English 224 - SHAKESPEARE
Summer Quarter 2011
|
Instructor: Steve
Yarborough |
E-mail:
syarboro@bellevuecollege.edu (emergencies) |
|
Office: R230R* |
Phone: (425)
564-3095* |
* I am not teaching on campus this quarter but we can make an appointment if
that becomes necessary. The VISTA/Blackboard and bellevuecollege.edu
email addresses work the best.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an
introduction to Shakespeare as a dramatist. Its aim is to help you read and
appreciate Shakespeare's plays. We'll begin in the first week by discussing
Elizabethan England and the basics of Elizabethan drama. Then we'll do close
readings of the plays, which represent the major genres in which Shakespeare
wrote (comedy, tragedy, history, romance) and which cover the course of his
career.
We'll use Vista's
threaded discussion to talk about the plays. Discussions will be prompted by
your own discussion papers, as well as my observations and questions as we read
the plays. One of the themes I see running through all these plays is power: an
examination of the limits and duties of those in authority, legitimate kinds of
authority, and the consequences of illegitimate uses of power. You'll discover
and discuss other important themes in the course of your reading.
|
TEXTS No textbooks have been
ordered for this course because all of Shakespeare's plays are easily
available on the Internet for free. In the Web Links tool on the left-hand
tool bar, I've posted a link to a website with full on-line texts of all the
plays. If you prefer to read a physical copy, the plays are widely available
in inexpensive paperback editions. I recommend the Signet or Penguin
editions. You'll find them at Barnes and Noble or the University Bookstore,
or you can order them from Amazon. Plays to be discussed ·
Henry IV, Pt. 1 ·
Macbeth ·
Merchant of Venice ·
The Tempest |
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
This English 224/225
course is taught completely online; you are not required to attend classroom
sessions on campus. However, this is not a correspondence course, completed on
your own timetable in isolation. There are specific deadlines, and you
will be communicating with your instructor and classmates regularly.
At the end of this
course, students will be able to:
·
Read and understand the
language of Shakespeare comfortably
·
Demonstrate knowledge of
Elizabethan culture and history
·
Recognize the
differences between early and late plays in order to become aware of Shakespeare's
development as an artist.
·
Follow a systematic
process of analyzing plays and sonnets
·
Make reasonable
inferences on the basis of detail from the reading and lectures
·
Demonstrate insight into
the nature of comedy and tragedy
·
Identify controlling
ideas and themes characteristic of Shakespeare's plays
·
Write papers and exam
essays that express and support an interpretive or analytical main point
·
Work effectively in a
group
·
Assess your own skills
If you signed up for
this course thinking that it would have less work than a course in the
classroom, you were mistaken. Any online course has more writing work than a
class on campus as all of our communication must be written. Please be advised
that the workload may be very difficult for you if work and/or family demands
do not allow you a minimum of two to three uninterrupted hours every
week day to work on the assignments for this class. I have tried to focus and
space assignments to facilitate as many learning styles as possible, but extra
time may be needed.
File: English 224 225 Syllabus Assignments
ASSIGNMENTS
Grading
Discussion Papers (3 at 100
points
each) 300
Weekly Discussions (7 at 50 points per
week) 350
Exams (midterm 100; final 150)
250
Total
900
To figure out your grade at any
time, simply divide the total points you have earned by the total points you
have submitted to that point. I use standard percentages:
94-100% = A, 90-93% =
A-, 87-89% = B+, 84-86% = B, 80-83% = B-, and so on. . .
You must complete all assignments to
receive a passing grade in this course.
The instructor reserves the right to adjust assignments or points as needed
throughout the quarter. Students will be notified when this happens.
READING
There will be a tremendous amount of
reading in this course; we are reading 5 complete plays in only 7
weeks. There is no point value for reading (I can’t exactly look
over your shoulder while you do it) but all other assignments are based upon
the reading. DO THE READING.
DISCUSSION PAPERS
A discussion paper is a short paper that
addresses a question of interpretation about some aspect of our reading. It may
explore possible avenues of approach to the question or propose and support one
or more answers. It is not a a research paper or even
a polished essay, but it must be literate and spelled correctly.
The purpose of this
paper is to provoke a useful discussion. You'll post each paper in the on-line
discussion, and the entire class will discuss it. Writing and reading
discussion papers is a good way to gain perspective on new material and explore
diverse points of view.
If English is not your
native language, don't worry if your grammar isn't perfect. I won't grade
anyone down for grammar mistakes unless they interfere with readers'
understanding of the ideas in the paper.
Due dates are not negotiable. A discussion paper is of
little value if the class doesn't have enough time to respond to it. If you
post a paper late, but within the discussion period, I'll take off points
according to how late it is. A paper that is not posted within the discussion
period will receive a zero.
WEEKLY DISCUSSIONS
Each week, you'll
respond to the ideas in the posted discussion papers. The discussion will focus
on understanding the reading and exploring ideas, not on critiquing the papers. Expect to spend a considerable amount of time reading and
commenting on the discussion.
The purpose of the
discussion is to explore the meaning of the play both within its original
culture and within our own, and to relate the play to the terminology,
assumptions, and critical concepts of dramatic studies.
The on-line discussion
does not take place in a chat room. You will not have to be on-line at a
specific hour in order to participate. However, you must post your responses
early enough in the response period for others to comment on them and for you
to answer back.
