Syllabus for
Syllabus for
Graduate students
taking this course for 5000-level credit must fulfill all undergraduate
requirements, which appear in regular type, as well as graduate requirements,
which appear in italics.
Instructor: Dr. John Mercer, Professor of English, Department of Languages and Literature, College of Liberal Arts, Northeastern State University
Mailing address: NSU-BA, 3100 E.
Office:
G-280
Office
phone:
Office hours (all times are p.m.
unless labeled otherwise): Mon. 11:30 a.m.-12:50, 3:50-5:30; Tues. & Wed.
3:00-4:20, 7:20-7:40; Thurs. 5:50-7:10, 10:10-10:30
Fax for faculty in Building G:
Mailbox: Box 4 in G-261; give items to staff assistant in hallway G-267.
E-mail: mercer25@cox.net or mercer@nsuok.edu
Instructor’s faculty Web page: http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~mercer
Alternative path to Web page: www.nsuok.edu > Academics > Faculty
Web sites > Mercer
E-MAIL POLICY:
(1) All e-mail sent to my NSU address is automatically forwarded to my Cox address, so it is not necessary or helpful to send the same message to both addresses.
(2) Please do NOT submit a completed assignment by e-mail unless I specifically ask you to do so or unless it is the only way you can submit it on time. If you must submit a completed assignment by e-mail, send it by attachment, but also submit it in hard copy (to me, my office, my mailbox, or by fax) at your first opportunity.
(3) If you e-mail a rough draft for feedback, cut and paste it into a message; do NOT use an attachment.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
“Consideration of the major tragedies.” [No
prerequisites.]
COURSE PURPOSE: This course
counts as an upper-division English elective for a B.A. in English or English
Education or a minor in English. It covers eight of Shakespeare’s ten tragedies.
A separate course covers selected
comedies and history plays by Shakespeare.
The graduate course counts toward
an M.A. in English and other NSU master’s degrees.
EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES: By the end of this course you should be able to
(1) Identify facts relating to the historical background of Shakespeare's life, times, theatre, and text.
(2) Demonstrate knowledge of the plots and characters of the tragedies studied in the course.
(3) Identify and analyze the forms of poetry and prose used in the tragedies.
(4) Identify and analyze characteristics of Aristotelian tragedy and of Shakespearean tragedy.
(5) Identify positive effects of reading and viewing tragedies.
(6) Critique and compare film versions of Shakespeare’s tragedies.
(7) Write well-developed essays analyzing elements in Shakespeare’s tragedies and integrating examples from several plays.
(8) Write in MLA form a graduate-level research
paper explaining how Renaissance texts in an assigned casebook enhance your
understanding of Macbeth.
INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS:
(1) Textbook:
Evans, G. Blakemore, et al., eds. The
(2) Additional text for graduate students: Carroll,
William C., ed. Macbeth: Texts and
Contexts.
(3) For multiple-choice portion of exams: two (2) Scantron forms and #2 pencil.
MANUSCRIPT FORM FOR DOCUMENTS: Write all out-of-class assignments on
computer. Follow the instructions in
“Computer Format and Manuscript Form” at the top of my home page under
“Documents for All Classes.”
DOCUMENTS ON CLASS
DAILY AVERAGE: Your daily average will be the percentage of possible points you earn for quizzes, study guides, video critiques and comparisons, and late attendance.
(1) QUIZZES: At the beginning of each class period, after you have had an opportunity to ask questions, you will be subject to a quiz on that day’s assigned reading. To take quizzes, you must be present in class; you cannot make up missed quizzes for any reason. At my discretion, if a significant number of students are absent because of bad weather, the quiz may count as extra credit.
(2) STUDY
GUIDES: The first week each play is assigned, you are expected to answer enough
study guide questions to earn five (5) daily points. Fully answering all questions on a single
study guide could be worth ten (10) or more points. If a play is assigned for a second week, you
are encouraged but not required to submit answers for any questions not
answered in class the previous week.
Additional study-guide points you earn beyond those required will help
compensate for any other daily points you may miss during the semester. Answers to any study-guide questions marked extra credit should be submitted separately
from your other answers.
