After watching the production, write a critique of it utilizing Aristotle's 6 elements of tragedy as your guide (plot, character, theme, diction/playwrighting, music, spectacle). You may also write about the conventions of the production. Successful papers have at least a paragraph about each of Aristotle's 6 elements plus an introductory and concluding paragraph. The introduction should include basic information about when and where you saw the production, playwright, title, and other important facts, as well as, a clear thesis summarizing your overall impression of the production. As an amateur critic you have three roles in writing this paper: Chronicler of History:  using description of the experience as evidence you need to provide a historical account of the performance. Production title Producing company Location and theatre Type of audience/actor relationship (theatre architecture) Playwright Director Major actors and the roles they play Designers Genre Duration (acts/scenes) Style(s) Plot points/conflicts Major achievements Production history if relevant Interpreter of Meaning:  analyze descriptive evidence and write how (or how not) this production has relevance to a specific audience. Thematic choices Choices of artists in comparison to play Assessor of Artistic Quality and Contribution:  using descriptive evidence assess the artistic quality of production and comment on how (or how not) the production contributes to the artistic advancement of the artform. Plot- Playwright’s work Character- Playwright’s and actors’ work Theme- Playwright’s work, director’s work, overall company Diction- Playwright’s work (language of the play) Music- Composer, sound designer, music director’s work, musician’s work Spectacle- Designers’ work and technical artists’ work Conventions- limitations/opportunities of performance space, of style, of artform, of abilities Several of things to keep in mind: Facts are facts.  Sketch out notes about what you experienced before you begin evaluating. Your opinions need evidence to support them and this description is critical to your arguments.    Choices are choices.  The events of the plot are the playwright’s choices. The playwright sets up the game and everyone else (actors, director, designers, etc) makes choices on how to play the game. You need to be able to separate the choices of the playwright (found in the script) and the choices of the other artists (seen in the production). The choices of the playwright inform the choices of the others. Your opinion is vital, but…  Be careful of over generalizations and  unsupported arguments. Write why you enjoyed or did not enjoy something. Dig as deep as you can to try and understand  the choices of the artists in relationship to the script and message of the play. Beginning, middle, end.  Introductions and conclusions are necessary to a successful paper. A thesis, pleases.  The thesis statement for this p.

1. After watching the production, write a critique of it utilizing
Aristotle's 6 elements of tragedy as your guide (plot, character,
theme, diction/playwrighting, music, spectacle). You may also
write about the conventions of the production.
Successful papers have at least a paragraph about each of
Aristotle's 6 elements plus an introductory and concluding
paragraph. The introduction should include basic information
about when and where you saw the production, playwright, title,
and other important facts, as well as, a clear thesis summarizing
your overall impression of the production.
As an amateur critic you have three roles in writing this paper:
Chronicler of History:
using description of the experience as evidence you need to
provide a historical account of the performance.
Production title
Producing company
Location and theatre
Type of audience/actor relationship (theatre architecture)
Playwright
Director
Major actors and the roles they play
Designers

2. Genre
Duration (acts/scenes)
Style(s)
Plot points/conflicts
Major achievements
Production history if relevant
Interpreter of Meaning:
analyze descriptive evidence and write how (or how not) this
production has relevance to a specific audience.
Thematic choices
Choices of artists in comparison to play
Assessor of Artistic Quality and Contribution:
using descriptive evidence assess the artistic quality of
production and comment on how (or how not) the production
contributes to the artistic advancement of the artform.
Plot- Playwright’s work
Character- Playwright’s and actors’ work

3. Theme- Playwright’s work, director’s work, overall company
Diction- Playwright’s work (language of the play)
Music- Composer, sound designer, music director’s work,
musician’s work
Spectacle- Designers’ work and technical artists’ work
Conventions- limitations/opportunities of performance space, of
style, of artform, of abilities
Several of things to keep in mind:
Facts are facts.
Sketch out notes about what you experienced before you begin
evaluating. Your opinions need evidence to support them and
this description is critical to your arguments.
Choices are choices.
The events of the plot are the playwright’s choices. The
playwright sets up the game and everyone else (actors, director,
designers, etc) makes choices on how to play the game. You
need to be able to separate the choices of the playwright (found
in the script) and the choices of the other artists (seen in the
production). The choices of the playwright inform the choices
of the others.
Your opinion is vital, but…
Be careful of over generalizations and unsupported arguments.
Write why you enjoyed or did not enjoy something. Dig as deep
as you can to try and understand the choices of the artists in

4. relationship to the script and message of the play.
Beginning, middle, end.
Introductions and conclusions are necessary to a successful
paper.
A thesis, pleases.
The thesis statement for this paper will likely be an overall
impression of the show. It may include one or two overall
comments about the production. It may be written to show one
overall positive followed by one overall problem. However you
approach it, you need a thesis to give the paper direction and
glue.
Revise, revise, revise.
Never turn in a first draft. You should revise the paper, then
have a friend or tutor proofread it and then you should revise it
again.
The basics:
12 pt font (Times New Roman is preferred)
Double spaced lines
Titled (centered on first page of paper)
Play titles should be italicized. (Do not underline or use
quotation marks.)
When introducing actors or characters for the first time use both
actor name and character name. (Example: “The role of Mrs.
Warren, played by Dame Judy Dench…” or “Dame Judy Dench,

5. who played the role of Mrs. Warren…”)
After introducing an individual by first and last names, you may
refer to them by last name only or a title and last name.
(Example: First instance, “Director Joe Mantello wowed
audiences by…”. Afterwards, “Mr. Mantello made it a point
to…” or “Mantello made it a point to…”)
Do not use the entire paper to write a plot synopsis. The plot
synopsis should only be 10-15% of the paper. Summarize what
you experienced. You will not receive credit for the paper if
you copy a synopsis found elsewhere.
The grading rubric is located within Turnitin.