margaret brown         calamity jane         saws         sailing of the ill-fated steamship titanic   
shakespeare           theatre in st louis       oral communication         anatomy of the theatre
performance workshop I          performance workshop II         world literature          methods of teaching english
writing and performing the 10-minute play
          freshman seminar
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          spring 2008         fall 2008     speech exam directives          10-minute play scripts  


MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS 

course calendar
written work
late, incomplete, missing work
class attendance policy
plagiarism policy
grading
course work and percentage of course grade

reflections on the 8 plays - D2L dropbox
discussions on reflections - D2L discussions

course project
course project choice oral presentation
course project choice paper
course project choice creative

shakespearean productions this semester

SEMESTER/YEAR:  SPRING 2008    

 COURSE: ENGL 221/321.01                 TITLE: SHAKESPEARE

 PREREQUISITE: ENGL 101                 CREDITS: 3

MEEING DAYS/TIME: Tue,Thur  9:25-10:40a

MEETING PLACE: Reid 2314

*******************

INSTRUCTOR: Leah Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences
OFFICE PHONE: 314-529-9409                       OFFICE LOCATION: ABAC 3206
VOICEMAIL: 314-529-9201 + 9409#                E-MAIL: lschwartz@maryville.edu
FAX: 314-529-9965  College of Arts and Sciences office
Web:  http://accweb.itr.maryville.edu/schwartz

OFFICE HOURS 08/sp: TTh 10:45a-1:30p

TEACHER’S CLASS SCHEDULE 08/sp
TTh 9:25-10:40a ENGL 321/221.01 Shakespeare Reid 2314
TTh 1:40-2:55p FPAR 210.01 Performance Workshop I AUD 1423
Th 3:30-5:30p EDUC 579.01 Parkway South High School
Th 6p ENGL/HUM 360.1M Reid 2300 and other locations 15 Mar-3 May
Fri 9:00-11:45a SPCH 110.03 Oral Communication Reid 3327

This course uses Desire2Learn, accessible at http://learn.maryville.edu. Use your Maryville email name and password to access the course. Submit written work as directed in this syllabus on D2L.

COURSE GOAL: To develop an understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare’s work using selected plays and the Sonnets

TEXT: The Necessary Shakespeare, 2nd ed. David Bevington. Pearson Education, Inc., 2005. ISBN 0-321-27250-1

 

THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE ALTERED AT THE TEACHER'S DISCRETION TO MEET STUDENT OR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS.


COURSE CALENDAR

Feb 28 No class (faculty development day)
Mar 1-8 Spring break
Mar 20 No class (Easter break)

 

DATE

READING

REFLECTION D2L Dropbox

DISCUSSION D2L Discussn

25/50 LINES

COURSE PROJECT

LIVE PLAY PERFORMANCE

Jan 15

Sonnets

 

 

 

 

 

Jan 17

Othello

 

 

 

Projects

Report

Jan 22

Othello

 

 

 

may be

briefly

Jan 24

Othello

 

 

 

presented

during

Jan 29

Hamlet

Othello

 

 

any

any

Jan 31

Hamlet

 

Othello

 

class day

class.

Feb 5

Hamlet

 

 

25 lines

during

 

Feb 7

Lear

Hamlet

 

 

the

Last

Feb 12

Lear

 

Hamlet

 

semester.

day

Feb 14

Lear

 

 

 

 

to

Feb 19

Richard III

Lear

 

 

 

report

Feb 21

Richard III

 

 

 

 

is

Feb 26

Richard III

 

Lear

 

 

Apr 22.

Mar 11

MND

Richard III

 

 

 

 

Mar 13

MND

 

 

 

 

Hand

Mar 18

MND

 

Richard III

 

 

in

Mar 25

12th Night

MND

 

 

 

both

Mar 27

12th Night

 

 

 

 

ticket

Apr 1

12th Night

 

MND

 

 

stub

Apr 3

M for M

12th Night

 

 

 

and

Apr 8

M for M

 

12th Night

 

 

program.

Apr 10

M for M

 

 

 

 

 

Apr 15

Tempest

M for M

 

 

 

 

Apr 17

Tempest

 

 

50 lines

 

 

Apr 22

 

 

M for M

 

In-class projects

Last day!