The due dates for
discussion comments are not negotiable. If you don't post your comments by
midnight of the day the discussion closes, they will not count for points. But
do go on talking about a topic if you're finding it interesting.
On a separate page
(Discussion Papers and Discussion), you'll find more detailed advice about
writing and discussing your papers.
EXAMS
The exams are
cumulative. The Final Exam will require you to relate current reading to
material covered in the first part of the course.
File: English 224 225 Syllabus Student Responsibilities
STUDENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
Because of the special method of
course delivery, several requirements must be considered.
1.
First, and probably most important,
the student enrolled in this course MUST have a computer and some attendant
software and services, including a word processor (Office 95/Word 7.0 or better
minimum), an Internet Service Provider, and a browser (Netscape Communicator or
Internet Explorer). Perhaps more importantly the student must be familiar with
the use of the above-mentioned items. Whatever web browser you use, be sure to
upgrade to the newest version. If you are not using Microsoft Word to write
your papers, then make sure that your software allows saving documents in Word
format (.doc) as this is the only form I can access. If you are using the
newest version of Microsoft Word be sure to save you files as .doc rather than
the default .docx. Be aware that I do not
teach computer skills; I teach English. I will help if I can, but I am no
expert in computer systems.
2. Always
keep me informed if you have problems with the technology, and I will try to
find help for you. However, I expect that you bring some expertise with you to
help in solving any problems that arise. Ultimately, your computer and Internet
services are your responsibility. If you are signed up for the OAS section and
you have computer problems, you may use the computer labs on the Bellevue
College campus if you have an emergency. Additionally, please read and print
the following linked page to help you if we run into technology problems with
VISTA: Server Problems.
3.
You might occasionally be required
to access audio or video files. These files will be in a format accessible
to most computers with typical software and will be usable even if you have a
slow internet connection. However, you may find it easier to access these
files from a faster system. Of course, if you are near campus, you can
always use the computer lab in the N building—it even comes equipped with staff
to help you out. An alternative would be your local library. Almost
every public library has computers with fast internet connection for your
use. Some will even loan out a laptop for you to use while in the
library. Remember these options any time you experience hardware,
software, or server problems.
File: English 224 225 Syllabus Instructor Expectations
INSTRUCTOR
EXPECTATIONS
As you know, every teacher has
expectations. These are mine.
1.
I expect that you signed up for this
course because you want to learn. In this case, I hope you want to
learn about the the dramatic works of Shakespeare.
Therefore, I expect that you will complete the work I have created to teach you
these skills.
2.
I expect that you have come to this
class with a working usage of modern English grammar and a writing level equal
to BC’s English 101. I encourage you to utilize the Writing Lab's virtual tutor or go to the Writing Lab on campus
for help with grammar or other writing problems. Major grammatical or other
writing errors will diminish you grade on essays and exams.
3.
I expect that you will participate
in all class activities. You must complete every assignment in a timely manner
to pass this course.
4.
I expect that you will take care to
back up your papers and journal assignments on more than one disk and/or store
them on your hard drive AND a disk or other portable media. It is your
responsibility to keep track of this material. If some computer catastrophe
should occur, you will still be responsible for producing the work by the due date
in order to get a grade. Be careful--save and back your work up
regularly!
5.
I expect that you will show respect
to everyone by responding to e-mail and discussion postings in a way that is not
judgmental, degrading, or derogatory. Even though we may disagree with the
interpretations of others, please use some self-restraint and compassion in
dealing with these issues. Logical and questioning responses are encouraged.
Choose your words and the tone of your message with utmost care. I also expect
tolerance for others' abilities and learning styles. Please notify me
immediately if you feel another student has not extended these courtesies to
you.
6.
I expect that you will try, to the
best of your ability, to master the skills taught in this class. According to
the English department at BC, by the end of the quarter, you should be able to:
·
Pose and investigate interpretive
questions about the reading
·
Write short, interpretive papers and
exam essays
·
Recognize and describe major subgenres
·
Recognize and describe the major
literary genres and rhetorical strategies of fiction
7.
I expect each assignment will be
submitted to the appropriate locations and in the manner specified by the date
shown on the specific assignment page and the class calendar. Assignments
submitted after that date will lose 10% 24 hour period that they are late. I
will not accept assignments more than three days late. Do not wait until the
last minute to submit your work to avoid losing points for late work.
8.
I expect honesty. I expect that you
will neither do work for others nor use work done by others. Cheating and/or
plagiarizing will not be tolerated. Plagiarizing is cheating, as is copying
answers on a test, borrowing passages from other papers, swapping papers,
buying papers, using ideas from other sources without proper documentation,
writing papers for others, or having them written for you. BC utilizes a
plagiarism detection software, and I use it for random spot checks. Plus, if I
even remotely suspect your paper is plagiarized, I will submit it to this site.
If you cheat or plagiarize, the following actions will be taken:
·
You will receive a grade of
"0" on the work (no exceptions).
·
A report of the incident will be
filed in the Dean of Students' Office. This report may become part of your
permanent record or the Dean may choose to pursue further disciplinary action.
·
Evidence of
plagiarism may also result in a failing grade for the entire course.
9.
Personal conferences can be held in
my office if you can come to the campus at a convenient time; otherwise, an
e-mail conference can be held. You will NOT be able to just “catch me” in my
office so please contact me first to set up an appointment BEFORE coming to the
campus.