How To Keep A Journal

JOURNALS:  How to get an “A”

Students are required to keep a Journal for this class.  In class writing assignments as well as your own thoughts about your experience of class exercises will be recorded in this journal.  The journal will provide a record of experiences and a forum for self-evaluation throughout the semester. 

Your journal is a tool to self discovery.  You will be able to clearly see your growth in this class, and that of your peers.  Many students use the acting exercises & improv games we do in class that they record in their journals in further professional or community work. 

If your handwriting is illegible, please type your entries.  Students with disabilities must speak with the instructor and accommodations will be made!  Please do not wait until we have graded your written material to tell us.  You will find the teachers of this class totally supportive and willing to work with you.

Put your name on the OUTSIDE of the journal. 

Write in your journal during and after EVERY class period.  When an instructor lectures, you MUST take notes.

On the left side of the journal record what we did in class. Be very specific with the details of the exercises. Thoroughly record what went on in class.

On the right side record what your experience was like.  How does it affect your life? What did you learn about acting or about yourself?  How did you feel while participating?

In addition, instructors will assign critical thinking topics for you to write on in your journal.



Grade “A” Level Work: Student records details of exercises; describes their before and after attitude towards the classwork; relates classwork to their own life; takes detailed notes on other students and notes how it relates to themselves.  Example:

Today in class we began warm-ups.

1.Take a deep breathe in, and slowly exhale while counting to 15.  We increased to 20, and then again to see who could go the furtherst.
2.Gently relax your head backwards, take a deep breathe and lift head forward while making the lowest “Ahhh” sound I can.  As we raised our heads, we raised our pitch as high as we could and turned the “Ahhh” sound to an “EEE” while dropping our heads forward (looking at the ground).  Then on the same breathe we returned to the “Ahh” position and lowest pitch.
3.Tongue Twister:  “A Big Black Bug Bit a Big Black Bear made the Big Black Bear Bleed Blood”  We began slowly, then increased speed.  Then we did the tongue twister with voice and without (silently mouthing the words)
4.We did physical exercises to loosen our bodies up.  We stretched, grew larger and smaller, then did the Chicken.  The Chicken – Count to 8 while flailing your right hand, then left hand, then right foot, then left foot…then to 7, 6,5….to 1.  Concentrate on breathing and giving the counting voice.

Vocabulary words/Notes we spoke about:
Project:  To speak loudly so that I can be heard clearly. 
To be able to speak loudly I must be able to control my breathe.
Pitch – The high & lows to the voice.  It’s important for an actor to be in control of their voices and to be able to work with the highest and lowest pitches they have.
Diaphragm…We placed our hand on the muscle (the diaphragm) that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, just below our ribcage.  It is the most important muscle used in controlling my breathing.  When it contracts, the length and diameter of the chest cavity increases and the lungs expand (fill with air)  When I concentrate on slowly releasing the air, I am able to produce a louder sound, and speak for longer without having to take a breathe.

To get what I want from life I must be heard.

Actor Exercises & Improv
“What Are you Doing”  We formed a large circle on the stage, with one person in the middle.  That person pantomimed and activity, and another person went in and asked “What are you doing?”  The person who was pantomiming had to say any activity other than what they were actually doing.
Sound & Gesture   In a circle, person A crossed to person B and made a big sound and gesture (a movement).  Then A went back to their place in the circle and B followed and repeated what they had done to them.  Then B went to another actor and made his own sound & gesture…then we added other people doing this simultaneously.

Scene Work
Three-line scenes We made up scenes that showed the actor’s platform…in 3 lines or less.

Benny & Maggie…He seemed very nervous, but they did a good job…prisoners, escaping jail, friends, jail     I know I will probably be nervous like Benny, but I am going to try to ignore it and just concentrate on what I need to do.
Martine & Jovan…really made us laugh, they were very specific with their gestures and we could hear what they were saying clearly…Two awful burglars, trying to break into a house, friends, a house with a locked window and open door….I need to speak as loudly as they did.

