Prof. Suzanne Miller

English 2002—Introduction to Drama

Think of someone in your life who would benefit from, or relate to, one of the plays we have studied in class so far this semester (The Rising of the Moon, Death of a Salesman, or Fences). Write a letter to that person persuading him or her to read the chosen text. If your mind is blank, you may make up someone to write the letter to.

In order to be persuasive, you must do the following:

(Please note: these bullet points are also the exam instructions!)

• Give a plot synopsis (or brief summary) of the play you’ve chosen to recommend. Remember, the person to whom you are writing has not read the play, so you need to give him or her a basic understanding of what is going on in the text. (This should be brief—a few sentences, not an extremely detailed account of everything in the play.) Remember to include the play’s title and author.
• Explain the message of the piece. What theme or themes are illustrated in the play? Give details from the play to support your ideas.
• Explain to your reader why he or she should read the text you’ve chosen. Be specific! Why is the message particularly relevant to your reader, or important for him or her to hear?
• Somewhere in the letter, refer to an “element of drama” aside from plot and theme to help your reader understand something about the play’s plot or theme.
• Quote the play—directly and accurately—at least once. The quote should be relevant to whatever point you are making at that moment, and quotation marks should be used.

Feel free to begin and end your letter with standard pleasantries that have nothing to do with the text you are discussing (“How are you?” etc.), as this may help you to write more fluidly.

Your response should be between three and five paragraphs.

Although you may be writing to a friend, please use standard written English, as I will be grading the grammar.

RUBRIC for the mid-term exam:

• A correct synopsis is given.
• The theme or message of the play is discussed and details from the play are used to support this part of the letter.
• A specific reason is given to your reader as to why he or she would relate to this play. (Note: the reason cannot just be “You would like this play.”)
• An “element of drama” (aside from plot and theme) is used to help your reader understand the plot or theme of the play.
• The letter includes at least one direct and accurate quote from the play, andquotation marks are used.
• Correct grammar is used and your sentences make sense.
• Character names are spelled correctly. The play title is written correctly and is underlined. The author’s name is mentioned and spelled correctly.