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ENG 2760 ●
Introduction to Shakespeare [O1560]
Winter 2008
Instructor:
John Mitchell
Office:
G 115
Office Phone:
248.522.3688
Home Phone:
248.637.7060
Email:
jamitche@oaklandcc.edu
Class meets in Room G-111 on Tuesdays from 6:00 – 8:55 pm.
Office Hours: Tuesdays: 5 – 6 PM
Mon & Wed: 8-9 AM & 3-4 PM
Required Texts:
Pelican Shakespeare Editions of:
Course Goals:
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Discover the
“difficult pleasures” of reading Shakespeare and watching his works
dramatized
-
Learn about the
importance of the Elizabethan Age for English and American history
and culture and its links with our own times
-
Develop critical
reading and writing skills for interpreting and appreciating
literature
-
Expand vocabulary
by studying the author who contributed more new words to the
language than any other single person
-
Become familiar
with several “schools” of Literary Theory, such as New Historicism,
Marxism, Feminism, Semiotics, and Deconstruction
-
Demonstrate
critical reading skills in class discussion and in written responses
to the plays and poems
POLICIES
Cell phones, pagers,
and ALL other electronic communication devices:
I have a zero tolerance policy.
Keep them out of sight and turned off. No texting, no IM-ing, no
checking messages, or any other usage during class (wait until break).
You will received only ONE WARNING. The second time you violate the
policy you will be dismissed from class, resulting in an absence for
that class AND a zero on one journal grade. The third violation will
result in a visit to the Dean’s Office.
Plagiarism:
is the act of presenting the work of someone else as your own work. I
have no tolerance for this kind of academic dishonesty. If I catch you
turning in work which is not your own, you will automatically receive a
“0” for that assignment and in consultation with the Dean, you may Fail
the class automatically. I will also document the cheating and forward
it to the department chair and the Dean.
Attendance and
Participation:
-
Definition: You
arrive on time, return from break on time, and leave when class is
dismissed.
-
Definition of an
Absence: Not attending, arriving more than 15 minutes late, or
leaving early.
-
Policy: You are
allowed THREE ABSENCES. I do not distinguish between
excused and unexcused absences.
-
Penalties: A
Fourth absence reduces your final grade by one full letter; a Fifth,
will result in automatic FAILURE of the course.
-
If you have used
your three cuts and THEN suffer a major problem (severe illness,
death in the family, etc.), I will, if provided with documentation,
consider excusing you.
Note
on Late Exams & Journals: Assignments are due at the start of class
on their due date. You may email me any assignment as long as I
received it by the start of the class. I will only accept late
assignments for ONE CLASS PERIOD after a due date. So if you fail to
turn an assignment in on a given Tuesday, you will have until the
following Tuesday to turn it in or email it to me. Late assignments
will automatically be lowered by a letter grade.
Requirements:
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Read all assigned
Plays: we will be studying FOUR plays this semester.
-
You are
responsible to get any notes or handouts if you miss a class; I will
not seek you out to provide missed materials.
-
Read ALL of
Shapiro’s 1599. Write the 1599 Journals assigned, each worth
5 % of your grade.
-
Work hard on
answering the essay questions on the FOUR take home exams (details
below) which will each count as 20 % of your final grade.
-
Participate in
class discussion.
Grading Criteria:
Grading Scale:
95- 100 = A
90-94 = A-
87-89 = B+
83-86 = B
80-82 = B-
77-79 = C+
73-76 = C
70-72 = C-
67-69 = D+
60-66 = D
00-59
= F
Notes on Exams:
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Each of the exams
will cover one play and consist of one essay question
-
The exams will be
TAKE HOME, OPEN BOOK, and will be handed out in advance of starting
the play in question
-
Your answers
should be in the form of short essays (introduction, body, and
conclusion); typed and double-spaced; and should be at least THREE
PAGES. Each answer should contain at least FIVE direct quotes from
the play in question. Strong Hint: DO NOT MERELY SUMMARIZE THE PLOT
OF THE PLAY!. Instead, answer the question.
Plan of Action:
1. T 1.8:
Course Introduction. Why Shakespeare? The Biography of William
Shakespeare. Shakespearean Language.
2. T 1.15:
1599 Preface, Prologue, & Chapter 1; Elizabethan England –
history & drama. The Texts of Shakespeare. Dramatic Structure and
Development.
3. T 1.22:
Henry V; 1599 Chapter 2
4. T 1.29:
Henry V; 1599 Chapter 3.
5. T 2.5:
Henry V; 1599 Chapter 4.
6. T 2.12:
Exam One Due; Julius Caesar; 1599 Chapter 5.
7. T 2.19:
1599 Journal One Due;
Julius Caesar; 1599 Chapter 6.
T 2.26: No Class Mid-Winter Recess! But please read
1599 Chapter 7
8. T 3.4: Julius Caesar; 1599 Chapter 8
9. T 3.11:
Exam Two Due; As You Like It; 1599 Chapter 9.
10. T 3.18: 1599 Journal Two Due; As You Like It; 1599
Chapter 10.
11. T 3.25: As You Like It; 1599 Chapter 11.
12. T 4.1:
Exam Three Due; Hamlet; 1599 Chapter 12.
13. T 4.8:
1599 Journal Three Due; Hamlet; 1599 Chapter 13.
14. T 4.15:
Hamlet; 1599 Chapter 14.
15. T 4.22: Exam Four & Reading Journal Four DUE. 1599
Chapter 15 & Epilogue. Exeunt, pursued by a bear!
THE FINE PRINT
ADA Notification –
Assistance Available:
The Individualized Instruction Center (IIC) has tutors available in
all subjects at all levels at no cost to students. Students requiring
special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with
Disabilities Act) may contact the PASS office (248.522.3480), which will
inform the instructor of any special conditions pertaining to their
learning.
Privacy Statement (FERPA):
In compliance with federal law (FERPA), no personal information of yours
will be shared with anyone but you. No information about grades, or
graded materials, will be given to anyone but you, nor will it be given
out by any means other than in person. In certain circumstances, if you
want to request otherwise, you may do so in writing.
Course Description:
(from the OCC Catalogue)
This
course introduces the student to the times and works of William
Shakespeare. Students will analyze selections of his poetry, at least
one history play, at least one comedy and at least one tragedy. This
course may be taken more than once; however, neither ENG 2750 nor ENG
2760 is a prerequisite of the other.
General Education
Attributes:
General education is the
foundation of every student’s program, regardless of area of emphasis,
and is intended to impart common knowledge, intellectual concepts and
attributes. attributes specifically identified for this encourage you:
1.
Develop an aesthetic awareness
2.
appreciate diversity and commonality
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