Student name:

Anna S.
Project #:
1
Working version of project title:
Depicting the Lives of Others: Raising Awareness of the Importance of Empathy Great
title

Research Proposal--first draft

1.

State the essential question

How may a performing art be used to demonstrate the importance of empathy within a
population of people affected by a significant event?
Nice
2.

State the primary research question

How can an allegorical play be used to depict the experiences of and effects on a population of
people impacted by a significant fictional event (based upon significant historical events) and what
can an audience come to understand about the importance of empathy after viewing the play?
Nice
3.

State the secondary research questions you have (make sure these are fairly
comprehensive and extensive).

-How can a person be affected by a historical event physically, emotionally and psychologically?
-How can the effects of a significant historical event be accurately translated to the stage?
-How are different people affected by the same historical incident?
-How can an allegorical event be an effective way to show how different people respond to the
same event in order to raise awareness for the need for empathy in our society?
-What do significant historical events have in common? What parts dont they share? How can

studying various significant moments in history come and peoples responses to them help create
an allegorical situation that will allow people understand the importance of empathy?
-How do humans transfer their feelings into words and actions? In what ways are these
manifestations of feelings universal and in what ways can they be specific and personal to an
individual?
-Who can be affected by a significant historical event? Does it have to be a relative or close friend?
Can a person be as distant as a fellow commuter on the same bus/train and still be affected by
said persons sudden, tragic absence?
-What makes empathy powerful enough to promote peace through understanding?
-How does empathy between people impact a community?
-Is theater an impactful vehicle to raise awareness? If so, how can this impact be accurately
documented?
-Can a play promote empathy by depicting the lives of others?
-What is the most effective way to write an impactful play?
-What is the best length (time-wise) for a play in terms of keeping the audience engaged?
-How is a one-actor written play performed and acted?
-Will a one-actor play be effective for what I am attempting to accomplish with my project or will
it take-away from the experience?
-Will other actors be required for the execution of my performance?
-What space is best for my performance?
-Can the surveys that will be given out before/after each performance be digital so that the
audience members can use their phones to complete the survey?
-Will there be an age restriction for the audience members (i.e. only 10yrs old and older?)
-How many shows will suffice in order to collect enough useful information from the audience?

Nice list--and pretty clear that youve thought this out extensively.

4.

Description of what the final product will look like. (Be sure that you are very
thorough here. Take us through the entire process from now until the final
product. If it would be helpful to you, number the steps and proceed through
them through and including your final product. In short: you MUST describe the
process here. This is vital to the approval process on your research proposal.)

1.

My first step is to collect as much data as I can by reading books, scholarly journal entries,
websites, watching documentary DVDs, visiting museums, and conducting interviews.
This data would be focused on how to effectively write and perform a play and then also
on the 4-5 terrorist attacks which I will use for references for my production (9/11,
Boston Marathon Bombing, Oklahoma City Bombing, 7/7 London Train Bombings, and
Plane Explosion over Lockerbie are all possible terrorist attacks to focus on). I would also
reach out to playwrights living in Boston to develop a relationship with them in such a way
that they may help me in the development and writing of my play. My research would
concentrate on how the events listed above affected people individually specifically how
they affected women. Interesting (and good) limitation on the scope of this. Great idea.
Next, I would use the information that I collected to create a realistic fictional event which
draws on similarities/patterns from the events I research. This allegorical event that my
play would be based on would affect the fictional characters in my play and the fictional
location that I choose (again, based on my research). At this point, I would also decide on
the length of the play and also how many characters I wish to include (i.e. whether or not
it will be a one-actor performance).
The next step would be to write the play! I would definitely continue my research
throughout this step while also be looking for venues for the performance to be held.
Additionally, I would be reaching out into the Boston community to contact actors who
would be willing to perform in my show (if I decide the performance would be most
effective with multiple actors).
After I have written the rough draft of my show, I would embark upon an intense editing
and rewriting process which will hopefully involve reaching out to playwrights in Boston
as well as established writers and select average would-be audience members to read and
give me feedback on my work. After receiving all the feedback, I would extensively edit
my essayincorporating the constructive feedback I received.
Next, I would assemble a team of people willing to help me produce and perform in my
play. I envision that I would need a couple technical volunteers to help with
lighting/sound design/set design and potentially a couple of other actors besides myself.
At this point, I would need to have nailed down on (a) space(s) that I could use for
rehearsal and performance.
I would then conduct a first rehearsal where I would pass out a rehearsal and performance
schedule to my team members and get started on putting my play on its feet as they say!
My rehearsal schedule would largely depend on the amount of time I haveif I have a
couple of weeks (2-3) for this, that would be preferred however, it may be possible to

