Professor Mary McGrath
ECE 190, THE ART OF STORYTELLING-SPRING SEMESTER 2011,
FIRST EIGHT WEEKS - January 15 to March 12 Saturday 9 to 12:45
DROP DATE: February 27, 2011
UNITS: 2.00
Each class meeting will include lecture, student discussion of assigned readings, student storytelling and critique, and group activities. Class Meeting Dates and Activities (will be adjusted as necessary)
| Date | Activities |
|---|---|
| JANUARY 15 | Lecture: Introduction to storytelling and the importance of folktale and mythology. Creation of Story Files Activity: Introducing ourselves with stories. Telling all the stories we know with an emphasis on observing vocal qualities. Assignment for next week: Read textbook P. 9-61, Prepare three questions on the readings. Choose and learn a story from "Wisdom Tales"and fill in Story File. Bring a simple rhythm instrument and animal prop. |
| JANUARY 22 | Lecture: Finding and Learning Your Story: Books, Media and On-line Sources. Using the Storytelling Response Guide Discussion of P. 9-61, including your three questions and answers. General discussion Activity:Tell your story from "Wisdom Tales" and offer response to all tellers. Turn in your story file. Teacher-led group telling of "Uwungelema" with percussion and character voices. Review group stories. Assignment: Read text P. 63-106. Prepare three questions on the readings. Select three books with stories you might tell. Bring them on 1/29, along with one story printed out from your internet search and tell us how you found it. Prepare one of these stories for a FIVE MINUTE TELLING. Students sign schedule to direct future group tellings. |
| JANUARY 29 | Lecture: Presenting the Story: The Voice and Body Speak Discussion of P. 63-106, including your questions. Display of your books, and report on your internet search. Turn in your online story and tell us the story of your search. General discussion. Activity: Short quiz on text book readings. Students tell FIVE-MINUTE stories, first as partners, then solo. Use the response guide to offer oral comment. Focus on vocal quality. First student-directed group story. Assignment: Find and prepare a 5-minute myth for telling, and include a two-minute introduction that describes the cultural base of the myth and any background information that would help us appreciate the importance of the story. |
| FEBRUARY 5 | Lecture: Storytelling with Music and/or Props Activity: Partner telling of myth, and individual tellings to follow. Oral feedback using the response guide. Focus on vocal quality and body language. Second student-directed group story. Assignment: Prepare a 5-minute story from a folktale, and use song or other musical accompaniment. Recorded music acceptable. |
| FEBRUARY 12 | Lecture: Preparing a personal story. Activity: Storytelling with song and/or music. Written feedback using the response guide. Teller comments on response. Third student-directed group story. Assignment: Prepare a 5-minute story relating an important incident in your life. This story should move from the specific to the universal. (What can the world learn from your experience?) |
| FEBRUARY 19 | Lecture: Working with the Audience. Activity: Partner, then solo telling of your personal story. Teller requests specific feedback. Both oral and written feedback available. Fourth student-directed group story. Assignment: Prepare a story that features audience participation, staging the story, and opportunities for improvisation. |
| FEBRUARY 26 | Lecture: Revising and retelling the story. Activity: Partner then solo telling of an audience-participation story. Feedback directed by the teller. Both oral and written feedback available. Fifth student-directed group story. Assignment: Prepare revised retelling for Group A Final. |
| MARCH 5 | Final retelling for Group A. A revised retelling of a myth or folktale, with a description of changes made since the first telling. Activity: Group retelling from "Shake-It-Up-Tales” Assignment: Prepare revised retelling for Group B Final. |
| MARCH 12 | Final retelling for Group B. A revised retelling of a myth or folktale, with a description of changes made since the first telling. Activity: Group retelling from "Shake-It-Up-Tales” |
Watch Instructor and students Quicktime movie.
Download FREE Quicktime Player here (for PCs and Macs)
[ Return to class homepage
| email Professor McGrath ]