WiS Lesson 3A

The original Writing in Stereo was published online back in the late 1980’s.  Its purpose was to apply creative radio dramatics to all aspects of the teaching of high school English.  Each lesson included a lesson plan and notes.  I’m sharing these with you here.

  UNIT OBJECTIVE: (III) The student will complete mastery of prose adaptation to radio drama using the text of a novel. LESSON OBJECTIVE: (A) The student will identify the most significant piece of exposition respecting the resolution of the novel's climax, decide the method in which that exposition might be dramatized, write the script with a partner, and record the dialogue with another pair. MATERIALS REQUIRED: Paper and pencil, text of novel, recording equipment and space INTRODUCTION: Now that we've read this novel, we're going to consider how we might adapt the most important information in it--the preparation for the final resolution--for a radio play. PROCEDURE: 1. Discuss the novel's climax and brainstorm the critical information required to accept the plot's resolution. There are probably several vital details. 2. Tell students to identify the expository detail of their choice and write a paragraph description of how that information might be made dramatic. 3. Allow students to find a partner for collaboration. They should discuss their respective papers and decide which they will dramatize. 4. Allow the students time to write a script for the scene of exposition they've chosen. 5. Pairs become foursomes as before and record their scenes. EVALUATION FOCUS: Since the class has agreed in advance what details of information were critical to the climactic resolution, your concern should be the degree of originality demonstrated in dramatic approaches to that information. Of course, use of plants, tagging, or other fundamentals of radio dramatics are absolutely necessary.