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

rehearse in a little over a week (this would just mean that rehearsals would be longer and
much more intense).
7. On opening night, I would enlist some of my capstone peers (hopefully) to pass out
surveys to the audience before the show. Then, after all the surveys are completed and
collected, I would begin the performance. After the show another survey would be passed
out for the audience to fill out which will hopefully gage the impact that the performance
had on them. Additionally, I will conduct a talk-back after each show that will allow the
audience members who wish to stay to ask questions and give me and others on the
creative team feedback/constructive comments. This talk-back would likely last about a
half an hour after the show. Also, note: I will videotape each performance (or at least 1
show per weekend) just so that I will be able to review my own work and incorporate my
own edits/feedback.
8. After repeating this process at 2-3 shows (including opening night) I would interpret all
the data and responses that I received and use it to potentially change the script or aspects
of the performance to make it better/more effective. I would then conduct 2-3 more
rehearsals before the shows of the following weekend to incorporate the changes that I
decided to make based on the feedback.
9. On the next weekends shows, I would conduct the same survey/talk-back routine and
depending on the amount of time I have at this point I hopefully will be able to repeat the
same editing process (as described in #8) yet again for the next weekend.
10. Three weekends of 2-3 shows will likely be plenty in order to collect the data that I need to
create my TED-Talk-esque presentation I will give on how my show impacted the
audience and raised awareness for empathy.
11. The next couple of weeks (or however much time I have) I will prepare my presentation
(this will include making my infographic, etc.)
12. Next, I will present my data via a TED-Talk-like presentation and I then I will graduate
from High School! Wow!
Exactly! A very comprehensive mapping out of the project. Keep in mind that we will be
asking you to literally map this on a calendar from 11/1 3/31 for the final draft of this. Your
list above shows that you are already well on your way with this.
5.

State how this research will advance the frontiers of knowledge and/or matter
and be significant in a meaningful way.

My research and performance will advance the frontiers of knowledge by promoting empathy to
each audience member in a time where misunderstanding of peoples suffering leads to
carelessness and chaos around the world. I will also discover how different audience members are
affected by my performance which will give insight into the diverse responses of audience
members while also finding out how effective theater is at raising awareness for some important
matter (such as empathy).
Good statement of this.
6.

State anticipated potential pitfalls or problems of this research effort

I anticipate that it may be difficult to gauge the effectiveness of each performance from the

audience because it can be hard to articulate the ways one has been affected by something from a
survey. In the same way, it will be hard to create a survey that will be able to best reflect the
audience's feelings and response to the performance. Also, I anticipate that it may be difficult
finding people willing to be interviewed who were impacted by one of the events (listed above)
especially the London Train Bombings and the plane explosion over Lockerbie since they
occurred overseas.
Both good and appropriate concerns.
Do you know Emma Curren? She lost an aunt and uncle in the tragedy at Lockerbie.

7.

State your a tentative plan to locate and review the literature related to your
project. This includes printed/published sources and online sources. [The
research strategy, part #1]

My plan to locate and review literature related to this project is to take advantage of the Boston
Public Library system (especially the Copley Library) where there are a multitude of sources
available for free regarding both writing plays and the terrorist attacks listed above. I will also look
into the Minuteman library system in Bostons surrounding neighborhoods such as Framingham,
Natick, and Needham if the Boston Public Library system does not have a book or source that I
may need or would be helpful. In addition, I will look online for eBooks available that could help
me in my research and also scholarly journals published online on databases or other websites.
8.

