Overview

Drawing on qualitative research exploring the techniques of playwriting instructors, this book outlines signature pedagogies within playwriting instruction for ‘novice’ writers and how they may be reimagined and reinvigorated. Through research gathered in interviews with 11 instructors, and surveying their methods, syllabi and handouts, Andrew Black interrogates key challenges within dramatic writing pedagogy: the myth that it, along with creativity, cannot be taught; the lack of clarity about the instructional value of playwriting education for diverse contemporary audiences; the tendency to allow the writing product to drive instruction rather than process; and the tension between traditional and experimental models of play construction and how this can confound instructional techniques. Identifying 3 indispensable and signature pedagogies that are consistently used in the classroom – the writing exercise, the use of mentor texts and the workshopping of student material – this book describes key strategies and practices used by seasoned instructors which bring these pedagogical strategies to life, strategies and practices which can support instructors in reimagining their playwriting classrooms. An intervention for “lorebased” pedagogical models that are often out of date and reflect the biases of previous generations, Black offers a starting point for instructors developing their inclusive lesson plans, offering a comprehensive understanding of pedagogical options available to the instructors.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dr Andrew Black (University of Missouri, USA)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions:   Width: 16.40cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.460kg
ISBN:  

9781350496620

ISBN 10:   1350496626
Pages:   208
Publication Date:   10 July 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter One—Setting the Stage The backstory on playwriting: how we got to where we are Lore as the pedagogical standard in playwriting Who is the learner in our classrooms: instructing the novice A qualitative approach to disciplinary research: what is going on out there? The book’s organization What it is/What it isn’t Chapter 2: The Challenge of the Romantic Model Understanding the challenge What educators think Teaching self-efficacy: I can do this; I can write a play! Chapter Three: Instructional Objectives, or Why Teach Playwriting? The challenge: not just the vocational objective Multiple objectives for playwriting instruction Using expanded objectives to justify the offering Chapter Four: Linear Versus Non-linear Models of Theatre in the Classroom Closed and open models for plays Some historical context Teaching using the linear approach: pro Teaching using a linear model: con Dealing with this tension in the playwriting classroom Frameworks and models / the advance organizer Let the student lead Chapter Five: Teaching Playwriting as a Process Understanding the challenge known as “focusing on product” not process Stages in the writing process Strategies for teaching “process”: pre-writing, writing, rewriting Chapter Six: Signature Pedagogies--The Writing Exercise The value and purpose of the writing exercise Exploring the universe of writing exercises Setting up, conducting, following through Linear and non-linear approaches and the writing exercise Chapter Seven: The Mentor Text as a Signature Pedagogy What is a mentor text? The value of the mentor text Students don’t read the plays Building a comprehensive, yet diverse, reading list Talking about the play versus learning how to write a play Teaching the play in class What about copyright? Chapter Eight: The Playwrights Workshop What is the playwrights workshop? Context and background for the workshop The purpose of the playwrights workshop Strategies for a playwrights workshop with novices Chapter Nine: Other Pedagogical Models Self-Efficacy and the playwriting instructor Context assessment Time management Understanding student goals Non-Mentor texts / Secondary texts Next steps for students when the class ends Chapter Ten: Bringing the Curtain Down Lore as a pedagogical practice Applications to other forms of dramatic writing (screenwriting, digital storytelling) Playwriting instructor as dramaturg A call to action for the discipline and the instructor Appendix A: A Proposed Flow for a Playwriting Class for Novices Appendix B: A Playwrights Workshop Punch List for Critique Works Cited Index

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Author Information

Andrew Black is a playwright and playwriting instructor with a PhD in Theatre/Performance Studies from the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA and an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University, Athens, USA. He is on the faculty of the Indiana Writers Center and Dramatists Guild Institute. For more information, go to www.andrewblackplaywright.com.

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