Southern Nazarene University, Spring 2002
Objectives|
Texts & Helps|
Assignments|
Grading|
Overview|
Policies
Objectives
1. A primary objective of this course is to expose you to a variety of Shakespeare's plays, reflecting various genres and periods of his career.
2. This course will also raise questions about the characteristics, development, and influence of someone deemed by the literary community to be a "great writer." Specifically, we will explore
3. We will also ask questions about how the format in which a play is presented (written, performed, filmed, etc.) affects its readers/viewers.
4. Finally, several course objectives are rooted in the liberal arts tradition:
Texts
THE BEDFORD COMPANION TO SHAKESPEARE, ed. McDonald. (small and jam-packed with helpful background materials)
SHAKESPEARE: A RESEARCH GUIDE, ed. Bergeron and De Sousa. (a reference and research guide to Shakespeare scholarship)
For Shakespeare texts and reading helps on the Internet, see Helps.
Assignments
Electronic Discussion. On 10 of the weeks so noted on the course schedule, you should make a series of posts to the class discussion board on the Blackboard course site. Post no later than Friday noon on week of scheduled play discussion. Posts are worth 2 points each (as long as they represent a thoughtful, developed discussion of the topic--no credit for "dittoing" or merely stating that you agree with someone else's thinking without explaining why). These points will be forfeited if you are not present at the related class period.
Class Exercises. For each of the 10 Bedford chapters assigned there will be an accompanying in-class exercise, usually on a Tuesday. You are expected to prepare before class by completing assigned Bedford readings. Class exercises are worth 1 point each; they made not be made up if missed.
Papers. You will write 6 short (3-5 page) papers during this class, using the list of paper types provided and following these guidelines: pick at least one paper requiring analytical/interpretive approaches--passage, opening scene, character, key word, subplot; at least one paper requiring some research--influence, source, criticism, text, context; and at least one paper emphasizing creative responses to Shakespeare--design, scene, adaptation, film. Paper due dates are noted on the class schedule. For each due date you may select a focus and topic of your choice, provided that you comply with the guidelines over the course of the semester. Some sample papers will be provided for you to consult as you wish. English majors will make substitutions for some of these short papers. All English majors will complete a bibliographic essay in lieu of 2 of the short papers. In addition, English majors headed for graduate school should substitute 1 long (8-12 page) critical paper for 2 of the short papers. Papers should be written in MLA style (including any references to electronic sources. All papers must be submitted electronically through the Digital Drop Box on the class Blackboard site (NOT via personal e-mail). Paper appendices that require hardcopy (sketches, exhibits, etc.) may be handed in during regular class periods. The best papers will be recognized by publication on our class Internet site
Bibliographic Essay (English majors only). English majors should select a specific play on which to research criticism from the past 10 years. You are free to choose a play not included in the class reading schedule if you wish. Your research should attempt to fairly represent trends and proportionate emphases in the criticism and should primarily focus on books and journal articles of a scholarly nature (Internet sites from academic institutions are acceptable, but should not constitute more than 40% of your citations.) You will be expected to make full use of the library's electronic periodical access and Inter-Library Loan services in locating materials for this essay, so start early. Your completed essay must be submitted via the Digital Drop Box on the due date(s) as noted. Outstanding bibliographic essays will then be posted to the class webpage. At least one question on the final exam will require all class members to have read and ruminated about the critical trends illuminated by these bibliographic essays. A sample bibliographic essay on A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM from fall 1998 is available.
Project. By the second week of class, you will sign up to become part of an ongoing class partnership (2-4 people) that will engage in a major class project. Your partnership will engage in a specified project and report written results to the class. These results must be submitted to the professor electronically in wordprocessed or HTML format by the specified due date. Projects will then be presented to the class at the last class period via handouts, overheads, or a Powerpoint presentation. All partners should participate in the project presentation in order to receive full credit. Project grading will include group self-evaluation.
Final.
The final examination is in take-home essay format. This exam will give
you an opportunity to summarize and integrate what you have learned throughout
the course. You should look at the final
exam questions frequently throughout the semester, make notes, and
perhaps even draft partial answers. We will have a brief discussion of
your answers during the time set aside for the final exam in this class.
Grading
Grade
weights
| Assignment | Quantity | Percent of Course Grade | |
| Participation | 10 electronic discussion weeks for play (2 pts. each) & 10 class exercises for Bedford (1 pt. each) | 20% | |
| Papers | 6 short papers (15 pts. each)
ENGLISH MAJORS
|
60% (short papers = 10% each) | |
| Group project | 1 group project (15 pts.) | 10% (includes group self-rating) | |
| Final | 1 take-home exam (15 pts.) | 10% |
Point values awarded for each assignment will appear in the Blackboard gradebook. On individual assignments worth 15 points, this scale will be used: 15 (A+), 14 (A), 13 (A-), 12 (B+), 11 (B), 10 (B-), 9 (C+), 8 (C), 7 (C-), 6 (D+), 5 (D), 4 (D-), 3-1 (F). Final grade determinations for the course will be based on cumulative points using this scale: A = 142 and above, A- = 141-32, B+ = 131-121, B = 120-111, B- = 110-101, C = 100-96, D = 95-49, F = 48 and below.
