Common Course Outline

Catalog Description

Course Description

This course is highly experiential and introduces and applies the skills of literary analysis for the purpose of oral interpretive performance. Students will be challenged to examine the use of personal voice in literature as a crucial tool in understanding how we, as humans, communicate via the written word and the embodied performance of that word in a democratic society. Students will be challenged to deepen their understanding and practical knowledge as to how various issues of justice, including economic, social, political, environmental and/or equity are expressed in literary works. Students will engage in oral performance literature, including original works, thereby demonstrating how their own and others’ voices reflect positions in society, effect change and provide opportunities for free exchange of democratic ideas.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

December, 2022

Outline of Major Content Areas

1. Voice development
2. Breath control
3. Volume and projection
4. Pitch and quality
5. Rate and pausing
6. Nonverbal communication and delivery
7. Kinesics
8. Paralinguistics
9. Proxemics and movement
10. Literature analysis and its relationship to democratic expression of ideas and civic engagement
11. Literary elements: plot, conflict, characters, setting, point of view, theme, symbolism, and tone
12. Literary & sonic devices: analogy, metaphor, personification, alliteration, , assonance, etc.
13. Critical lens theories such as socio-economic, socio-political, gender, critical race, reader response,
14. moral/spiritual, historical, etc.
15. Listening as a reflection of democratic participation and civic engagement
16. Discriminative
17. Critical
18. Biased
19. Appreciative
20. Empathetic/Compassionate
21. Dialogic
22. Performance in one or more forms of literature as a reflection of democratic participation and opportunity for free exchange of ideas
23. Poetry
24. Prose
25. Drama
26. Storytelling

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

1. Develop and demonstrate both vocal and physical delivery skills necessary for the oral performance of literature.
2. Utilize literary critical lens theories to analyze elements, devices and ethical/social justice issues within literature, including original student works.
3. Perform various literary works, including original student works, as citizenship and free expression of democratic ideas.
4. Identify and articulate personal opinion and the political motivations and interests of others within social justice literature.
5. Identify, develop, and demonstrate various types of listening styles as a reflection of democratic participation and responsible citizenship

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 6/the Humanities, the Arts, Literature and Philosophy

The student will be able to:

1. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
2. Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
3. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.

Goal 9/Ethical and Civic Responsibility

The student will be able to:

1. Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
2. Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.
3. Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

• Oral Performance
• Written analyses of literature choices
• Critique of self and/or peer performance
• In class assignments

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Communication

Students will communicate appropriately for their respective audiences.

Special Information (if any)

None