Apr 24

 

Tempest

 

 

In-class projects; papers due

 

Apr 29

 

 

Tempest

 

In-class projects

 

May 1

 

 

 

 

In-class projects

 


Students taking the course for upper division credit (ENGL 321) are expected to produce work of higher quality and sophistication than that expected of students registered for lower division credit (ENGL 221). 

WRITTEN WORK

Written work should be unified and coherent; it must use standard language, spelling, and punctuation.  Standard organizational devices are expected for the 7-10 page paper (introduction with thesis statement; body with main ideas supported by discussion and specific examples; conclusion which reinforces the thesis; transitions between all elements).

All ideas and words not original to you or not common knowledge must be credited using any standard paper style (APA, MLA, etc.). A list of sources is necessary but is not sufficient to clarify the origin of ideas or words in your paper. Please note that the penalty for plagiarism is failure of this course.

All written assignments done outside class (handout for oral presentation; research or analytical paper) must be typed.

LATE, INCOMPLETE, MISSING WORK

Late or incomplete work will be graded lower than work that is complete and on time.  Missing work will cause a minus grade for that portion of the course work (not zero percent, but minus whatever percentage is assigned to that item).


CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to attend, completely, all class meetings.
Students with more than 3 unauthorized absences will receive a lower course grade than their work would otherwise merit.

An authorized absence is defined as a serious personal illness; a family emergency such as a serious illness or death involving a member of the immediate family; jury or military duty; and representing the University in athletics, academic, professional and leadership development pursuits.  Authorized absences must be officially documented.
* MISSING MORE THAN 7 CLASSES WILL RESULT IN COURSE GRADE F.*


PLAGIARISM POLICY (ZERO TOLERANCE)

*ANY INSTANCE OF PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN THE COURSE GRADE F.*

All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who forwards that information to appropriate University administrators.
Students must show copies of any print or electronic materials used for class projects, if requested.
For definition and examples of plagiarism, see http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

GRADING

The evaluation of each class assignment or listed portion of the course work will be specified by a letter grade.  The letter grades indicate a judgment of the quality of the completed assignment.  The letter grades used and their values are listed in the Maryville catalogue.                                   

The highest grade "A," for instance, marks work of exceptional quality which shows understanding of the assignment, the topic, the medium, the context, the background; which shows evidence of a thoughtful organization of ideas, drawing of relationships between ideas, presenting of concrete supporting evidence and discussion to illustrate ideas, knowledge of the appropriate broader context of the ideas; which uses effective and appropriate presentation techniques; which uses effective and appropriate standard language; which shows insight, inventiveness, creativity; which shows sensitivity to the current state of knowledge and information about the topic and contributes to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the topic.

The other grades mark work which shows lesser levels of mastery in the areas listed above.  "B" work is superior, shows some exceptional quality but not in all areas listed.  "C" work is average, may have some exceptional qualities and some deficiencies.  "D" work is of insufficient quality in some of the areas listed and has little redeeming quality in those areas.  "F" work is insufficient in more areas and has no sufficient redeeming quality.

COURSE WORK AND PERCENTAGE OF COURSE GRADE

Reflections on the plays (D2L Dropbox) 40%

Discussion prompted by other students’ reflections (D2L Discussions) 16%

Attend a live Shakespearean performance and comment for the class by Apr 17; hand in program + ticket stub (See list of 5 productions at the end of the syllabus.) 5%

Recite 25/50 lines; the lines may be presented to the class in one block or in segments on several days  (2-fer deal: 25 lines by Feb 5 or 50 lines by Apr 17)  Apr 5%

Course project (D2L Dropbox or class presentation) 20%

Daily participation in class 14%


REFLECTIONS ON THE PLAYS (D2L Dropbox) – 40% of course grade


For each of the 8 plays, write a coherent, economical 250-350 word piece (+ a list of  sources you used) in which you:

-         identify and discuss an aspect of the play (character development, contrast of characters, imagery, use of language, plotting, comparison/contrast with an element in another play, etc.)

or

-         research and give insights about the performance history of the play; or rewritings of the play; or spin-offs in drama, musicals, or films of the play

or

-         discuss a topic about the play or Shakespeare’s work interesting to you but not listed here

Expectations for the reflections:

-         on time

-         clear statement of topic

-         enough specific examples to illustrate the ideas

-         thoughtful, coherent discussion

-         economical writing (to the point, no words wasted)

-         standard grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling

-         evidence of thought to place the topic in broader context


DISCUSSION PROMPTED BY OTHER STUDENTS’ REFLECTIONS (D2L Discussion) – 16% of course grade


For each of the 8 plays, read the reflections written by other students; engage in an online discussion about matters brought up in the reflections.

