SHS

Specialized Subject

Creative Writing

Quarter 2
Module 5: A Scene for a
One-Act Play
SHS
Specialized Subject

Creative Writing

Quarter 2
Module 5: A Scene for a
One-Act Play

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About the Module

This module is designed to enhance skills in writing one-act play. Diverse and
relevant activities are employed considering the learning competencies acquired
from previous modules. Creativity in incorporating elements, techniques, and
devices in writing drama is enriched in this module.

This module has only one lesson entitled: A Scene for a One-Act Play.
Considering the differences among the types of play and adhering to the
conventions and guidelines in writing are the significant skills that this module
wants you to improve after completion. In view of this, you are expected to have
a meaningful learning experience in writing drama.

Day 1
Pretest
Directions: Read the questions carefully and write the letter of the correct answer on
a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which is CORRECT about stage directions?

A. written as part of the spoken dialogue
B. written from the perspective of the director
C. describe the audience’s reaction toward the scene
D. describe scenery, action, and how characters speak

2. Which of the following refers to the unit of story that takes place at a specific
location and time?
A. Conflict B. Dialogue C. Scene D. Theme

3. Which is TRUE about one-act play?

A. One situation or episode is presented.
B. It focuses on different types of conflict.
C. It presents more complicated layers of plot.
D. Different characters are introduced in each scene.

4. What allows the playwright to communicate important things to the

audience through his/her characters?
A. Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay D. Script

5. What is another name for script writer?

A. Antagonist B. Playwright C. Poet D. Protagonist

6. What is a piece of writing that includes the settings, dialogue, and actions
that take place throughout your play?
A. Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay D. Script

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7. Which is FALSE about theme in a play?
A. It refers to the play’s central idea.
B. It can be identified through dialogue and action.
C. It is the philosophy that forms the base of the story.
D. It always depends on the audience’s understanding after watching the
entire performance.

8. What process does the author use to develop characters and create images
of the characters for the audience?
A. Characterization B. Plot C. Setting D. Theme

9. Which is an example of a direct characterization?

A. Men are mesmerized by her beauty.
B. She has blue eyes and shiny black hair.
C. Even girls are envious on the way she carries herself.
D. Whenever she goes out, she made sure to look pleasant.

10. Which is an example of indirect characterization?

A. He is a good friend.
B. They are like bothers.
C. He is alone and distant from others.
D. He cried when his friend moved to another place.

For numbers 11-15, read the excerpt of drama and answer the following
questions. Write the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.

Three Rats
by Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
SCENE:
The living room. A coffee-table in front of the sofa. On left side, a large balcony
through which the streetlights pour in. On a table near the balcony are a
telephone and a lamp. A floor-lamp beside the sofa. Magazines on the tables. The
room reveals the refined taste of the owners.

TIME: Evening, about nine o'clock. August.

GONZALO is seated on the sofa, reading the paper. GONZALO is tall, with a
compelling personality. About twenty-seven, he possesses a warm and attractive
charm, except for his piercing eyes which can flash with contempt when the
occasion demands.

NITA, his wife, comes in with a large tray, with a pot of coffee and two cups, etc.
NITA is an attractive woman of nineteen. She is rather short, with laughing eyes
and a gentle voice. Her expression is innocent, and there is a subtle air of
adolescence about her.

NITA: Here's the coffee, Gonzalo. (She sets the tray on the table.)
GONZALO: (Without lifting his eyes from the paper) Is it hot?

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NITA: (Laughing) -- Boiling. (She pours a cup and gives it to him.) Here. (He
takes his cup, slowly sips it, without taking his eyes off the paper.) You
must be tired from your trip to Baguio.
GONZALO: Not at all, Nita.
NITA: Two whole weeks. Long enough for me. I was – lonely.
GONZALO: Were you? (Looks at her briefly.)
NITA: Of course, Gonzalo. I forgot to tell you. I dismissed the maid this
morning. I couldn't stand her insolent ways.
GONZALO: Cora insolent? I never noticed it. She was quite efficient, it seems to
me – and we've had her for a good many years
NITA: (Laughing again). No, Gonzalo, remember? We got her when we were
married—and we have been married only seven months (She sits beside
her husband and puts her arm around him). Do you know that the prices
of canned goods have gone up? And it took me a long time before I
could find the right pair of shoes to go with this dress. Luckily, I found
what I wanted at Rustan's. By the way, Menchu came this. afternoon and
brought me the towels.

