How to Write a Textual Analysis Essayin a Few Simple Steps.

THINGS TO KNOW...

THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS; 1. KNOWLEDGE OF TEXT

2. APPLYING ACTING/DIRECTING/DESIGN CONCEPTS.

EACH SECTION IS WORTH TEN MARKS

EACH SECTION MUST BE EXPLICITY RELATED TO EACH OTHER – OTHERWISE, NO MARKS

'TEXTUAL REFERENCES' means QUOTE or DETAILED MOMENT.

Explain in detail five acting concepts you would use to show these in performance.”

“As an actor, describe five strengths and/or weaknesses of a character

in your selected text.

“As an actor, describe five strengths and/or weaknesses of a character in your selected text. Explain in detail five acting concepts you would use to show these in performance.”

INTRO

STEP 1:ANSWER THE QUESTION

A character who demonstrates strengths/weaknesses in ‘The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart’ is…

STEP 2: EXPLAIN WHAT “STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES” MEANS

A strength is a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person/A weakness is a negative attribute, such as a disadvantage or fault.

STEP 3: BREAK THAT DOWN INTO 5 DIFFERENT SUB ELEMENTS TO GIVE YOU THE

PARAGRAPH TOPICS. Strengths identified in ? are … OR weaknesses identified in ? are… OR a mix of both.

STEP 4: TIE IT ALL BACK TO THE ACTING/DIRECTING PART OF THE QUESTION

All areas which are interesting to explore as an actor

EXAMPLE INTRO

A character who demonstrates strengths/weaknesses in ‘The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart’ is Prudencia, the title character.

A strength is a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person/a weakness is a disadvantage or fault.

We see strength in Pru’s character in traits such as... However, Pru is also … which could be described as

negative traits or weaknesses.

Such character traits would be interesting to explore as an actor.

PART ONE; KNOWLEDGE OF TEXT

REMEMBER THIS IS WORTH TEN MARKS

1 MARK PER RELEVANT POINT – YOU MUST MAKE FIVE POINTS, AS ASKED IN THE

QUESTION

YOU CAN DOUBLE THE MARK IF YOUR POINT IS SUPER JAZZY IE. DETAILED AND

INSIGHTFUL

Paragraph one

Firstly, Pru shows strength in (choose

one from opening paragraph)…

whereQuote/detailed

moment Explain how

One mark

Opening sentence explains the

paragraph topic.

BONUS POINT

EXTRA DETAILED DEVELOPMENT

SQA MARKING GUIDELINES SAY YOU MAY COMMENT ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING;

Character motivation(What do they want/strive for? How does this show strength/weakness?)

Character development(How does the character progress throughout the play? When do we see strength/weakness?)

Character relationships (How do their relationships with other characters demonstrate strength/weakness?)

Character interaction(How does the way in which they behave with other characters demonstrate

strength/weakness?)

Plot

Themes and issues(Are they connected to any vital themes? How does this represent strength/weakness?)

Any other relevant features

PART TWO; APPLYING ACTING/DIRECTING/DESIGN CONCEPTS

AGAIN, THIS IS WORTH TEN MARKS - 1 MARK PER RELEVANT POINT, DOUBLE MARKS IF YOUR POINT IS SUPER JAZZY

REMEMBER THE MAGIC FORMULA;

I WOULD USE... (VOCAB WORD) WHEN... (MOMENT) TO SHOW THAT... (JUSTIFICATION)

THESE POINTS MUST BE RELATED TO THE POINTS YOU MADE IN PART ONE SO IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO LINK THEM LIKE THIS...

Paragraph one – developed to incorporate answer to part two

How you would act a la Nat 5

(magic formula) Firstly, Pru shows strength in (choose

one from opening paragraph)……

where quote Explain how

As an actor I would use ….. To show that….

One mark

One mark

Opening sentence explains the

paragraph topic.

IF SUPER AWESOME - WITH SNAZZY VOCAB, CLEAR DESCRIPTION AND VALID JUSTIFICATION, WITH QUOTES - THIS ONE PARAGRAPH CAN POTENTIALLY EARN YOU 4

MARKS.

FOR PART TWO, SQA MARKING GUIDELINES SAY YOU MAY COMMENT ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING;

SO YOU COULD TALK ABOUT…

How the actor would use voice or movement to show strength/weaknessHow the actor would interact with other characters to show strength/weakness

How the actor would interact with the audience to show strength/weaknessHow the actor would use the space to show strength/weakness

How the actor would use their costume to show strength/weaknessHow the actor would use props to show strength/weakness

How the actor would use make-up to show strength/weakness

VOCAB IS KEY!!!