Expectations for the discussion about other students’ reflections

-         on time

-         standard grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling

-         of some substance or insight, not just agree/disagree

 
COURSE PROJECT – 20% of course grade

-         10-15 minute oral presentation in class (with 1-page handout of facts, not just structure of the presentation + bibliography) on a Shakespearean or Elizabethan topic (see list of suggestions)

-         7-10 page paper on Shakespearean play(s) or poem(s) (see below)

-         creative project (see below)


10-15 MINUTE ORAL PRESENTATION ON A SHAKESPEAREAN OR ELIZABETHAN TOPIC

Make the topic interesting for your audience and pertinent to the course material.
Use effective organization and delivery techniques.
Choose a Shakespearean or Elizabethan topic (see list of suggested topics)
Prepare a one-page fact sheet for an oral presentation; give it to the teacher to duplicate by the class meeting before you present or make copies yourself for the class.

Suggested topics:

1.      Medieval drama – the Chester cycle

2.      Medieval drama – the morality play (Everyman or Mankind, for example)

3.      Stock characters of Commedia dell’arte

4.      The Reformation in England

5.      16th century English grammar school and university education

6.      Elizabethan and Jacobean London theatres – outdoor

7.      Elizabethan and Jacobean London theatres – indoor

8.      Elizabethan sonnet cycles

9.      Plague

10.  Censorship in Elizabethan England (of plays; of published material)

11.  The theory of bodily humours

12.  The “new cosmology”; Ptolemaic vs. Copernican views of the universe

13.  Montaigne

14.  Machievelli

15.  Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1577, 1587; compendium used by Spenser, Shakespeare, and other writers

16.  Spenser’s Fairie Queene

17.  Ben Jonson, poet, critic, and playwright; contemporary of Shakespeare

18.  Christopher Marlowe, poet and playwright; contemporary of Shakespeare

19.  Editions of Shakespeare’s plays (quartos; folios; policies of later editors)

20.  Actors in Shakespearean England; acting companies

21.  Shakespeare’s use of rhyme; of iambic pentameter; of other verse forms

22.  Witchcraft in Elizabethan and Jacobean England

23.  The Wars of the Roses

24.  Masques (elaborate costumed shows for nobility); mummings; the “boy bishop”; the Feast of Fools

25.  Gorboduc, first English tragedy

26.  The Spanish Tragedy, ca. 1587 (Thomas Kyd; revenge play, precursor of Hamlet)

27.  A Woman’s Prize: The Tamer Tamed, 1611, (John Fletcher’s answer to Taming of the Shrew)

28.  The Duchess of Malfi, ca. 1612 (John Webster; horror, gore; in the vein of the classical tragedies of Seneca)

 

7-10 PAGE PAPER ON SHAKESPEAREAN PLAY(S) OR POEM(S)

Suggested paper topics:

Analysis of an individual play or poem

o       Focus on a limited topic such as imagery, characterization, plotting, staging, language, theme, prosody, etc.

o       Focus on the coordination or the inconsistency among several elements such as imagery, characterization, plotting, staging, language, theme, prosody, etc.

o       Production and publication history of one of the plays

·        Analysis of a limited topic in more than one of the plays or poems

·        Analysis of the use of economics or politics (or another non-literature field) in some of Shakespeare’s plays or poetry

·        Don’t report on a single book; don’t write on a strictly biographical or economic or political topic without substantial application to Shakespeare’s work.

·        See 3 of the 5 local productions of Shakespearean plays this semester and write a comparative analysis.


CREATIVE PROJECTS

·        Create a website on a Shakespearean topic for students’ use

·        Create a quiz show on Shakespeare’s plays for the class

·        Costume one of the plays; discuss your rationale for design, color, fabric

·        Design a set for one of the plays; show how the scenes would be played

·        Write an alternative ending for one of the tragedies

·        Write a Shakespearean (English) sonnet cycle (minimum 6 sonnets)

·        Write a one-act comedy using blank verse

·        Place several of Shakespeare’s characters in our era and write their scene

·        Perform a scene from one of the plays (memorized; group)

·        Perform monologue or cutting from one of the plays, with suitable introduction
 

Some Shakespeare links:

Maryville Library databases: Literary Reference Center (EBSCO)    MLA (literature) (EBSCO) Some full-text, some summaries. You can almost always have a copy emailed to you through Interlibrary Loan if full-text is not available online. The process is simple and speedy (a day or 2 usually).