State a tentative plan for research and data collection. (Data collection can take
multiple forms--surveys, test groups, interviews, observations, etc etc. This will
differ from project to project. [The research strategy, part #2]

My plan for research and data collection consists of many different forms. For information on
how to write a play, I would contact the playwrights whom I know and have worked with before.
I will also contact different theater companies around the city of Boston and ask if it would be
possible to observe them in their development work for a new show. Additionally I will contact
any people who might be willing to be interviewed who have been affected by one of the five
terrorist attacks listed above to learn more about how each event individually affected people. I
hope to find people to contact about interviews by contacting museums or other organizations
which may have contact information of people affected. I will also reach out to friends and family
and ask if they know anybody who was affected by one of the terrorist attacks in some way and
gain contact information that way. Most likely, my primary mode of contact will be through email
where with each potential interview-ee, I will describe my project, let them know how they could
help me and ask if they are willing to be interviewed. If email is not a possible way to reach them,
I will call them on a phone or send them a letter in the mail. I will also pass out surveys to each
audience member before and after the show in order to research how effective my performance
was in raising awareness for the importance of empathy. In addition I will hold talk-backs at the
end of each performance for a half an hour after the show to give the audience a way to engage
with the production team (including myself) and give spoken feedback immediately after the

performance.
How will you find the interview candidates?

9.

State a tentative plan for research and data analysis and interpretation. [The
research strategy, part #3]
My plan for data analysis and interpretation is to review all of my interviews after Dragon or a
similar word-to-text software that would be downloaded on my personal laptop or a work
laptop (if provided). I will also review my surveys and either input all of the data manually
or design a way for the survey to be taken on cell-phones and sent to a spreadsheet
automatically. I will also take notes on the books, websites, and scholarly journals that I
read while also take notes on any documentaries I watch or places I visit and review this
data as well. I will organize my data using multiple infographics, scientific graphs (if
applicable), and use any other effective way to organize my data to present to an audience.

9.

List the tools you will need to complete this effort. Identify tools that might
currently be unavailable to you

-Laptop (I have a personal MacBook but I dont have very much storage on it so if I need to use
my personal laptop, I will most likely need an external hard-drive which I do not currently have.)
So price an external hard drive.
-Rehearsal and performance spaces (could be the same space or one space for rehearsals and a
different space for performances). This is currently unavailable to me
-Group of willing technical theater experts or at least amatuer techies Currently unavailable to
me
-Dragon Software (for interviews) Currently unavailable to me
-Video Camera to record each performance Available to me

Make sure you do accurate and specific pricing on all this for your final budget.
10.

Budget: what materials do you anticipate needing for your project? Please
provide a list with quantities and an approximate cost per item, along a brief
description of why you need this for your project. Use the chart below; feel free to
add more cells if you need them.

item

quantity

cost per item

why you need this

item for your
project

Dragon Software
(for Mac)

$149.99

I would need this

item to record the
interviews I conduct
as part of my
research.

Performance Space

Cost dependent
upon who we would
rent this space from
(maybe MassArt?)

I would need this

space for at least 4
and at very most 9
performances

Actors
(maybe)/Techies

3-6 (total)

Dependent on the
budget I will have
available and also
whether or not I can
get volunteers for
this

I would need a
couple other actors
if I discover that I
one actor show
would not be the
most effective way
to spread my
message of empathy
and I would need
techies in order to
work the
light/sound/set
design for the
performance while
also be in charge of
filming it.

11.

Bibliography- early draft. This bibliography must include at least 5 books, 5

scholarly journal articles, 5 websites, and least one potential source who you
might interview. Use proper bibliographic citation (MLA or APA format; your