11. What element is generally described in the scene?

A. Character B. Setting C. Plot D. Theme

12. Which is FALSE about the characters in the play?

A. Nita is a young wife.
B. Cora is a main character.
C. Direct characterization is used to describe them.
D. The author uses dialogues to reveal their personality.

13. What does Gonzalo’s tone mean when he uttered the line, Were you?
A. He looked forward to rest.
B. He was pleased to hear Nita’s words.
C. He was suspicious of his wife’s concern.
D. He did not understand what Nita meant.

14. What is the use of stage directions in the excerpt?

A. Use to instruct the actors on what to do
B. Additional details to know the character more
C. Communication between the director and the actors
D. Hints given to the audience as to what will happen next

15. What personality trait of Nita is described in the last line?

A. She is a loving wife.
B. She is practical in spending.
C. She loves to spend for herself.
D. She prioritizes their basic needs.

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A Scene for a One-Act Play

What I Need to Know

After completing this module, you are expected to:

➢ identify the elements of a one-act play;

➢ analyze the basic steps in writing a script; and
➢ write at least one scene for one-act play applying the various elements,
techniques, and literary devices.

What’s In

Directions: Fill-in the web map with the elements of play. Explain on the blank
what happens +to a play if one element is missing. Write your answer
on separate sheets of paper.

Elements of Play

Explanation: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

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What’s New

What is a One-Act Play?

One-act play is a play that has only one act but may consist of one or more
scenes. Moreover, it focuses on one main action or problem, and there’s no time to get
into complicated layers of plot.
It is usually written in a concise manner. It revolves around one main incident,
and the characters are limited. It still has the dramatic structure from exposition to
resolution.

How to Write a One-Act Play

1. Choose a subject or story for a one act play. Decide what type of drama you
want to explore, and choose the theme, the play’s central idea.
• What is the play all about?

2. Develop the plot first before composing the dialogue. Keep the plot simple for
a one act play and it should move consistently throughout the play.
• What is the conflict that the character has to face?
• What are the series of events that lead to the climax?
• How will the story end?

3. Create a character sketch beforehand using the technique, Characterization.

Direct Characterization- the writer makes direct statements about a

character's personality and tells what the character
is like.

Sherry doesn't like pets.

She is a coward.

Indirect Characterization - the writer reveals a character’s personality

through thoughts, words, and actions

Jim muttered, "I'll go start the car," and ran away because
somebody tried to start a fight.

4. Generate the setting. The setting for a one act play will be one scene. A scene
is a shorter section of a play, usually occurs in one location at a specific time.
Though other one-act plays may create more scenes.

5. Add significant stage directions. They are instructions in the script of a play
that tell actors how to enter, where to stand, when to move, and so on. They
are usually enclosed in parenthesis or brackets.
Stage direction’s main purpose is to guide actors through their movements
onstage.

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Onstage movement and positioning is called blocking. So, stage right and
stage left are the actor’s right and left, not the audience’s. Center stage is
simply the middle of the stage. Meanwhile, Upstage refers to the part of the
stage farthest from the audience, and Downstage is the part of the stage
closest to the audience.

6. After you finished creating the dialogues, evaluate if they sound natural.

7. Check on every detail including the grammatical structure.

8. Rewrite your draft to come up with the best script.

Below is an excerpt of a play.

WANTED: A CHAPERON
By Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero

CHARACTERS:
DON FRANCISCO (the father)
DOÑA PETRA (the mother)
NENA (their daughter)
ROBERTING (their son)
DOÑA DOLORES
FRED (her son)
FRANCISCO (the servant)
PABLO (the mayordomo)

TIME: One Sunday morning, at about eleven.

SCENE: The living-room. Simply furnished. A window on the right. At the rear, a
corridor. A door on the left Sofa, chairs, etc. at the discretion of the director.

When the curtain rises, DON FRANCISCO, about sixty, is seen sitting on the sofa,
smoking a cigar He wears a nice-looking lounging robe. Presently ROBERTING, his
twenty-year old son, good-looking, well-dressed, enters. He wants to ask some. thing
from his father, but before he gathers enough courage, he maneuvers about the
stage and clears his throat several times before he finally approaches him.

ROBERTING (Clearing his throat). Ehem-ehem-ehem!

FRANCISCO (Looking up briefly). Ehem
ROBERTING. -Father-
FRANCISCO (Without looking at him). What?
ROBERTING. Father-
FRANCISCO. Well?
ROBERTING. Father-
FRANCISCO. Again?