Reference librarians will help you search for articles or get an email copy. Use their services!

NetLibrary.com has 20K books available for reading online. You can copy limited portions of the books. You can keep books on your Bookshelf for easy retrieval later. You can store notes online. To register, invent a user name and password. You must give an email address. MU Library database page has a link, but you don’t have to go through MU to access NetLibrary.

http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/playcriticism.htm
Has several critical articles on most of the plays

http://www.bartleby.com/
General quotations search site; good for Shakespeare


Shakespearean productions in the St. Louis area 08/sp

2 Jan – 3 Feb
Othello

The Black Rep
Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square 63108; 314-534-3807
Check the website for dates and times; the show is not performed every evening during the run listed above: http://www.theblackrep.org/site/
Student rush tickets are $10 with student ID. It’s a good idea to call before you go to find out whether rush tickets are likely to be available that performance.
From the Black Rep website: The Classic story of honor, passion, jealousy and betrayal.  One of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, Othello is a play of love turned bad by unfounded jealousy.  This time, The Black Rep take the plot to New Orleans on the backs of buffalo soldiers.  Shakespeare's remarkable characters are here: Iago the diabolical villain; the noble Moor Othello, his young and beautiful wife Desdemona; and his favorite lieutenant, Michael Cassio.  The Black Rep's production will be directed by Chris Anthony, Education Director of Los Angeles Shakespeare and St. Louis Native.


Note: The production of Romeo and Juliet has been replaced by Clayton Community Theatre with Measure for Measure, the next item on this list.

29 Feb – 16 Mar
Measure for Measure

Clayton Community Theatre at Washinton University South Campus Theater (the old CBC building), 6501 Clayton Rd., Clayton, 314/721-9228
http://www.placeseveryone.org
Student tickets are $15.

7-16 Mar
A Comedy of Errors

St. Louis Shakespeare 314-361-5664
Orthwein Theatre on the campus of Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS)
8p on Fri and Sat; 2p on Sun; 7:30p on Thur 13 Mar
Free preshow discussion at 7p on Sat 8 Mar
Student tickets are $15. http://www.stlshakespeare.org/Productions/2007/comedyoferrors.html

Driving directions to MICDS:

From the North: Take Interstate 270 South to Olive Rd. and head East. Turn right on Warson Rd. The campus is about 1 mile south of Olive on the right side of Warson.

From the South: Take Interstate 270 to Ladue Rd. and head East. Turn left at Warson Rd. and the campus is on your left.

From the East or West: From Lindbergh Rd. at the level of the closed Highway 40, head North. Turn right at Ladue Rd. Turn left at Warson Rd. and the campus is on your left.

Find the Orthwein Theater on the campus map.

10-27 Apr
Measure for Measure

Mustard Seed Theatre Fontbonne University Fine Arts Theatre 6800 Wydown Blvd., Clayton, 314-719-8060, www.mustardseedtheatre.com
April 10 - 27
Performances:
8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday
2 p.m. Sunday
To purchase tickets by phone call 314.719.8060
Tickets; $20 for adults. $15 for students/seniors

10-19 Apr
The Tempest

St. Louis Community College Meramec Theatre
7:30p all dates

28 Apr-18 May
Harlem Duet

Note: This play is not by Shakespeare; it posits that Othello was married to another  woman before he married Desdemona. Include it in your 3 plays for the “Creative projects or 7-10 page research or analytical papers” assignment only if you also include the Black Rep’s earlier production of Othello. Do not use this show for your obligation to see a single Shakespearean play this semester for this course.
Black Rep
Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square 63108; 314-534-3807
Check the website for dates and times; the show is not performed every evening during the run listed above: http://www.theblackrep.org/site/
Student rush tickets are $10 with student ID. It’s a good idea to call before you go to find out whether rush tickets are likely to be available that performance.

 

margaret brown             calamity jane           saws          sailing of the ill-fated steamship titanic   
shakespeare       theatre in st louis           oral communication          anatomy of the theatre
performance workshop I          performance workshop II           world literature              methods of teaching english
writing and performing the 10-minute play              freshman seminar
home 
       spring 2008          fall 2008      speech exam directives       10-minute play scripts