or examples from the class experience
that best helps you answer the question.
Analysis and Conclusion
—this is the longest part of the paragraph, explaining what the
evidence means and how it applies to your assertion and other
aspects of the question.
Use a formal writing style, and do your best to avoid first
person. [1 paragraph—10-12 meaty but concise sentences]

3. 3) You have only a small amount of space to make a lot of
mistakes. Be careful
Every time you use the title of a play, like
Oklahoma
, it should be italicized. all caps or underlined.
Watch your grammar and punctuation. There is practically no
difference between form and meaning.
Make your margins 1 inch on all sides and double space your
text. Use 12 font, Times Roman.
4) Use action verbs (avoid is, was, were, am) and specific nouns
(avoid that, them, those, there)
Vary sentence structure and length.
*Some of the plays that were watched in class are Inherit the
winds, Fences, and Mauritius. They can be mentioned in the
paper as examples if they are related to either the Italian or
English Renaissance.
Sample Response Paper:
Beware What Lurks Behind the Bleachers
Section 1:
I thought
O Beautiful
was pretty funny, and the night I went a lot of people agreed

4. with me as the audience gave the actors a standing ovation!
Though I don’t really agree with the politics of the show (I am
against gun control), I thought that the way they presented
cyber bullying was really accurate and reminded me of
problems that occurred in my own high school. I really felt for
Linda (played by Elizabeth Heflin) and found her grief over the
death of her son quote touching. I would gladly see this play
again.
Section 2:
In Teresa Rebeck’s new play
O Beautiful
, the danger of the media to family relationships appears in the
construction of the set and how it represents how people are
forced to interact with the media. In
O Beautiful
, the cavernous main set of a high school gymnasium conceals
behind bleachers that open a large, rolling platform made to
look like a television studio from Fox News. The character
Simon West, a loud-mouthed, conservative television host, rides
in and out of the play, shaking a machine gun in the air as he
interviews various founding fathers (like Alexander Hamilton
and Thomas Jefferson) about how we need to get back true
American values. His key interview is with Ben Franklin, who
explains that what made the founding fathers great people was
not that they held conservative values but that they listened to
one another and created a country through compromise, though
West does not seem to hear the message. Throughout the play,
the platform enters and dominates the center of the stage, while
the family supposedly watching the show are off to the side at
stage left. The director Sandy Robbins clearly makes the family
seem much smaller and weaker than West’s show, keeping them
off-center and simple compared to the sparkling lights and
video that accompany West’s dramatic entrances at the center of

5. the stage. As the various characters watch the show, they are
obviously being influenced by what West’s character says,
whether it be that it is acceptable to be judgmental of others or
that it is fine to own a gun. Lennie’s suicide using his father’s
gun can be seen as a direct example of how the physical size of
West’s part of the set influence the character’s choices—it is as
if they no longer have any. When West actually makes
comments about Lennie’s suicide and Lennie’s mother happens
to see him, the audience can see in her horrified reaction how
much the media influences the events on stage. By having one
part of the set take over the entire stage,
O Beautiful
warns us to be wary of how much we allow the media to
literally enter our lives.
Rubric:
Response Paper [RP] Grading Rubric
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Ideas and Evidence
5.0 pts
"The RP is well- supported by the student’s own ideas as well
as the best possible and well analyzed evidence. "
4.0 pts

6. The RP is mostly supported by the student's own ideas and good
evidence.
3.0 pts
The RP has some good ideas but may be too simple in its
analysis of the included evidence.
2.0 pts
The ideas and evidence presented throughout the paper may not
be fully explained, connected, or expanded upon.
1.0 pts
The RP may lack or completely fail in providing clear evidence
and strong ideas.
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Organization
5.0 pts
The RP is exceptionally well-organized, following the provided
guidelines.
4.0 pts

7. The RP may be adequately organized, mostly following the
provided guidelines.
3.0 pts
The RP has some organization; however, it only follows some
of the provided guidelines.
2.0 pts
The RP may have a semblance of organization; however, it does
not clearly follow the provided guidelines.
1.0 pts
The RP is “organized” in such a way that the reader can barely
follow the argument and does not conform to the guidelines.
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Voice
5.0 pts
The voice is confident, positive, and convincing. It exhibits a
tone proper to the topic.

8. 4.0 pts
The voice is confident and persuasive and presents an
appropriate tone.
3.0 pts
The voice is confident, but it needs to be more persuasive. It
may have some occasional issues with appropriate tone
2.0 pts
The voice needs to be more confident and persuasive. Tone is
fair.
1.0 pts
The voice rambles on and lacks confidence. The tone may be
improper or offensive.
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Word Choice
5.0 pts
Precise words choice create a clear message to engage and
persuade the audience.

9. 4.0 pts
Precise words create a clear message and fit the purpose.
3.0 pts
Accurate words create a message. More persuasive words are
needed.
2.0 pts
More precise and accurate words are needed to create a clear
message.
1.0 pts
No MarksThe words do not create a clear message.
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
DescriptiSentence Fluencyon of criterion
5.0 pts
The RP evidences the writer’s exemplary craftsmanship when it
comes to sentence variation.

10. 4.0 pts
Variety is seen in both the types of sentences and their
beginnings.
3.0 pts
Varied sentence beginnings are used. Further sentence variety
would make the RP more interesting to read.
2.0 pts
Varied sentence beginnings are needed. Sentence variety would
make the essay more interesting.
1.0 pts
Most of the sentences begin the same way. Most sentences are
simple. Some compound and complex sentences are needed.
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Conventions
5.0 pts
The RP is error-free with regard to spelling and grammar.

11. 4.0 pts
Grammar and punctuation errors are few and are not distracting.
3.0 pts
Grammar and punctuation errors are seen in a few sentences and
are distracting where they appear.
2.0 pts
Some errors cause confusion.
1.0 pts
Frequent errors make the essay difficult to read.