choice). You are welcome to use EasyBib or refer to the formatting template
created by Purdue University: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ Explain why
you anticipate (at this point) that these sources would be relevant.
Works Cited
Bleiker, Roland. "Art After 9/11." Alternatives: Global Local.Political, Vol. 31, No. 1, Art and
Politics (2006): 77-99. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/40645174?ref=no-xroute:4c0df45be063fde3006409614ec0d07a>.
I will use this scholarly journal entry to investigate 9/11s impact on Art and how in turn
that reflects 9/11s impact on people.
Bodden, Valerie. The Boston Marathon Bombing. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
I will use this source in order to research the Boston Marathon Bombings, the impacts
that the event had on people and on the city of Boston as well. This source will also
educate me on the more factual information regarding the marathon bombing so that I
may study the event itself while also study its impact on people.
Boston Marathon Bombing." Boston.com. The New York Times, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/specials/boston_marathon_bombing/
>.
I will use this website to explore all of the various articles published on Boston.com
regarding the Boston Marathon Bombings. This website will also allow me to see
pictures and read accounts of witnesses published here.
Conkle, E. P. "To a Young Man on the Business of Writing a First Play." Educational Theatre
Journal 3.1 (1951): 49-50. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3203681?ref=no-xroute:5dd526a08c34d4c640fff5f77404352f>.
I will use this scholarly journal entry to research the different opinions of how to write a
play (this opinion will be one of my older opinions).
"Exhibit Walk-through." Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Official Website.
N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?section=12&catid=136>
.
This website will allow me to virtually visit each exhibit that exists in the Oklahoma City
National Memorial and Museum and thus give information regarding the Oklahoma City
terrorist bombings.

Hull, Raymond, and Raymond Hull. How to Write a Play. Cincinnati, OH: Writer's Digest,
1983. Print.
I will use this source in order to gain insight into how I will approach the playwriting
process and also help me avoid some rookie mistakes as I embark upon writing my
play.
Jamison, Leslie. "The Believer - The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison - @believermag."
The Believer. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.believermag.com/issues/201402/?read=article_jamison>.
This article online I will use to give me insight into how empathy can be gauged from a
group of people and how others are executing various projects in order to raise awareness
for empathy.

"Life after 9/11." Fortnight No. 401 (2001): 5-6. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/25560458?ref=no-xroute:d202cd21ee5038db4ca37faeb7f22f52>.
I will use this scholarly journal excerpt in order to investigate how New York City and
its residents recovered from and dealt with the terrorist attack on 9/11.
Muth, Marcia. How to Write and Sell Your Plays. Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone, 1974. Print.
This source will allow me to find out how I will write a play that will engage an audience
and be successful in advertising my play effectively.
Nakonezny, Paul A. "Did Divorces Decline after the Oklahoma City Bombing?" Journal of
Marriage and Family 66.1 (2004): 90-100. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3599868?ref=no-xroute:d1a84beae49535ef7c296e16f5206bcc>.
I will use this scholarly journal article to investigate the social effects of the Oklahoma
City Bombings.
Parra, Angelo. "Playwriting For Dummies." Cheat Sheet. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/playwriting-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html>.
I will use this website to research more about how to write a play.
Poland, James M. "SUICIDE BOMBERS: A GLOBAL PROBLEM." Humboldt Journal of
Social Relations 27.2 (2003): 100-35. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/23524155?ref=no-xroute:fc4d6be7f4b7cf1f3970adee438e7579>.
I will use this scholarly journal excerpt to investigate suicide bombing and how that
practice of terrorism has come to affect our world today.

Rai, Milan. 7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War. London: Pluto, 2006. Print.
This source will allow me to research the London Train Bombings of 2005 and give me
insight into how the Islam faith as well as the Iraq War played a role. I will also be able
to learn about how this terrorist attack affected people and the city of London as a whole.
Thoms, Annie, and Taresh Batra. With Their Eyes: September 11th, the View from a High
School at Ground Zero. New York: HarperTempest, 2002. Print.
This source will provide me with information about how 9/11 affected teenagers who
were very close to the tragic event. It will also allow me to study how these teenagers
articulated their thoughts, pain, and emotions surrounding the event.
Whitney, Craig R. "JETLINER CARRYING 258 TO U.S CRASHES IN SCOTTISH
TOWN." New York Times on the Web. New York Times, 2010. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Flearning%2Fgeneral%2Fonthisday%2Fbig%2
F1221.html%23article>.
I will read this article and use it to research the initial responses and reactions to the
Lockerbie plane crash in order to give me insight and information about the event itself
and also how it affected people on a larger scale.

I plan to interview Andrew Barbato who is a playwright whom Ive worked with living in
Boston to investigate how I will approach my material to make into a play.

Some good stuff here--very interesting sources.

Anna--

Looks so impressive and great. A few concerns: how will you find all the people you need to
interview? WHen wil you do that? And when will you request/schedule interviews?
This promises to be so exciting. We look forward to the final draft.
Ms. F and Mr M