High School Performance Model Cornerstone Assessments
A Model Cornerstone Assessment is a model of assessment with guidance for instruction which may be customized for use in your classroom. Model Cornerstone Assessments (MCAs) are aligned to the National Theatre Standards and illustrated with examples of adjudicated student work. MCAs have been created for high school in both performing and technical theatre tasks at three levels: proficient, accomplished and advanced.
Advanced Acting Performance: High School Advanced Model Cornerstone Assessment
MCA Title: Acting Performance
Grade: High School Advanced III
Artistic Processes: Performing, Creating, Responding, Connecting
Task Description: Student will analyze the text of a published, scripted play, scene or monologue and apply performance skills to create a believable character in performance that might be presented to an audience. No more than five minutes of the performance will be video-recorded. The student will then receive feedback/critique from his or her peers and teacher before viewing the video and reflecting upon it and his or her work.
"Acting Performance" demonstrates ways to measure student learning in theatre using the development of a performance as a tool for instruction and assessment. This Model Cornerstone Assessment (MCA) is based on a unit which was piloted in a variety of classrooms across the nation. Although in an MCA the emphasis is on the evaluation tools, an MCA does offer enough information for any teacher to create a similar unit of their own. Click on "View the full MCA" below to see strategies for embedding in instruction as a guide for re-creating this unit and assessment customized for your classroom.
MCAs model effective assessment practice and demonstrate that teaching theatre is specific, rigorous, and measurable by sharing a glimpse into one teacher's classroom. The MCAs on this website come packaged with a suggested strategy for assessing student learning, types of evidence to collect, model rubrics, and samples of student work demonstrating their process and learning. The samples of student work illustrate the unit in action by providing a snapshot of a moment in time showing student response to instruction.
Illustrating the Process: Sample of Student Work
Illustrating the Process: Measuring Student Learning
Additional Tools and Materials
View and download the MCA and any additional materials.
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HS-III Acting Performance Model Cornerstone Assessment UnitThis model cornerstone assessment document describes the unit and offers guidance for teaching and improvised performance pieces and assessing student learning. Use the rubric along with any student work samples and additional materials to understand how to use this unit.
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HS-III Advanced Acting Student ReflectionThis student reflection accompanies the student performance as evidence of student learning.
Other Grade Levels
Elementary MCA Packages
Middle Grades MCA Packages
High School Perf. MCA Packages
High School Tech MCA Packages
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More MCA Units
Enjoy several free Model Cornerstone Assessment Units below.
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HS-II Accomplished MCA: Bringing Shakespeare to LifeUsing scenes from Shakespeare's 12th night students will analyze text and learn how to use the language of Shakespeare to guide their performance. Authors: Theatre Educator Maura Vaughn with Kristen Giroux, Oregon Shakespeare Festival