My thoughts:
I was nervous when I got to class and really didn’t want to talk.  I relaxed in the warm-ups and noticed some others were nervous too.  The breathing exercises and the tongue twisters made my tongue, lips feel odd and I realize that when I talk I don’t always speak correctly.  I didn’t want to do the sound and gesture exercise because it looked really stupid, but then when everyone was doing it I realized that I felt kind of free, like a child.  When I tried to think of something to do, rather than just jumping in without thinking, it was harder to do.
Because I am studying nursing and don’t plan on being an actor, I’m trying to take what I can from these exercises.  I realize if I can learn to talk calmly even when I have stage fright, then I can help calm my patients.  I see that some of these activities would be really good for people studying business or teaching too.


Grade “B” Level Work   (Student’s notes are good, but not as thorough as the “A” criteria)

Today in class we began warm-ups.

Take a deep breathe in, and slowly exhale while counting to 15.  We increased to 20, and then again to see who could go the furtherst.
Gently relax your head backwards, take a deep breathe and lift head forward while making the lowest “Ahhh” sound I can.  As we raised our heads, we raised our pitch as high as we could and turned the “Ahhh” sound to an “EEE” while dropping our heads forward (looking at the ground). 
Tongue Twister:  “A Big Black Bug Bit a Big Black Bear made the Big Black Bear Bleed Blood” 
We did physical exercises to loosen our bodies up.  We stretched, grew larger and smaller, then did the Chicken.

Vocabulary words/Notes we spoke about:
Project:  To speak loudly so that I can be heard clearly. 
Pitch – The high & lows to the voice. 
Diaphragm…We placed our hand on the muscle (the diaphragm) that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, just below our ribcage.  It is the most important muscle used in controlling my breathing.  When it contracts, the length and diameter of the chest cavity increases and the lungs expand (fill with air)  When I concentrate on slowly releasing the air, I am able to produce a louder sound, and speak for longer without having to take a breathe.

To get what I want from life I must be heard.

Actor Exercises & Improv
“What Are you Doing”  We formed a large circle on the stage, with one person in the middle.  That person pantomimed and activity, and another person went in and asked “What are you doing?”  The person who was pantomiming had to say any activity other than what they were actually doing.
Sound & Gesture   In a circle, person A crossed to person B and made a big sound and gesture (a movement).  Then A went back to their place in the circle and B followed and repeated what they had done to them.  Then B went to another actor and made his own sound & gesture…then we added other people doing this simultaneously.

Scene Work
Three-line scenes We made up scenes that showed the actor’s platform…in 3 lines or less.

Benny & Maggie…He seemed very nervous, but they did a good job…prisoners, escaping jail, friends, jail
Martine & Jovan…really made us laugh, they were very specific with their gestures and we could hear what they were saying clearly…Two awful burglars, trying to break into a house, friends, a house with a locked window and open door
(Note:  Student should comment on everyone who performed and keep notes in their journals)

My thoughts:
I was nervous when I got to class and really didn’t want to talk.  I relaxed in the warm-ups and noticed some others were nervous too.  The breathing exercises and the tongue twisters made my tongue, lips feel odd and I realize that when I talk I don’t always speak correctly.  I didn’t want to do the sound and gesture exercise because it looked really stupid, but then when everyone was doing it I realized that I felt kind of free, like a child.  This class might help me not be so nervous in front of people.


Grade “C” Level Work  (Very little details)

Teacher took roll.
Warmed up.

9.Hold your breathe and try to count
10.Ahheeee thingy
11.Tongue Twister:  “A Big Black Bug”
12.We did physical exercises to loosen our bodies up. 

Vocabulary words/Notes we spoke about:
Project:  Be loud
Pitch – Up and down. 
Diaphragm…

Actor Exercises & Improv
“What Are you Doing”  We formed a large circle on the stage, with one person in the middle.  That person pantomimed and activity, and another person went in and asked “What are you doing?” 
Sound & Gesture  

Scene Work
Three-line scenes

Benny & Maggie…they were nervous
Martine & Jovan…very funny.

My thoughts:
I was nervous when I got to class and really didn’t want to talk.  I relaxed in the warm-ups and noticed some others were nervous too. 


Grade “D” Level Work  (Student does not provide details)

Teacher took roll.  We did some vocal exercises and stretched out.  It was okay, but I was nervous.
Ah-Eee
Breathing/counting exercise.
Chicken
Project
Diaghram