Dr. Jim Ford
Shakespeare
jford@rsu.edu
ENGL 4223R
Office: Baird Hall
101A
Spring 2012
Office Phone: (918)
343-7749
ONLINE
1-2 TR; 9-noon F;
and by appointment.
“Analysis of a
selection of Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies, histories, sonnets, and other
lyric poetry. Selected criticism, 1600 to the present. Historical background and
Shakespeare’s theater”
(RSU Bulletin 2011-12, p. 172).
Our primary
objective is to read, discuss, and enjoy as many of Shakespeare's plays and
poems as possible. By the end of the course, every student should be able to:
1. Articulate the
essential features of each genre (sonnet, comedy, tragedy, history).
2. Analyze
Shakespeare's works in terms of character, scene, passage, and genre.
3. Formulate an
individual interpretation of a particular play.
4. Evaluate various
interpretations of Shakespeare's work.
Shakespeare,
Complete Pelican Shakespeare. Penguin
2002.
Available at the RSU
Bookstore in Claremore. Please have the book before the class begins.
This course will
emphasize discussion and writing. Each week we will be reading a play (or poems)
by Shakespeare. This is an upper-division seminar: the point of this course is
to read Shakespeare closely and discuss him together.
Always do your own reading, thinking,
and writing. This course does not involve research (unless otherwise noted),
and your work should be based on your reading and reflecting on Shakespeare's
works. When a play is listed for a particular week, that means the play should
be read by the beginning of that week (when two weeks are given, specific
readings will be detailed online).
There will be three
critical essays (1000 words long), a project, and a final exam. Each essay is
worth 10% of your final grade. All papers must be typed and double-spaced.
Unexcused late work will be penalized 20% per day. All essays are due by 6 p.m.
on the respective due date, as listed in the course schedule below. Further
details on the nature of these assignments will be posted online.
Every student will
be complete a project during the semester and present that project to the class
the final week of the semester. This project is 20% of your grade, and the
presentation another 5% of your grade. For this project, you have three basic
options. Option one is to plan a production of a Shakespearean play (one that we
read), including such topics as staging, directing, casting, costuming, editing,
etc. Option two is to compare two key characters (from two different plays that
we have studied). This is a much fuller treatment of the character analysis
paper that everyone will complete. Option three is perform a short scene of your
choosing from one of the plays that we studied. This could be a long monologue
or a scene with another performer (or performers). In this case your paper will
detail your interpretation of that scene and your motivation in performing it.
You may also devise another project of your own choosing, but all choices
must be approved by the professor. Your project will include a 5-6 page
essay describing your project, why you chose it, and what you learned. Your
presentation should be a 5-7 minute summary of the project (in the case of
option three your performance will be your presentation). Feel free to include
any photographs, artwork, or music with your project- be creative.
Further information on these projects
will be given in class.
Every student’s
final grade will be earned via the
following:
Papers
30% (each paper=10%)
Exam
20%
Participation
25%
Presentation
5%
All
student work will be judged according to the following academic criteria:
PARTICIPATION
This course requires regular and
constant participation. You must participate fully in each week's lesson, just
as if your attendance were required at a weekly class meeting. The only
difference is that our participation is asynchronous, which is to say at
different times. You are free to post as convenient, provided that you do so
before the posted deadline each week (usually Saturday at 6 p.m.).
GRADING SCALE
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
Students are
expected to follow university policies as put forth in the institution’s
Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct. In accordance with Title 12 of
The Student Code (page 11), instances of alleged academic misconduct will
follow the policies and procedures as described in Title 12. As a general rule,
Faculty at
Note especially RSU’s official plagiarism statement:
“Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s
own, including: direct quotation without both attribution and indication that
the material is being directly quoted, e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase without
attribution; paraphrase with or without attribution where the wording of the
original remains substantially intact and is represented as the author’s own;
expression in one’s own words, but without attribution, of ideas, arguments,
lines of reasoning, facts, processes, or other products of the intellect where
such material is learned from the work of another and is not part of the general
fund of common knowledge.” Deliberate plagiarism and/or other forms of cheating
are grounds for failure in the course as a whole.
NON-ACADEMIC
MISCONDUCT
In order to maintain
an effective learning environment, students are expected to fully comply with
The Student Code. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. It is the
responsibility of each student to read and become familiar with the policies of
The Student Code.
Rogers State University is committed to providing students with disabilities
equal access to educational programs and services.
Any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require
some form of academic accommodation must inform the professor of such need
during or immediately following the first class attended.
Before any educational accommodation can be provided, it is the
responsibility of each student to prove eligibility for assistance by
registering for services through Student Affairs.
My office hours are listed above. Please feel free
to come by, call, etc., during those hours. If that doesn’t work, I would be
happy to schedule an appointment at another time. Communication by email is
especially welcome (moderation in this, as in all things...).
Finally, realize
that it is not unusual for a course like this one to raise challenges to and
doubts about some of our most cherished beliefs. It is important that each of us
is sensitive to the views of those around us. At the same time, each of us
should also be aware that controversial issues, arguments, and positions will be
discussed in this course. If something bothers or offends you, let me know and I
will do what I can.
“Why, thou owest God
a death" -Prince Hal, Henry IV Part One
(5.1).
Week One: Jan 9
Introduction and Sonnets
Week Two: Jan 16
Shakespeare's Comedies; A
Midsummer-Night's Dream
Week Three: Jan 23
Second Comedy (Reader's Choice)
Week Five: Feb 6
Henry IV, Part One
First Essay Due Friday, Feb. 10
Week Six: Feb 13
Henry IV, Part One
(continued)
Week Seven: Feb 20
Henry V
Week Eight: Feb 27
Shakespeare's Tragedies; Julius
Caesar
Week Nine: Mar 5
Hamlet
Second Essay Due Friday, Mar.
9
Week Ten:
Mar 12
Hamlet (continued)
SPRING BREAK: Mar
19-25
NO CLASS—work on projects
Week Eleven: Mar 26
King Lear
Week Thirteen: Apr 9
Macbeth
Week Fourteen: Apr 16
Shakespeare's Romances;
The Tempest
Week Sixteen: Apr 30
Project Presentations; Final Exam
This schedule may be
revised as necessary during the course of the semester.
-Prospero,
The Tempest (5.1).