English 4340 - Shakespeare Dr. Cynthia Bowers

T/Th 2-3:15 p.m. Phone:770- 423-6133

Office Hours:MW 5-6 p.m., TR 1:30-2 p.m and apt. Office: HU259

website: http://ksumail.kennesaw.edu/~cbowers/ E-mail: cbowers@kennesaw.edu

Description

English 4340 is an upper division course devoted to the study of Shakespeare's life and works. We will focus on the author's career as a poet, playwright, actor, and theatre owner. We will integrate our discussion of the fundamental characteristics of dramatic form (plot, character, action, setting) with the dramatic peculiarities of theatrical production in Shakespeare's time (e.g. the relationship of playhouse and audience, evolution of acting companies, staging and spectacle, etc.). We will also consider different schools of Shakespearean criticism and pedagogical approaches to the teaching of his plays. Finally, we will undertake consideration of 20^th century performance and the recent surge in the production of Shakespearean films.

Methods

The course will employ lecture, class discussion, video/dvd, and Powerpoint. Students will often be asked to "perform" portions of the texts and will present the findings of their research in presentations at the end of the semester. Students are encouraged to use classroom technology in their presentations.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will:

• •identify and define the elements of English Renaissance drama
• •identify the historical trends of English Renaissance drama
• •define the major trends of English Renaissance literature
• •demonstrate competence in multiple forms of oral and written expression, including understanding the writing and revision process; compiling research from primary and secondary sources; create effective presentations; compose and develop writing for a variety of audiences; and, demonstrate proficiency in the use of standard formal academic English
• •know and apply critical theory and research, including: interpreting texts from various disciplinary and critical perspectives; conducting library-based and internet-based research; developing an interpretation based on close reading supported by textual evidence; demonstrate proficiency in using appropriate documentation styles (primarily MLA)
• •understand the development of language in the English Renaissance in terms of cultural, economic, social and historical influences
• •recognize and appreciate the rhetorical and aesthetic value of language; explain and justify the aesthetic value of language
• •demonstrate a global perspective centered on creating respect for differences as well as addressing common problems effecting humanity by demonstrating the ability to perceive events from more than one cultural viewpoint, demonstrating knowledge of and respect for other cultures, and demonstrating an understanding of our own biases and the biases created in the intervening years between Shakespeare's time and our own
• •understand, analyze, and appreciate the impact of cultural power and status indicators on texts by being able to point out, explain, and question the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, and textuality on texts

Required Texts

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Ed. David Bevington. Fourth Edition.

Shakespeare by Stages Arthur F. Kinney

Handouts and Reserve Material

Requirements

1. Because I often communicate to students via email, I ask that you provide me with your email address by the beginning of next week (9/2). I will often send notes and discussion ideas to all students via email. Please feel free to contact me by email with any questions or concerns you may have as the semester progresses.

2. Students will be quizzed at the beginning of the discussion of each play. This will usually mean promptly at 2:00 p.m. Latecomers will not be given extra time to complete quizzes. The quizzes will consist of line identifications. The first quiz will be done in class-everyone earns a perfect score on this quiz! Quizzes may not be made up in case of absence unless previously arranged.

3. Attendance is required. Three or more absences will reduce your final grade by 5 points. Each subsequent absence will cost an additional grade point each.

4. Tardiness is strongly discouraged. It disrupts the class and is rude to classmates and instructor. Please make every effort to arrive for class on time.

5. Students will be required to write one research paper of 6-8 pages. You may choose to write your research paper on any one of the following three topic areas: 1) on Shakespearean pedagogy; 2) on Shakespeare and performance; 3) on Shakespearean criticism. You will need to provide a viable (graded) draft of this paper on Nov 18. The final revision of this paper will be handed in on Dec. 9 regardless of which day you make your oral presentation. Instructions for each of these topic areas is attached to this syllabus.

6. In order to give you all an opportunity to share your research, students will make presentations to the class during the last 3 class periods. The presentations should make use of classroom technology in some way you see fit appropriate to your topic. Further instructions will be provided after the Mid-Term Exam.

7. There will be a Mid-Term Examination and a Take-home Final. The Mid-Term will take the form of objective questions which will be closed-book/notes and a short essay which will be open-book/notes. Students will be responsible for Shakespeare texts, Kinney, all lectures, powerpoints, and handouts. Due date for Final will be announced later.

8. Extra Credit Journal. Students may earn 10 extra-credit points if they choose to keep a journal for each play. The journal must include the following: 1) a "family tree" or organizational chart of the characters in the play; 2) a scene-by-scene summary of EACH scene in every act including setting (an example is included with this syllabus); and, 3) a brief (one paragraph) analysis or commentary on the play's scene structure or dramaturgical relationships. This journal MUST be handwritten, and journal entries will be collected during the class following our discussion for the play in question. (Please note that I have the Cliff's Notes of all these plays!) TO EARN THE FULL 10 EXTRA-CREDIT POINTS, STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE JOURNAL FOR ALL OF THE PLAYS WE WILL BE STUDYING AND BE PREPARED TO HAND IN THE JOURNAL UPON THE COMPLETION OF STUDY OF EACH OF THE PLAYS. THERE IS NO PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THIS JOURNAL. ALSO, THE EXTRA-CREDIT POINTS MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ANY REQUIRED GRADED WORK. ANY STUDENT WITH 5 OR MORE ABSENCES WILL NOT BE AWARDED EXTRA CREDIT POINTS. IOW, YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS (INCLUDING QUIZZES) IN ORDER TO EARN THE EXTRA-CREDIT POINTS!

9. We will attend as a group a performance of The Winter's Tale November 14^th at the Shakespeare Tavern after our study of the play. Tickets are $10.00 for students. The Shakespeare Tavern is located at 499 Peachtree Street in Atlanta. It is a "real" tavern that serves food and adult beverages. Attendance is a required component of the course-one of your papers will depend upon seeing this performance. If you are unable to attend with the class on that date, you will need to make arrangements to see the play on your own. Since this is an extra-class requirement, I will cancel one of our regular class meetings TBA (probably Nov. 16). I am hoping to have someone from the production visit our class during our discussion of the play.

10. Please note: I will not accept late written work except in cases of extreme (and documentable) emergencies.

11. All written work (except the extra-credit journal) must meet accepted standards for academic writing (1" margins; 10-12 pitch fonts). If students choose to include references to outside sources, they must be documented in MLA format. Plagiarism--the use of the words OR IDEAS of another without proper credit--is a form of cheating and will result in failing this course. If you ever have any doubts or questions about proper citation, please see me immediately.

KSU Academic Integrity Statement:

Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement.

• Please turn off all cell phones and beepers during class. Please do not leave class to make a phone call. Please do not use your cell phone for text messaging during class. (Sigh.)

Course Evaluation

The final grade will be calculated as followed:

Quizzes 15 points

Paper on performance of

Winter's Tale 10 points

Midterm Exam 15 points

Final paper components:

Draft (due 11/23) 15 points

Final paper (due 12/9) 15 points

Final paper presentation 10 points

Final Exam 20 points

Please note that each of your assignments is given a point value not a percentage. Your final point total will translate to the following letter grades:

A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 79-70 D = 69-61

F = Below 60

Finally, a syllabus is by its nature rigid and legalistic. If you are having any problems either with the content of the course or with tackling your reading or written assignments, please contact me immediately.

English 4340 - Shakespeare

Tentative Schedule

Please note: the last day to withdraw without academic penalty is 10/18.

Also note: Readings are due on the day they are listed-e.g., you should have read and prepared to discuss the Kinney chapters for class on 8/26.