English 431:01 | Mary Adams, Instructor

TR 2:05-3:20

Coulter 303 (note change!)

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FINAL EXAM

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. Oral Presentation and Critical Discussion
   discuss and present, in an informed manner, ideas about or relating Shakespeare and his age.
   

Policies

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

• Absences: You may miss three classes for any reason. These absences include excused or unexcused absences, family tragedies, medical emergencies, or other unforseeable circumstances. After the third absence, I will lower your grade a letter for each additional absence. After the sixth absence, you will fail the course.
  • The only exceptions to this policy: school activities, such as musical performances or athletics, if you have a note from the instructor, and absences because of storms or winter weather, if you live off campus and can demonstrate that you were unable to get here. Please budget carefully.
• Tardiness: Once I close the door, you are tardy. After three tardies, I will mark you down for one absence. If you arrive 15 or more minutes late, or leave early, I will mark you absent. Please arrange your schedule accordingly.
• 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.
• Cell phones, Laptops, and other Electronic Devices in class.
  • Laptops. Due to frequent abuse of my laptop policy, I am going to forbid their use unless you have a documented disability that requires the use of a laptop. This policy also applies to blackberries and other handheld devices.
  • Cell phones: Please turn them off. I will warn the first student whose cell phone rings in class. Subsequent abuses by any student will result in an absence. Few students would be so rude as to send text messages in class. Such students are so insensitive that they only respond to overt public humiliation.
  • MP3 players, Ipods, and other gadgets: Don't be ridiculous! I can't think of anything more rude than sitting in a class with your headphones on.
    
• Academic honesty: Turning in work not your own will result in failure for the paper without the opportunity to revise and may also result in failure for the course. I will also place a letter in your files and make a formal report to the Head of the English Department and the Dean of Student Affairs.
  
• Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities. Students who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services. All information is confidential. Please contact Disability Services for more information at (828) 227-2716 or 144 Killian Annex.

Assignments:

• Read Shapiro's 1599: A year in the Life of Shakespeare. We are reading this entire book during the semester. It is long, but is is very readable. The book and its bibliographical essay in the back will provide the basis for several of the presentation topics. If you get this book out of the way early, your semester will be easier later on.
• Quizzes: I will give frequent unannounced quizzes at the beginning of class on the reading due for that day. These may be on the reading or the introductory material in the Norton. You may use your notes, but you may not refer to the textbook.
• Imagery Analysis or Reading Sheets (RS): These are due the Friday after we finish each play. Hand these in online (email them as an attachment). No journals will be accepted late. No ungraded journals will count towards your final grade. You cannot do well if you don't do these reading sheets.
• Paper: Students will do one 7-10 page paper during the semester. I will require a thesis first, then a rough draft, and then a completed draft. All parts will receive a grade. I will not accept the final paper without the additional parts attached.

Texts

• Greenblatt, Stephen, et. al., editors. The Norton Shakespeare: Based on the Oxford Guide. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997. RENTAL--REQURIED.
• Purchase: Shapiro, James. 1599: Year in the Life of Shakespeare. Harper Collins ISBN 0060088745. Buy Used on Amazon. REQUIRED.
• Wells, Stanley, and Lena C. Orlin. Shakespeare: An Oxford Guide. New York: Oxford UP 2003.
• One three ring notebook with dividers--strongly recommended (for your notes).

Requirements:

Grades will be assessed as follows:

Assignment % of Grade Word Count

• Paper 1: due in stages (20)%
• Midterm 10%
• Final exam 15%
• Quizzes 25%
• Reading Sheet Entries: 20%
• Participation 10%

TOTAL: 100%