Syllabus

TH.101.101.2015FA
Acting I (3.00 cr)
Fall 2015
Instructor
Office
Meeting times
Office hours

Charles Goforth
email: cgoforth2@su.edu
Ruebush 129-B
Mon, Wed 11:00 to 12:40
TBA, and by appointment

Course description
This course is the first semester of the acting training
sequence. It guides students through a single, progressively
sophisticated exercise conceived by Sanford Meisner. The
exercise takes its final forms in the second semester.
Course foundation
Applied study demonstrates the following tenets of the
Shenandoah University mission statement: Celebration of
creative performance, expression, teaching and discovery.
Applied study demonstrates the following tenets of the
Shenandoah Conservatory mission statement: development of
artistic, intellectual and creative excellence
Required Texts / Materials
Students are required to bring a notebook to class (acting
journal), to make a habit of note taking, and to rely on
themselves to recall feedback and concepts that they found
helpful. The instructor assumes feedback will be remembered,
taken into practice and eventually be reflected in subsequent
class work. This process is integral to the technique and the
level of ownership expected of first year actors.
Eventually, first year work requires that objects be brought to
class. Students should anticipate having to bring a significant
amount of stuff during certain parts of the Exercise. Lugging
things to and from class is an expected part of training.

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Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. repeat through Doing with freedom and spontaneity
2. In the creative state be able to take in at the door,
and, with an activity, repeat freely and impulsively
through the execution of the Independent Activity with its
elements in place.
3. Give over to contact, and demonstrate an ability to work
from the acting object freely, impulsively and personally.
Evidence of Student Learning
1. Daily practice has turned the rules of repetition into a
second nature ability to work freely, unfettered and
responsively moment to moment;
2. Crafting of activities incorporates the added elements;
3. Habit of creative state is increasingly clear through...
4. deepening and personal responsiveness to the behavior of
the partner;
5. behavior born of a personal relatedness to circumstances in
the Independent Activity (command of crafting) and a
responsive, lively taking in of the partner at the door
(second nature working off and taking in).
SU Grading System
A
B+
C+
D+

93-100%
87-89%
77-79%
67-69%

AB
C
D

90-92%
83-86%
73-76%
60-66%

BCF

80-82%
70-72%
<60%

Course Evaluation
Rehearsal: 45%
Attendance and participation: 30%
Growth in the exercise as evinced by increasing command of the
progression and the added elements: 25%
Attendance Policy
We assume students have come here because they are serious about
becoming professional actors. There is no tolerance for
lateness. For a lateness, students are penalized half an

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Attendance Policy (contd)

absence. If a student is later than five minutes, admittance to
class is no longer offered, at the discretion of the instructor.
Upon recommendation of the instructor to the dean or director of
an academic program, a student with excessive absences (two 150minute classes in succession or 30 percent of all class meetings
by mid-term or after) may be administratively withdrawn from a
class. But this standard is for administrative withdraw only,
and does not bear on the attendance policy for successfully
passing this course.
Students are allowed two unexcused absences during the entire
semester. In this case a doctors note does not necessarily
excuse the absence. More than two unexcused absences is cause
for failure, at the discretion of the instructor.
Make-Up Policy:
Students are expected to prioritize their partners when they
have missed a class and initiate with their partners a plan to
make up the class with one hour of rehearsal plus discussion.
Preparation & Participation
Rehearsal for this class is daily practice. The Rehearsal
Contract must be initialed five days per week and signed at
weeks end. This is absolutely required. The requirements are
also written on the contract, and instructions have been
clarified in class. Successful completion of these rehearsals
and an initialed / signed contract submitted on Mondays will be
45% of the grade.
Any student fraudulently initialing or signing their own or
another persons Rehearsal Contract will lose all points on the
portion of grading described below as Rehearsal. This is 45%
of the final grade as per grading breakdown above.
Each element of the first year exercise is eminently clear and
doable. But to turn the instruction into habit requires daily
practice. DAILY PRACTICE IS MANDATORY.
Participation in this class means being attentive from the
seats, ready to work when called, asking questions and taking
the answers back into practice. In the smaller sections everyone
works and is expected to be ready when called. Every class.

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Students with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits
discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Under ADA,
a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits a major life activity. If you need
accommodations because of a disability, please register with the
Office of Learning Resources and Services (located in the
Academic Enrichment Center in Howe Hall, room 204) at the
beginning of each semester, or as soon as possible, so that
arrangements can be made. Accommodations are granted on a caseby-case basis with the support of proper documentation. Please
call the office of Learning Resources and Services at 540-6654928 or email dss@su.edu for information and/or to make an
appointment to discuss your needs. You will find more
information at: http://www.student-life.su.edu/disabilityservices/
Honor Code
The SU Honor Code prohibits lying, stealing, and cheating. As a
faculty member of SU, I am dedicated to upholding the standards
of academic integrity prescribed by the Honor Code, and I do not
tolerate academic dishonesty for any reason. If I suspect a
violation has occurred, I will take action. If you have
questions about the Honor Code, please come talk to me or refer
to Honor Code on the SU website. Logging in to a SU system with
a SU issued login signifies that you are agreeing to abide by
the SU Honor Code.
Inclement Weather
Notice of class cancellations and campus closings will occur
through the Emergency Alert System and will be placed on area
radio and television stations, the SU Web site and the
University phone system.
Cell Phone / iPhone / Smart Phone / MP3 / iPad / Laptop Policy
OFF. AND PUT AWAY.
Student Complaint Policy
Shenandoah University affirms the right of students to bring
forth complaints and is committed to resolving these matters in
a fair, equitable and timely manner, so as to protect the rights
of both the individual and the community. Refer to the student
catalog for specific procedures.

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Student Privacy
Annually, Shenandoah University provides information to students
concerning their rights under the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA). This act was designed
to protect the privacy of education records and afford students
certain rights with respect to their education records. Refer to
the student catalog for specific procedures.
Student Support Services:
The Library online materials are available 24/7:
http://www.su.edu/university-libraries/
The IC Help Desk are available 24/7:
https://workorder.su.edu/helpdesk/
The Counseling resources are available at:
http://www.student-life.su.edu/counseling-center-home/
COURSE CALENDAR
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Repetition
Repetition
Repetition / Objects/ Crafting
Beginning Independent Activity

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door

+ Door (scene TBA)

+ Door (scene TBA)

+ Door (scene TBA)

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