Drama Units and Activities
Cut-Off Lines...Fade-Off Lines
Unit(s): Acting
Purpose:
To improve the delivery of cut-off lines
Objective:
The students will be able to practice and perform cut-off lines
with believability.
Materials:
Cut-off Lines Scripts (see attachment) one for each student
Procedure:
- Divide the class into partners and hand out scripts.
- Talk about interruptions in real conversations. Why do
they happen? What is the interrupter trying to do?
- As partners, have the students read through the four
scenes together working on each one until it sounds natural.
- Choose students to perform these in front of the class.
Cut-Off Lines...Fade-Off Lines
Practice saying the following lines with a partner until they sound natural.
- First scenario:
- A. I told you that I don't care--
- B. What do you mean you don't care?
- A. I just meant to say that--
- B. Yeah. I just BET you meant to say--
- A. Will you please let me finish? Just give me a chance to--
- B. Forget it. I'm leaving.
- Second scenario:
- A. Oh. You must be the new guy on the job.
- B. Yeah. The boss told me to--
- A. I'm the supervisor on this floor. So if you have any
questions, just ask.
- B. Well, I was wondering--
- A. About the lunch break, right? Well, it's at twelve.
- B. No, actually, I needed to know--
- A. Where the cafeteria is, right? Down on the second floor.
- B. Not exactly, you see--
- A. Well, spit it out.
- B. Where is the bathroom?
- Third scenario:
- A. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do...
- B. You mean at the police station?
- A. Yes, they had all these bright lights and I got all confused...
- B. It's okay. You did the right thing, you know, going down
there and all.
- A. But what if...
- B. What if WHAT?
- A. What if they mistake my confusion for guilt?
- B. No, that'll never happen. You as a murderer?
- Fourth scenario:
- A. Are you all right?
- B. Yeah, it's just that...
- A. Yes?
- B. The weather and all...
- A. Yes, it is pretty hot.
- B. Yes. I was thinking...
- A. Yeah?
- B. Do you think...
- A. Yeah?
- B. Well, do you think...that I could...well...oh, never mind.
- A. What? Tell me.
- B. Well, could I have...well...a bite of your sandwich?
- A. Is that all?
- B. Yeah.
