New Higher Drama Study Advice

Faculty of Performing Arts

How can I pass My Higher Drama?

What is expected of me?

The New Higher has two Internal Units which are assessed by the teacher on a Pass/ Fail basis. Candidates have already completed Drama Skills and are involved in the second unit Production Skills.( completion date Tuesday 9th December) For each of these units candidates produce evidence in the form of a log book and research materials. They will sit an end of unit NAB,( Production Skills NAB Friday 12th December)

Candidates will then prepare to sit the Prelim. The prelim paper will be completed in two sittings.One in January and one at the end of February. The January paper will include one essay worth 20 marks on the Prescribed Text Scottish Play ‘Men Should Weep’ by Ena Lamont Stewart. The class are reading this on Fridays and have explored scenes from it.

The second paper will be an Performance Analysis worth 20 marks. The play that the class will see is ‘Slab Boys’ by John Byrne. Candidates will see this play on Feb 19th at The Citizens Theatre. They will then sit the second half of their prelim at a date to be confirmed before the end of February

Candidates will also sit an Acting Exam worth 50 marks which will take place in late March at a date to be identified by SQA. A further ten marks is awarded to ‘Preparation for Performance’ This is an essay in which the candidate explains how they developed their characters to performance level. This essay is done in class time and sent to the examiner a week before the visit to the school How can New Higher candidates prepare for their prelim?

Part 1 January

 Read ‘Men Should Weep’ again at home

 Become familiar with the journey of each key character; Maggie, John. Jenny, Lily, Alec and Isa

 Learn key quotes and stage directions which relate to themes and issues in the play

 Read over and understand any notes given in class

 Practise timed essays on Men Should Weep

 Read exemplar Essays

 Become familiar and use Drama terminology (especially those candidates who have not studied Drama since S2) This is all available in The Lexicon

 Google information about previous productions of this play

 Use SQA study websites

Part 2 February

 Attend the play ‘Slab Boys’ with the school. It will be worth candidates going again in their own time to absorb as much of the production as possible

 While watching the play observe closely the use of Theatre Arts as well as the acting skills.

 Keep a copy of the programme. It will be essential for your study

 As soon as possible after the play write down all your observations using Drama terminology

 Practise timed essays.  Study exemplar essays

 Use Drama terminology

Over the Xmas break it will be useful for you to start looking over your acting roles. You will not be required to know lines for these until 10th March in preparation for your exam in late March. It is helpful for you to begin to get a sense of the character(s) that you will be examined on. Please remember that a lot of your preparation work for Higher Drama is in your own time. ‘A’ candidates go the extra mile! There will be a Faculty Open Evening for Parents and Carers in March 2015. This is as a response to popular demand from pupils and Parents and Carer following the success of last year.