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English 333

Mary Adams, Instructor

Fall 2019
TR 3:30 to 4:45 in Forsyth 115
Contact Mary Adams: madams (at) wcu.edu or x3929 (email works better)
Office Hours: 2 pm M, T, W, R (Coulter 418)

Objectives Policies Texts Assignments

Note that you are responsible for understanding for all material on this page, and all items marked with an asterisk (*) on the class menu to the left. You will be held accountable to WCU's Academic Integrity Policy, linked at left and explained in its entirety here.

Objectives

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this class, students will have the following skills:

  1. Critical Reading of Primary Texts
    Students will read critically a wide variety of works of Shakespeare, including plays and poems, and gain a new understanding of his language.
  2. Critical Writing About Primary Texts
    Students analyze and interpret in writing those works of English literature using appropriate evidence, conventions, and language
  3. Improved understanding of Shakespeare's age and the context of his work.
    Students will learn about the Shakespeare's audience and his influences. They will read the plays in the context of the political, cultural, scientific, and religious contexts in which they were written.
  4. Rudimentary understanding of theoretical approaches to Shakespeare.
    Students will strive to understand formal, new historical, feminist, eco-critical, and textual scholarship as it perftains to Shakespeare's plays.
  5. Group teaching Activity/ Presentation: one group of 3-4 students will be responsible for a day of activities related to a Shakespearean scene
  6. Some understanding of how to read Shakespeare aloud and perform in a scene, as demonstrated by one group scene performance

P4: Humanities Course Objectives:

Critical thinking Goals: Students will evaluate evidence, context, and multiple perspectives as a means of analyzing complex issues.

Policies

To help you get the most out of the course, I have instituted these policies:

  • Web site: You are responsible for keeping up with the material on the web site. I do not use a printed syllabus, and I update the syllabus frequently, so always hit reload when you access it.
  • Email: My email address is madams [at] wcu [dot] edu. Your WCU email (the one with catamount in it) is the way I contact you. You're responsible for checking mail from that address.
  • Food and Drink in class. You may bring a beverage to class, but no food. You are responsible for cleaning up any mess caused by your beverage.
  • Bring your Books! When class starts, the books should be on your desk, opened. After the first warning, if you are in class without your book, you will get 1/2 of an absence. Note: you will need several books by the second day of class.

Attendance Policy

Studies show that attendance is the single greatest factor in student success.This class meets five times eek, so after three missed classes, you have missed too much to succeed and you should drop (or you will receive an F). This policy doesn't apply to absences for school activities, but it does include excused or unexcused absences; I don't care why you're absent (sick, arrested, job interview, pet emergency, etc.). However, here are some good tips regarding attendance:

  • Don't schedule doctor's appointments during my class.
  • Don't schedule makeup classes or exams for other instructors during my class.
  • Don't shedule rehearsals, trips home, family reunions, or trips to see your significant other during my class.
  • Don't leave my class before it is over or arrive more than 10 minutes after it has begun. I count those as absences.
  • Frequent lateness equals an absence.
  • Try to save your absences for illness and emergencies.
  • If you have a child-care emergency, you can bring you child to class unless your child has special needs that cannot be accommodated in the classroom or unless your child will disrupt or endanger the other students.
  • Above all, find out what you missed and what's required for the next class. You are responsibe for all missed material. Don't send me an email asking me what you missed; ask someone in your group.

I do excuse university absences when I am required to do so (university sponsored trips, etc.) but I expect you to find out from a group member what you missed and do the work you missed.

Digital Incivility

You may use an ebook reader in my class, but please don't use a computer, phone, or laptop for anything else. Turn your phones off and put them away (not in your lap or on your desk). If I discover that you're on Facebook, email, texting, browsing, or using any digital resources except for our textbook, I will mark you absent and ask you to leave.

If you have a disability that requires the use of certain computer tools, please let me know in advance. I reserve the right to check your computer's screen to make sure you're following my policy. If you put it away when I try to look at it, I will assume you are breaking my rules and will mark you absent and ask you to leave.

