| WORKSHOP
GRADING AND ATTENDANCE POLICIES |
Grading
is based on a number of objective and subjective factors
of a student's attitude, participation, attendance and other
factors at and during the Workshop. The NYU Studio Attendance
Policy is detailed below.
Attitude
The
attitude of the student is very important. What we mean
by "attitude" is a general professional approach
toward the process, toward the teachers, toward your fellow
students, toward the Studio, and toward one's own work.
A good attitude implies that the student is open to what
the instructor is teaching, does not decry the process
(even though he or she may not agree), and is generally
either good natured with a positive spirit and passion,
and is imbued with humility. It also reflects a student's
respect of the Studio's space and props, whether they
litter, whether they return props to their proper places,
whether scripts are returned to their proper shelf location,
and whether a student is or is not generally disruptive.
Participation
Although
this is related to attitude, it is an analysis of the
degree a student participates in the work and the class
process, whether the student is attentive and makes an
effort to work and to assist in the work of other students.
Preparation
This
is an analysis of the amount and quality of preparation
a student gives his or her work outside of class.
Improvement
A
student's improvement during the semester is determined
by each teacher. The more the improvement, the more a
student will benefit from the grading process.
Talent
Although
we hesitate to weigh this factor too heavily (we are an
educational institution, not the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences!), we are inevitably moved by the evidence
of varying degrees of talent our students harbor and show.
The more students are able to unearth and/or show their
talent for film acting craft, the more they will benefit
from the grading process. However, this aspect of the
grading process will be significantly diminished if the
student's attitude is poor or other factors are not favorably
viewed.
Attendance
This
is generally the most objective standard by which a student's
grade is determined. Attendance is taken in every class.
More than two unexcused absences (i.e., a doctor's note
would be an excused absence; circumstances that involve
a grave family matter would be considered an excused absence)
from each class will reduce the grade of the student in
that class for each of such absences. Three late arrivals
equals one unexcused absence. Students sometimes mistakenly
think that auditions will be grounds for an "excused"
absence; do not make this mistake!! Stonestreet adopts
the NYU Studio Attendance Policy, a detailed recitation
of which is set forth below.
Calculation
of Grades
Each
instructor grades the student with a letter grade ranging
from F, D-, D, D+, C-, C, C+, B-, B, B+, A- and A. Each
letter grade is assigned a number, and the average of
those numbers will be the final grade of that student.
It has been the history of Stonestreet that "A"
grades are not given easily - an "A" is considered
a student who is truly exceptional regarding all the criteria
described above with nearly perfect attendance. The average
grade has ranged from B to B+ in recent years. Some students
are surprised that they get very high grades in one class
(either because they like the class or they have talent
and/or good attitudes, or score highly on any of the criteria
mention above) but fail to show up for other classes...in
such event, that student's grade will be significantly
affected -- remember, attendance is important! Again,
each class gives a grade which is averaged together to
calculate the final grade of the Workshop.
NYU
Drama Department's Studio Attendance Policy
The
following is a detailed recitation of the Department of
Drama's Studio Attendance Policy, a policy which is adopted
by Stonestreet's Workshop.
More
than two absences in any individual studio class will
lower your grade according to your studio's policy.
You
are required to contact your studio administrator about
your absence in advance. If this is not possible,
call studio that morning.
Speak
to the studio administrator and all your instructors right
away to follow-up on any missed assignments. You will
be responsible for any work assigned during your absence.
Your
studio grade may be lowered for any single absence
that is not handled in the manner described above.
Any
injury that prevents any kind of participation must be
discussed with your studio administrator, your instructors,
and the Professional Training Coordinator of the Drama
Department as soon as it occurs. Students in that situation
are required to attend classes as an observer and may
be asked to complete written assignments as replacement
for unfulfilled practical assignments.
Truly
extraordinary circumstances affecting any of the above
should be discussed with the Drama Department's Professional
Training Coordinator as soon as possible.
Incompletes
are not permitted for studio classes.
Studio
grades of C- and D are credited as electives.
They are not permitted toward the 48-point professional
training portion of the Drama major requirement. (The
semester is counted toward the 4-in1 rule, which states
that the student must remain in primary studio for four
consecurtive semesters.) Students are placed on Studio
Probation. The student will be allowed to continue
to study, while on Studio Probation, in the same studio
during the semester following the C- and D grade. However,
a student who receives a grade of C- or below for any
two semesters at the same studio will be required to leave
that studio and transfer into a new studio for the following
fall semester. Students on Studio Probation may not audition
for or participate in production or projects outside of
class. Studio Probation will be lifted when the studio
grade returns to a C or better.
A
Grade of F constitutes failing and the student receives
no credits. If a student fails any two classes
at studio, that student will fail studio for that semester.
The student receiving a grade of F in studio will be required
to leave that studio and transfer to a new studio. A failing
semester of studio is not counted toward the
4-in-1 rule. If the student fails the fall semester,
he/she may be required to wait until the following fall
to attend the newly assigned studio. If the student fails
the spring semester, he/she may experience limited
studio availability because new slots will have been filled
by the incoming class. A student who has failed a semester
of studio is on Studio Probation and therefore may not
audition for or participate in any productions or projects
outside of class. Studio Probation will be lifted when
the student achieves a studio grade of C or better.
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