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ROBERTING. Well, you see it's like this-
FRANCISCO. Like what?
ROBERTING. It's not easy to explain, Father
FRANCISCO. If it isn't then come back when I'm through with the paper
ROBERTING. Better now, Father. It's about-money.
FRANCISCO. Money! What money?
ROBERTING. Well, you see-
FRANCISCO (imitating his tone). Well, you see-I'm busy!
ROBERTING. I need money.
FRANCISCO (Dropping the paper). Need money! Aren't you working already?
ROBERTING. Yes, but-it isn't enough.

Visit https://upreplib.tripod.com/chaperon.htm for the complete version of the play.

What I can do
Directions: Think of a timely and relevant scenario that you can use in writing a
one-act play. Create an outline, and answer the prompt questions
given. Write your answer on separate sheets of paper.

Story
• What is the play all about?

Type of drama
Theme
Plot
• What is the conflict that the
character has to face?

• What are the series of

events that lead to the
climax?

• How will the story end?

Characters
• Describe using Direct
Characterization

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Setting
• Describe the setting (time,
place, atmosphere)
• Only for one scene

What I have learned

Directions: Fill-in the blanks with the correct words to complete the
idea about One-Act Play. Choose your answer from the
terms provided. Write your answer on separate sheets of
paper.

single conflict complete playwright emotion

One act plays are short plays, but (1) ___________________ stories. They are plays
that take place in a scene and are generally less than an hour long. Percival Wilde
defined one-act play as an orderly representation of life, arousing (2)
___________________ in an audience. Furthermore, Bernard Grebanier emphasized
that a one-act play is an elaboration of a (3) ___________________, significant
incident. The (4) ___________________ has the challenge of creating an engaging plot,
enticing characters, and resolution to the (5) ___________________ in a relatively
short amount of time.

Day 3

What’s More
Directions: Write one scene for one-act play based on the outline you made in What
I Can Do. Remember to apply the various elements, techniques, and
literary devices. Write your script on separate sheets of paper
following the template given.

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One-Act Play

Title
Characters:

Scene:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dialogue

Consider the rubric for scoring.

Rubric for Script Writing

Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
CHARACTERS are believable for the situation. They are well-
developed and have motivations for their actions.
EXPOSITION provides enough background on the characters
and setting for the play to make sense.
Has a CONFLICT that gets introduced in the INCITING
INCIDENT
Tension/suspense increases through COMPLICATIONS in
RISING ACTION.
Has a CLIMAX that is the highest point of suspense/tension or
a turning point.
FALLING ACTION ties up loose ends and possibly shows how
the conflict is won or lost.
The RESOLUTION gives the play an ending.
Formatted correctly:
Includes a title and list of characters
Character names in ALL CAPS at the beginning of the line of
dialogue, followed by a colon (:)
Character names in ALL CAPS in stage directions
Stage directions should be in parenthesis and, if typed,
italicized.

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Day 4

Post Test

Directions: Using a separate sheet of paper, write the CAPITAL LETTER of the
correct answer for each item. Label your paper as Post Test-
Module 1 in Creative Writing.

1. It is NOT a characteristic of a one-act play.

A. One situation or episode is presented.
B. It focuses on one main action or problem.
C. It is brief, condensed, and single in effect.
D. It presents more complicated layers of plot.

2. It refers to a shorter section of a play, usually occurs in one location at a

specific time.
A. Conflict B. Dialogue C. Scene D. Theme

3. It is an INCORRECT idea about stage directions.

A. enclosed in brackets or parenthesis
B. describe scenery, action, and how characters speak
C. guide actors' movements on the stage, called blocking
D. written from the perspective of the audience facing the actor

4. It refers to the author of a play or script.

A. Antagonist B. Playwright C. Poet D. Protagonist

5. It is a piece of writing in the form of drama.

A. Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay D. Script

6. It refers to the exchange of spoken words between two or more

characters in a play.
A. Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay D. Script

7. It is the representation of traits, motives, and psychology of a character

in drama.
A. Characterization B. Plot C. Setting D. Theme

8. It is an example of a direct characterization.

A. She was intelligent and rich.
B. Her luxurious life is envied by many.
C. She bought expensive and branded clothes.
D. She wore a ten-carat diamond necklace everywhere she went.

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9. It is an example of indirect characterization.
A. Cj is a playful kid.
B. Jap is Cj’s older brother.
C. He warned the playmates not to bully him.
D. His mother said that Jap is a role model to his younger brother.

