Play paper-Pipeline Essay Sample

Students will submit a Play Paper in two parts, which will total 1000-1200 words combined. The

paper will focus on the production of Pipeline.

Part 1 (500-600 words)

After reading Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline, students will present their ideas for

theatricalizing the text: describe the plays themes, and describe your vision for conveying them

on stage. How would set, costumes, lights, and/or sound help the audience see these themes?

How would you stage the play?

Be sure to say WHY you would make these choices. Each subjective vision must be

accompanied by objective support from the text.

Part 2 (500-600 words)

After seeing the production of Pipeline, has your vision changed? What themes came through

based on their choices? Analyze the choices the creative team made to tell the story, discussing

which choices worked, which didn’t, and why.

Please note: Students who wish to write their paper on a production other than Pipeline may be

able to do so, but must consult the professor before submitting the assignment.

The play paper is not a review. I am not looking for whether or not you liked the production

(though you are free to say so in the paper), but what your experience of the production was, and

how it related to your expectations from reading the text. Also remember: this is a personal

paper. You may write in the first person if you wish.

Guidelines:

• You must include a Title Page with the title of your paper, your full name, student number,

the professor’s name, and date the paper was submitted. If you don’t know how a title page

should be formatted, ask the professor or the TA.

• Papers must be submitted typed, double spaced, in a 10-12 point font, on single-sided,

8.5x11 paper.

• Spend as little time covering the plot of the production as necessary. I have also read and

seen the show, so using 500 words to let me know what happened is a waste of your space.

Only cover plot information that is relevant to your topic and arguments.

• You must back up your arguments with evidence. This can come from secondary sources,

or from your own experience of the production.

• Should you choose to use secondary sources, you must include a bibliography. You may

choose to write your paper in either MLA or Chicago style, as long as you remain

consistent throughout.

• Topics and information covered in lectures (such as the definition of Realism or objectives

of scenic designers) do not require citation.

Evaluation (10% of Final Grade)

• Artistic Vision (Part 1) – do you have a strong vision for the production? Is it based on a

thorough reading of the text? Have you identified and analyzed the themes of the play?

• Analysis (Part 2) – After seeing the production, are you able to analyze what you have seen

in relation to your vision?

• Clarity of ideas and arguments – can I understand what you are trying to say, and do you

back up your ideas/arguments with evidence?

• Synthesis of material – have you taken the information learned in class and applied it to the

text and production?

• Organization – do your thoughts and arguments flow easily from one to the other? Or is the

paper disjointed and hard to follow?

• Spelling and grammar

NOTE:

• Late papers will be penalized 1 mark per day, including weekends.

SOME FREE ADVICE

• Take notes – while you’re reading the script AND immediately after you’ve seen the

production (while it’s still fresh in your mind); write down all your thoughts as soon as you

can and then sort them out the next day

• Focus your paper – choosing one or two things to discuss is better than trying to cram in

every thought you have

• Don’t summarize the plot – I’ve read the play and seen the production as well, don’t waste

your space telling me things I already know

• Be specific! Saying things like “emotions” is too general. What “emotions” are you talking

about?

• Avoid unprovable generalizations: don’t say things like “it made the audience

uncomfortable” – this is a personal paper. If it made YOU uncomfortable, say so, and

explain why!

• Simplicity is your friend. Don’t try and recreate the form. If you want to write a simple five

paragraph essay, write that.