Procedures

Preparatory Questionnaire
When a group's registration has been confirmed, a cirlce assignment will be made. The instructor will be emailed the preparatory questionnaire as a file attachment. To complete this aspect of project preparation, open the attachment and add your answers. Specific instructions in the attachment will explain how to complete and forward this file to the project coordinator and another participant in your circle.

Preparation
Prior to the start of the project, introduce your students to the playwriting project. Discuss the playwriting process and the elements of a mystery. Discuss the concept of writing a one-act play, and how it differs from writing a longer play. Read an age appropriate mystery play. Review how the script is assembled. (see Resources)

Weekly Playwriting

Getting Started: Summarize the Plot
For each scene your students create, have them write a paragraph summarizing their vision of that play's plot. Save their summaries. At the end of this project, students will share and compare their ideas with how the play actually developed.

Scene I: Exposition
Introduction to characters and the mystery plot
• Introduce all of the characters in the play (maximum 5 individual characters, not including crowds).
• Develop each character. (see Rebecca Sinclair's Character Chart)
• Provide background information on what has happened to build what is going to happen during the play.
Hints and Suggestions starting Scene I

Pick A Plot. One way to start is to have the students brainstorm the mystery they want to solve and write a paragraph summarizing their idea first. They might pick a time period, action (such as a crime, a secret, a reunion), a theme or moral. Then they would create the characters to go with it.

Pick a Character. Create some interesting characters and then improvise interactions between them. See how their interactions suggest a plot or theme. Rebecca Sinclair's Character Chart offers an extensive set of questions for enhancing characterizations.

Scene II: Rising Action
Things start to happen. Creates suspense and interest in finding out what happens next.
• The mystery (problem) to be solved is presented.
• Characters give clues and make discoveries.
• By the end of this act, enough clues have been given to make a guess about the solution.
Scene III: Climax and Denouement
The most exciting moment in the play. The main character(s) comes to a decision that will be the turning point of the play.
• Something final happens that will prove "who did it".
• The solution is announced and explained.
• "Loose ends" and subplots are concluded.
  
Technical List
From the completed play, create:
• One paragraph synopsis for play.
• Cast of Characters list.
• List of scenes.
• List of costumes, props and sound effects.

Weekly Circle Emails
Communication with other teams in your circle is an important part of the writing process. Each week, sending two emails to everyone in your circle and the project coordintor,are part of the writing process:

• Wednesday: summarize the plot so far -- one brief paragraph per act. Summarize in one paragraph what will happen in the act you are writing.
• Friday: Briefly describe your group's writing process during that week. Include praise, problems, solutions, and ah-ha moments.

Classroom Management
Preparation: Read an age appropriate mystery play, such as a script from one of these old time radio programs The Shadow, The Saint, or Sherlock Holmes. Identify the elements of drama. Review how the script is assembled.  Download Solve Its from MysteryNet's Kids mysteries and use them as a class or group activity.

Ongoing Class discussion of the newly received script can first review the elements studied in the previous scene, then progress to the new elements to be added. Email the other schools in your group for advice and to update them on the process of writing.

Scripting teams: Classes may have students work in teams to create the scene and then combine elements from each script. Alternatively, the best creation may be submitted to the next circle class. The teacher may choose to keep the teams together or recombine groups to expand the teaming process.

Playwrights' Conference
A real-time (synchronous) conference will be scheduled at the conclusion of the program, based on participant responses. Details will be emailed to all interested participants during the session.