Illinois Learning Standards
Stage G - Fine Arts—Drama
Students who meet the standard understand the sensory
elements, organizational principles, and expressive qualities
of the arts.
- Analyze vocal and physical qualities used to communicate
character, setting, and emotion.
- Defend the choice of design elements (props, costumes,
lights, sound, make-up, and/or sets) to communicate an idea.
- Analyze a drama for techniques used to enhance plot (e.g.,
choice of time and place, use of minor characters, introduction
of new information, type of conflict).
- Analyze how rhythm is used to communicate ideas.
- Identify pattern and repetition in written or performed
- Analyze the interrelationship among character, conflict/problem,
- Explain the differences among dialogue, monologue, and
- Analyze how the use of shape and level impact the communication
of character status, character relationship, emotion, mood,
- Analyze the relationship of mood to tension and pacing.
Students who meet the standard understand the similarities,
distinctions, and connections in and among the arts.
- Compare and contrast two works in one art form that share
similar themes or subject matter examining artistic components
(i.e., elements, principles, expressive ideas; tools, processes,
technologies; creative processes).
Students who meet the standard understand processes,
traditional tools, and modern technologies used in the arts.
- Analyze how the primary tools (mind, body, and voice)
influence and/or affect a director and playwright's skills.
- Analyze how the support tools (i.e., costumes, sets, lights,
props, sounds, make-up) and the primary tools work together
to communicate an idea.
- Compare playwriting to improvising and directing to acting.
- Analyze the acting process (e.g., memorizing, determining
and enacting character's wants, listening, maintaining concentration).
- Analyze advanced negotiation strategies used to plan a
drama (e.g., win-win, compromise, chance, voting, agree
- Analyze the steps of the artistic process used in drama.
Students who meet the standard can apply skills
and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one or more
of the arts.
- Adapt non-dramatic text (e.g. poem, lyrics) into a drama.
- Invent a character or situation based on imagination,
personal experience, or research.
- Demonstrate concentration, physical action/reaction, imagination,
listening, and memorization in acting a character.
- Combine vocal techniques with physical techniques to tell
a story or enact a character.
- Plan, design, and/or alter a space, prop, costume, and/or
sound source to communicate idea.
- Demonstrate planning, practicing, evaluating, and revising
techniques with a team.
Students who meet the standard can analyze how the
arts function in history, society and everyday life.
- Demonstrate good audience behavior and evaluate the behavior
of self and others.
- Describe how audience behavior changes a product or performance.
- Compare and contrast the function of the arts in two similar
types of ceremonies (e.g., parades - Thanksgiving Day Parade
and Mardi Gras; Opening Ceremony - Super Bowl and World
- Explain the way the various arts are used to persuade
and promote ideas in advertising.
- Explain the ways technology is used to communicate in
each of the arts.
- Describe in each art form at least two artists' roles
and how those roles contribute to the world of work.
Students who meet the standard understand how the
arts shape and reflect history, society and everyday life.
- Determine the reasons why certain artists or works of
art reflect culture (e.g. totems, ritual).
- Connect artists or their works with the trends and/or
influences they create(d).
Return to Fine Arts Classroom
Assessments and Performance Descriptors