Recording

No student may record, tape, or photograph any classroom activity without the express written consent of the instructor. Students may not make audio or video recordings of course activities except students permitted to record as an approved accommodation. Recordings of class may not be posted publicly (online or otherwise) or distributed to individuals who are not students in the course without the express permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded

Office of Disability Services

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions.  Students who require reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and/or medical condition and provide current diagnostic documentation to the Office of Disability Services.  All information is confidential.  Please contact the Office of Disability Services at (828) 227-3886 or come by Suite 135 Killian Annex for an appointment.

Student Support Services

Student Support Services provides support to students who are either first-generation, low-income or those who have disclosed a disability with: academic advising, mentoring, one-on-one tutorial support, and workshops focused on career, financial aid and graduate school preparation. You may contact SSS at (828) 227-7127 or email [email protected] for more information. SSS is located in the Killian Annex, room 138.

SafeAssign Tool

All written work submitted for this class is eligible for submission to the SafeAssign tool at the instructor’s discretion.

See Academic Resources Available to you

See Academic Integrity Policy to which you will be held accountable

Texts

  • Flachmann, Michael. Shakespeare from Page to Stage. RENTAL--REQUIRED.
  • Purchase (both are required and will be needed right away):
  • Optional but useful for teachers:
    • Shakespeare Set Free (a series of books put out by the Folger Shakespeare Library).
  • One three ring notebook with dividers--strongly recommended (for your notes, which you will need for reading quizzes and for final exam).

Course Requirements:

Grades will be assessed as follows:

Assignment % of Grade

  • Quizzes 20% (If you miss a quiz, you cannot make it up. I will drop one of the lowest quiz grades). I will give two types of quizzes (you can use your notes for both types of quizzes but no books, computers, phones, tablets, or other electronic devices unless you have a note from disability services saying that you need such a device to take the quiz):
    • Reading quizzes (I will provide quiz guides for these; they will be linked to the syllabus)
    • Lecture quizzes (These will be essay quizzes based on all lecture and discussion material covered since the last lecture quiz. These will not be announced beforehand)
  • Paper 1 and 2 50% due in stages:

    Deadlines:


    9/26

    Bring your first two imagery analyses to class. You can take examples from an imagery analysis sheet if you wish. Be prepared to talk to your classmates about WHY Shakespeare litters his play with this type of imagery. Try to relate it to a central conflict in the play.

    10/3

    Thesis sentence due (hand in on Blackboard by end of day). We will revise these in class.

    10/24

    Hand in revised thesis with textual support. Also, SIGN UP with two peers for a time in my office during Advising week. (Appointments scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

    10/29 thru 11/1

    Upload your PowerPoint under Assignments: Paper 1. Then come to my office at an assigned time with your group members and do a PowerPoint presentation on the imagery in the play. You should be prepared to persuade me of WHY the imagery is used and HOW it makes a statement about a central conflict in the play OR how it comments on a central concern of the time. (Note: presentations will be done with your group members so you can contribute to the discussion of one another's work). ALSO: CHECK YOUR GRADED ASSIGNMENT. I WILL ATTACH SUGGESTED SOURCES FOR YOU TO USE.

    11/7

    Hand in Paper 1 by Midnight

    11/14  sources due

    Choose and read two external source that helps you understand the significance of your image pattern during Shakespeare’s time (note: I will suggest sources for you during your PowerPoint presentation. You should use the source(s) I suggest or consult with me before selecting another). I may email the source to you, or I may attach it to your graded PowerPoint on Blackboard.

     

    11/21 notes due

    Bring me notes from the source I suggested you use. The notes should deepen your insights into the subject of your paper, and they make cause you to revise your thesis. (You can hand in on Blackboard any time before this date)

    12/13

    Paper due by 2:30 PM (Friday) THIS IS YOUR FINAL EXAM TIME

  • 25% Imagery analyses and other short writings including film viewing sheet about Shakespeare's life (These may not be late).
  • Participation 5%, including Discussion board posts.
    TOTAL: 100%

See Grading and Quality Point System

 
Dr. Mary Adams, instructor
last updated 26-sep-19