10. All are correct about the theme of a play, EXCEPT

A. It refers to the play’s central idea.
B. It can be identified through dialogue and action.
C. It is the philosophy that forms the base of the story.
D. It always depends on the audience’s understanding after
watching the entire performance.

For numbers 11-15, read the excerpt of drama and answer the following
questions. Write the letter of the correct answer on the paper.

The Dancers
by Alberto S. Florentino

SCENE:
The front yard of a poor family's dwelling on the out-skirts of the city.
The backdrop shows the front of a house: a doorway, a wide low window,
and three steps of adobe stones.
Two long wooden benches, one on each side. Downstage, an old rattan chair
probably salvaged from a nearby dump.
The street is to the left. The sound of children playing can be heard.

JUANITO, a thin gangling boy of 12, still in shorts, sits on the rattan chair, balled
up tightly like a bomb, looking despondently at the children playing in the street.

NENITA, a growing girl of 17, sits on the long wooden bench at right, her unshod
feet resting on it. She is reading a copy of "Pilipino Komiks."

TONY, about 21, in denim pants and t-shirt, enters from the street. He throws
his cap through the window.

TONY: (to Juanito) Why aren't you playing with your friends.
JUANITO: (no answer)
TONY: Hey, what's the matter with you? (he nudges him)
TONY: (he flaunts the wad of paper money before him) Aren't you going to ask
for money today?
JUANITO: No!
TONY: (he raps him on the head) All right, but don't shout at me.
JUANITO: (another grunt)

11. It is the element which is generally described in the scene.

A. Character B. Setting C. Plot D. Theme

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12. It is the only FALSE about the characters in the play.
A. They are orphans.
B. Juanito is the youngest.
C. Direct characterization is used to describe them.
D. The author uses dialogues to reveal their personality.

13. The line, looking despondently at the children playing in the street,
suggests that Juanito
A. was waiting for Tony.
B. was not in the mood to play.
C. was bullied by other children.
D. was not allowed to go out and play.

14. It is the use of stage directions in the excerpt.

A. Use to instruct the actors on what to do
B. Additional details to know the character more
C. Communication between the director and the actors
D. Hints given to the audience as to what will happen next

15. Downstage is the name of this part of the stage.

A. side of the stage
B. middle of the stage
C. closest to the audience
D. farthest from the audience

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Answer Key

What’ In
Characters, Setting, Plot, Dialogue, Theme, Spectacle
(Explanation may vary.)
What I have learned
1. complete 4. playwright
2. emotion 5. conflict
3. single
Note: Answers of other activities may vary.

References
Book

Buhisan, J. & Sayseng, A. (2016). Creative writing. Pasay City, Philippines:

JFS Publishing Services.

Online Sources

An Actors Guide to Stage Directions (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2021, from
https://tinyurl.com/32dbdh57

Guerrero, W. M. (n.d.). Wanted: A Chaperon, Retrieved February 21, 2021,

from https://upreplib.tripod.com/chaperon.htm

Florentino, A. (n.d). The Dancers, Retrieved February 21, 2021, from

http://lheit.blogspot.com/

How to Write a One Act Play and Sample Script (n.d.). Retrieved February
21, 2021, from https://tinyurl.com/j03qrd4k

Danielle, A. (n.d.). A Creative Genre-Study on One-Act Plays, Retrieved

February 21, 2021, from https://tinyurl.com/lrdywszx

How to Write a One Act Play (2018). Retrieved February 21, 2021, from
https://penandthepad.com/write-one-act-play-2123970.html

Playwriting Rubric (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2021, from

https://tinyurl.com/ffgdkeip

Guerrero, W. M. (n.d.). Three Rats, Retrieved February 21, 2021, from

https://tinyurl.com/2he8s4d8

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Creative Writing- SHS (Specialized Subject)
Quarter 2- Module 5: A Scene for a One-Act Play

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things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Development Team of the Module

Compiler: Jaquelen M. Lahoy-Lahoy, TIII, Talamban National High School

Editors:
Marijune I. Torreon, MTII, Abellana National High School
Mary Jane B. Acusar, MTI, Abellana National High School

Management Team:
Rhea Mar A. Angtud, Schools Division Superintendent
Danilo G. Gudelosao, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Grecia F. Bataluna, Curriculum Implementation Division Chief
Norman R. Gabales, EPSvr-English
Vanessa L. Harayo, EPSvr-LRMS

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