Teaching English Language Arts
Middle and High School Language Arts
Writing One Act Plays
Here is a set of Teacher Notes for Writing a Play and the student handout – Writing a One Act Play
Consider having your students publish their final drafts on your class website or in a loose-leaf binder to be displayed in the school library OR collaborate with the drama teacher to have the drama students select one or two of the scripts and give a lunchtime drama reading. When my middle school students wrote plays, the drama classes chose two to perform during one of the advisory meetings for the 8th grade. What fun!
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What are One Act Plays?
8 steps for writing a one act play, other notes, one act play: definition, elements and writing tips.
If plays are the small siblings of movies, then a one act play is the infant of the family. One act plays take place in only one scene and are generally less than an hour long, making them very different than a full-length play. While they are short plays, however, they are still complete stories.
For this reason, they can still be difficult to write if you don't know how to go about the process. Below are steps that will help you brainstorm during your playwriting and develop a great one act play that rivals Shakespeare. Become a more well rounded dramatist by following these simply step.
1. Choose a Subject
Choose a subject to cover in a brief one scene act play. A short story works best. Remember to give the one act play the necessary plot, action and characters to make it a complete story. Research other one act plays to get ideas and inspiration for yours. It is best if this subject also leads to the action of the play as well.
2. Develop the Action, Then the Dialog
Develop the action first, then compose the dialog before you decide anything else. Keep the plot simple for a one act play and it should move consistently throughout the play. The rising action should be quick and not have many subplots to keep in mind time.
3. Develop the Characters
Develop the characters. Write out a main character sketch beforehand to help you flesh out your characters and bring them to life. Give your characters a motive in life (or lack thereof) and up the stakes by making them face a problem. This is central to any story.
4. Generate the Setting
Generate the setting. The setting for a one act play will be one scene, but you have to still develop the scene so the audience sees everything about the story line. Include as many of the five sense as you can. Lighting helps the setting. Make sure you write in notes about how the lighting should look.
5. Add in Stage Directions
Add in the stage directions after you write the action. Write notes about how each character should respond and what props you'll need. For example, if the characters should be facing another direction and talking to another character, note it in the script.
6. Find Performers for Each Part
Find performers that fit each part. Hold auditions to find the right actors and actresses. Be upfront with them about whether this gig is a paying gig or a volunteer gig.
7. Make Copies for Cast Members
Make copies of the play for each cast member. Save the document in case you need extra copies. Give copies of the one act play to each member of the stage and prop handling too.
8. Practice the Play
Practice the play. Ask for feedback from all the people involved in the play. Hire or ask an expert to help with the production too. Hold one final practice before opening the show. This should be a dress rehearsal. Treat this final as the real thing and tie up any loose ends.
Determine your audience to help you decide what and how to write. Having a distinct turning point in your one act play will help the audience stay engaged as well.
Avoid adding anything to the play that doesn't move the plot forward to the final conclusion. Limiting the number of characters may help the plot not drag along as well. Your one-act play should reach a conclusion by the end of the play and leave a resolution with the audience.
Exploring english literature and other examples of one-act plays may help you better write your play as well.
- Get some ideas on writing plays
- Determine your audience to help you decide what and how to write.
- Avoid adding anything to the play that doesn't move the plot forward to the final conclusion.
Madi Reade is currently a student in her junior year at the University of Missouri studying Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communications. She lives an active lifestyle and maintains an organized weekly routine to ensure academic success. Throughout her academic career, she has remained committed to bettering her writing and editing abilities with a plan to pursue a career after university that will allow her to employ these skills effectively.
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iRubric: One-Act Play rubric
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- Playwriting
One Act Play Writing Lesson Plan
One-act play, the lesson plan.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
ASSIGNMENT FOUR: Finalizing your one act play. I. Meet with your group and each group member taking a part to read, read aloud each of your revised plays. A. Which one seems to do the best job of integrating the best of your team’s dramatic elements? B. Can the best elements be melded into one unified dramatization of your story? C.
Julia, friend who is a freshman in college far from home. Lily, cousin who is a sophomore in high school. Amanda, friend who is a sophomore completing college online. Setting: The play takes place in a library. Stage right is the door that brings us into center stage where all the tables are.
Here is a set of Teacher Notes for Writing a Play and the student handout – Writing a One Act Play.
8 Steps for Writing a One Act Play. 1. Choose a Subject. Choose a subject to cover in a brief one scene act play. A short story works best. Remember to give the one act play the necessary plot, action and characters to make it a complete story. Research other one act plays to get ideas and inspiration for yours.
Learn how to write a great one-act play with tips from an experienced writer! Get the basics about characters, plot structure, and setting as you start creating your own short-form theatre pieces.
Help your students write a full one act play script with this easy to use set of lessons, graphic organizers, and rubric! This file contains everything you will need to help you to teach play script writing to your students.
iRubric C2A566: After reading plays students write their own one-act with a character page, scenes, stage directions, etc.. Free rubric builder and assessment tools.
This is an activity that teaches students writing skills. The students have to write a one-act play using process writing. It is done individually or in pairs and may be carried out over several weeks. No Materials are required.
The assignment of creating a one-act play moves quickly from establishing the topic to developing the characters, plot, setting, and climax, followed quickly by the conclusion. The assignment is also two-dimensional in that students can both create the play and perform it.
The lesson plan aims to teach students about the elements of a one-act play. It includes reviewing a short story, defining one-act plays, and having students create and perform short dialogues from the story.