(3) VIDEO CRITIQUES AND COMPARISONS: Because plays are meant to be seen rather than merely read, and because we do not have time in class to watch complete films of plays, you will watch videos out of class and write critiques and comparisons of them. Follow the instructions in “Writing a Video Critique” and “Writing a Comparison of Two Videos” on the class Web page. Submit critiques and comparisons in class in hard copy rather than by e-mail. If, however, the only way you can submit a critique or comparison on time is by e-mail, please send it by attachment by 7:20 p.m. on the day it is due, and give me a hard copy the next time you are on campus.
(4) LATE
ATTENDANCE: As an incentive to be
present for the entire class period, you will receive five (5) quiz points if
you are present at the end of the class period at
STUDY GUIDES: A comprehensive study guide for each assigned play will be posted on the class Web page at least one week before the play is assigned. Please use each study guide as follows:
(1) As you read each play, read the study guide in hard copy or on your computer screen, and look for the answers to the questions.
(2) To receive daily points, before you come to class, answer as many of the questions as you can. Copy and paste the text of the study guide into your own document, and insert your answers in boldface, highlighting, or color so they will stand out from the questions and explanatory material in the study guide. At the top of each study guide you submit, report the amount of time you spent answering the questions, not including time spent merely reading the assigned play.
(3) Bring to class a hard copy of your study guide with your answers inserted.
(4) In class ask about any study guide questions you can’t answer and, if you wish, make handwritten additions to your study guide.
(5) At the end of each class period, submit your study guide. I will assign daily points to your answers and return your study guide to you the following week.
(6) If you are not able to attend class but have a study guide to submit, please leave it at my office the next time you are on campus. Do NOT submit study guides by e-mail.
EXTRA-CREDIT DAILY POINTS: You may earn an unlimited number of extra-credit daily points for answering study-guide questions (beyond the five [5] points required per play) and up to twenty-five (25) extra-credit daily points for other activities. Your daily average, however, cannot exceed 100%. The deadline for submitting extra-credit work is Wednesday, December 10 (the last day of classes before student study days and final exams).
When you prepare to submit extra-credit work, carefully follow the instructions in the document “Extra-Credit Submissions” on the home page of my faculty Web site under “Documents for all classes.” Of the various ways to earn extra credit that are discussed in this document, the following apply to this class:
(1) PERFORMANCES:
In addition to the videos you are required to view in order to write critiques
and comparisons, watch Shakespearean tragedies and other approved, relevant
performances on stage, film, television, video, or
(2) CLIPPINGS AND INTERNET MATERIAL: See “Extra-Credit Submissions” on my home page.
(3) RECOMMENDATION
OF
(4) ADDITIONAL
(5) ANALYSIS: See “Extra-Credit Submissions.”
(6) RESEARCH: See “Extra-Credit Submissions.”
(7) CREATIVE WRITING: See “Extra-Credit Submissions.”
OPTIONAL ACTING SCENE, MONOLOGUE, OR RECITATION: If you successfully complete this optional
assignment, 1-3 points will be added to your final course grade. To give you the experience of memorizing
and performing or reciting Shakespeare’s lines, you are encouraged to participate
in one of the following live performances:
(1) Participate
in a memorized in-class acting scene with one or more classmates. Each
participant should have at least 30 lines.
(On the class Web page, see “List of Acting Scenes.”) If possible, perform the scene when we are
studying the play in class, and no later than Nov. 20. Let me know in advance what scene you have
chosen and when you plan to perform it in class.
(2) Memorize
a monologue of at least 30 lines. (On
the class Web page, see “List of Monologues.”) First recite it to me in my office; then
perform it in class. If possible, perform the monologue when we are studying
the play in class, and no later than Nov. 20. Let me know in advance what monologue you have
chosen and when you plan to perform it in class.
(3) Memorize at least 45 lines from one or more assigned tragedies (see “List of Monologues,” or choose lines on your own), and recite them to me in my office. To avoid penalty, recite at least 15 lines by Sept. 25, 15 by Oct. 30, and the remaining 15 by Nov. 20. Schedule an appointment for each recitation.