• Characterisation• Acting techniques• Acting style• Stage proxemics• Interaction between

characters

• Use of voice and movement• The relationship between the

spoken text and physical movement or gesture

• Actor/ audience relationship• Any other relevant features

VOICEArticulation

FluencyIntonation Register ClarityPausePitch

AccentPace

TimingTone

VolumeEmphasis

MOVEMENTStanceBalanceBody LanguageGestureFacial ExpressionMimePosturePaceTimingSlow MotionBlockingMasking

CHARACTERISATION- the process of developing a character fully

Character

Role Play-exploring attitudes and beliefs

Thought Tracking- when prompted the character says their thoughts out loud

Voice in the Head

Writing in Role

Hot Seating

Thought Tunnel-character walks past other characters.

Those other characters speak their thoughts outloud usually about the character walking past.

CONVENTIONS alternative ways of presenting all or parts of a

presentationSlow motion

Tableau (C) / Frozen Picture (F)Freeze Frame –action frozen in time

SoliloquyFlashback/flash forward

NarrationVoice Over( recorded speech played during a drama)/

Voice in Head (recall words said by others about a character or situation)

MimeMonologuesoliloquy

OTHER ACTING TECHNIQUESAside- to audience only

Stage whisperMasks

stereotype

NAT 5 VOCAB STILL APPLIES!

Lighting Follow SpotProfile Spot

FresnelFlood Light

(gauze)Barn Doors

GoboGel

Pyrotechnics

Focusing (the lights)

Black outSlow fadeCross fade

Snap-to

SoundSound cueCross fade

Recorded voice over

SetBack clothCyclorama

GauzeFlies

Door FlatsWindow Flats

FlatsSceneryTrapdoor

RostraTreadsTruckWings

Backstage

StagingVenueThrust

Theatre in the roundEnd on

Proscenium ArchAvenue

AuditoriumRevolving Stage

Ground planKeyRake

Enter/exitAudience

Sight lines Stage Directions

Stalls, balcony, dress circle

CostumePeriod Costume

Write in super detail for full marks

Propsobjects used by actors

Personal PropSet prop

Make Upliners

Wax/nose puttyCrepe hairFake blood

LatexSpirit gum

Makeup palletsStipple sponge

ScarringSkull cap

Tooth varnish

AActing Style

Actor/Audience Relationship B

BLOCKING

CCentral Character

Complex CharacterImportant Character

Minor CharacterMain Character

Pivotal CharacterCharacterisation

Character BehaviourCharacter Motivation

Character DevelopmentCharacter Interaction

Relationships between Character

DDesign Concepts

Dialogue

Drama Media

(aka projections, video, sound

scapes)

Drama Process

Dramatic Feature

Dramatic Tension

Points of Tension

Moments of Tension

Dramatic Irony

Duologue

EEpisodic

Structure

FFocus G

Given CircumstancesGround Plans

KKey Scene

Key Moment

HIGHER WORDS TO USE TO SOUND COOLER THAN YOU REALLY ARE

SSet

SettingSite Specific Theatre

Special EffectsTextual Evidence

Traditional TheatreSpecial EffectsStage Imagery

StatusStimulusSubtext

Symbols and Imagery

TTextual EvidenceTraditional TheatreTarget AudienceTensionTextual AnalysisTheatrical BackgroundThemes and IssuesTime periodPassage of TimeShifts in Time

UUse of levels

VVenue

P

Performance Analysis

Performance Concepts

Pre-Show

Plot

Plot Twists

Protagonist/Antagonist

Purpose

Stage Proxemics

Positioning

MMessage

Mood

REPEAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS FOR EACH STRENGTH/WEAKNESS

IDENITIFED IN YOUR OPENING PARAGRAPH.

YOU SHOULD THEREFORE ALWAYS HAVE FIVE PARAGRAPHS IN ANSWER

TO THE QUESTION.

Paragraph two, three, four and five – repeat the process

How you would act a la

standard grade. Pru also shows strength through….

where quote

Explain how

As an actor I would ….. To show….

One mark

One mark

Opening sentence explains the

paragraph topic.

CONCLUDE WITH CLOSING PARAGRAPH

STEP ONE:RELIST YOUR DEFINITIONA strength is a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person/A weakness is a negative attribute, such as a disadvantage or fault.

STEP TWO:RELIST YOUR PARAGRAPH TOPICS

STEP THREE:RELIST YOUR FIRST STATEMENT

Therefore, as I have shown through the text and my choices for my portrayal of this character, Prudencia is a character who shows strength/weakness.

A strength is a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person/a weakness is a disadvantage or fault.Through out the play we see Prudencia demonstrate strengths through … and weakness through ... Therefore, as I have shown through the text and my choices for my portrayal of this character, Prudencia is a character of both strength and weakness.