Overview
Due dates for the papers, projects, and final examination are posted on the course Blackboard site and available in a convenient overview.
Policies
It is imperative to make note of the following course policies.
Attendance. You are responsible for all material covered in class and all assigned reading. It is your responsibility to find out what you
have missed. Absences do not invalidate or affect due dates! You must be present to receive the class exercise and electronic discussion points associated with each class session. In-class work may not be made up if you are absent.
Legitimate absences explained satisfactorily
in writing by relevant authorities may be marked as "excused" so they do
not penalize your grade. I reserve the right to make this determination
and to lower your final course grade or drop you from the course if you
accumulate more than 4 or 6 absences respectively during the semester. If you accumulate as many as four absences, I will
assume that you wish to withdraw from the course and I will act accordingly.
Tardies. Chronic and/or egregious tardies may result in forfeit of that week's class exercise and electronic discussion points.
Late Work.
All work is due on the scheduled due dates unless otherwise specified (this includes
Digital Drop Box submission of assignments). Allow yourself an emergency
cushion when submitting assignments electronically. There are no extensions
or makeups on in-class exercises. Papers will ordinarily not be accepted,
and exams will ordinarily not be given, late. To qualify for an exception
to this rule, you must be a student with a history of responsible class
attendance and assignment submission and you must follow the guidelines
laid out here. If you have an incapacitating illness or major unforeseeable
emergency that prevents you from coming to class on the day an exam is
scheduled, you should notify me by telephone or e-mail before class meets
that day. (Exams taken late may substantially differ from the original
test and will be graded holistically as the professor's time permits.)
Apart from this provision, no makeup work will be accepted or exams administered
after their original due date without a personal letter from a doctor,
judge, or archangel. (NOTE: Special permission is required from the Academic
Vice-President for taking the final exam at any other time than the scheduled
period.) If you are violently ill or have a serious family emergency on the day
of your scheduled group presentation, call me ahead of class time to discuss arrangements that will not penalize the others in your group.
Electronic Submission & Publication.
All written work for this course must be submitted through the course Blackboard site, electronic posts through the discussion feature and papers through the
Digital Drop Box. For your protection and for efficiency in grading your work, I will not accept work submitted via personal e-mail or in hard copy. I may ask
you individually if you would give permission for some of the best writings
from this class to be published on the class Blackboard site or on the World Wide
Web. If you wish to specify that your initials be used instead of
your name or, that you wish your work to appear anonymously, I will be
happy to comply. I will not publish your materials on the Intranet
or WWW without your permission.
Computer problems. Plan your work with enough of a time cushion that you can compensate for computer emergencies, full labs, etc. If you are having problems figuring out what to do, call the SNU Help Desk at 491-6396. Always back up your work! You would be well-advised to print out a hard copy of
each piece of work you submit electronically, with the date, time, and place of
submission on it. Should your electronic work get lost, you can turn in this hard
copy as proof you did it. It is your responsibility to insure that you keep
copies of all work submitted and in progress. For your own protection,
back up all electronic work (you can turn backups
in if the original gets "lost" or the network unexpectedly goes down).
You cannot receive credit for lost work.
Minimum requirements. To pass this course you must complete the final exam and receive passing grades on all major papers.
Academic honesty. As a common courtesy and obligation within the community of scholars, you are responsible for judicious and accurate attribution of sources in any research
and documentation connected with all assignments for this class. This applies equally to material submitted in electronic form, using electronic sources, and potentially published on our class web site.
While joint ideas may
emerge out of collaborative work (in review for tests and in group presentation
assignments), the development and articulation of those ideas should be an individual
venture. You are also expected to be familiar
with and avoid all forms of violations of academic honesty known as plagiarism.
Please note that in this electronic age, plagiarism is also defined as
misuse of materials found on the Internet (including the World Wide Web,
list servs, usegroups, and e-mail). Any copied or plagiarized work will
be assigned an "F" and may result in your failing the course. I expect you to review and abide by the spirit and letter of the SNU
Academic
Integrity and Computer Ethics policies.
Disability. If you have a disability that may need accommodation, I strongly encourage you to contact the Academic Services Center (491-6694) as soon as possible.
Incompletes. You should not plan to bail yourself out at semester's end by taking an incomplete in
this course. In most cases an incomplete is not a viable option. To request an
incomplete, you must write a petition, which must first receive my approval, then that
of the English Department Chair, then that of the Academic Vice-President. (This is
too much red tape for anyone to go through without an exceptional reason.) You
should know that I will not give my approval to any petition in a case of flagrant,
irresponsible absenteeism.