Recorded performances will not be accepted. I will use the document “Evaluation of Acting Scene” from the class Web page to evaluate your performance. As described in this evaluation, you must submit a written response no more than one week after you complete your performance or final recitation. When you perform, please give me (a) the evaluation document and (b) a script of your lines (photocopied from one of the two books of acting scenes or photocopied from the textbook, NOT typed by you). For best results, follow the suggestions in “Enhancing Your Performance in an Acting Scene, Monologue, or Recitation” on the class Web Page.
RESEARCH PAPER: For graduate credit, write a research paper of
six (6) to eight (8) pages, not counting the works-cited page, explaining how
the readings in Macbeth: Texts and Contexts inform, enrich, and/or
change your understanding of the play. Make specific references to the play
itself and to at least seven (7) primary sources from the casebook. If
possible, also include relevant sources from outside the casebook. Format and document the paper in MLA style.
Use the documents “Computer Format and Manuscript Form” and “Checklist for
Research Paper on Texts and Contexts” from the class Web page.
LATE
You must be present for the midterm
and final exams. If you cannot take an exam at the scheduled time, to avoid
penalty (see above) you must make other arrangements with me in advance, or in
case of emergency, leave a message on my voice mail.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: In this
class academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating on any
assignment, submitting work that is not your own, copying the exact words of a
source without using quotation marks, copying a source’s sentence structure,
using a source’s words or ideas without documentation, or assisting others in
these actions.
According to the NSU catalog,
“Students violating the standards of academic honesty are subject to
disciplinary action including reduction of grade(s) in a specific course,
assignment, paper, or project; a formal or informal reprimand at the
professorial, dean, or academic vice president level; expulsion from the class
in which the violation occurred; or expulsion from the University.”
ATTENDANCE: Enrollment in
this course obligates you to attend class regularly. Absence from any class
meeting is serious because it causes you to miss an entire week of
class. Absence from more than two (2)
class periods is considered excessive, indicating that you are not likely
to do well in the class. If you enroll late, you will be counted absent for
each period you have missed from the beginning of the semester.
Attendance will be taken from
quiz papers only. To be marked present, you must submit a quiz paper with
your name, the course number, and the date. If you arrive after the quiz or
do not attempt to answer any of the questions, submit a paper with these
three items at the top so that you will be counted present. If you must leave class immediately after
the quiz or before the break, write "ABSENT" in LARGE LETTERS
beside your name on the quiz paper (but you will receive any quiz points you
earn). If you must leave class any time before the end of the period,
please tell me that you are doing so.
CHILDREN ON CAMPUS: According to NSU-BA policy, children under age sixteen (16) cannot be left unattended anywhere on the campus, including the library, café, and student lounges. If you feel that you need to bring a child to class with you, please ask my permission in advance. The appropriateness of a child’s coming to class depends on the child’s age and behavior and on the content to be covered in class.
BAD WEATHER / CLASS CANCELLATION:
If all NSU-BA classes are canceled because of bad weather or any other reason,
cancellation will be announced on
DISABILITIES: If you have a
disability and need special accommodations in this class, please tell me at the
end of the first class meeting you attend.
CLASSROOM COURTESY: Please do not
(1) talk when the instructor or another student is addressing the class.
(2) eat in class (unless you bring food to share with the entire class). Drinks with lids, however, are permitted.
(3) bring children or other visitors to class without my prior permission.
(4) leave class before the end of the period without telling me you are doing so.
(5) habitually return from the break more than ten (10) minutes after it begins.
(6) allow your cell phone to ring in class.
(7) send text messages in class.
(8) use
a notebook computer for any purpose other than to take notes or look up
information relevant to class discussion.
WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS:
Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal from classes. To drop a class,
you must process an official drop form. If you drop a class by September 3, you
will receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees. If you drop after September 3,
you will receive no refund. If you drop by November 12, you will automatically
receive a W. If you drop after November 12 and are passing at the time you
drop, you will receive a W. If you drop a
class after November 12, you will receive a W or an F, depending on whether you
were passing or failing the class at the time you withdrew. The last day to
drop a class is December 12.
COURSE GRADE:
Percentage of course
grade
4313 students 5583 students
Daily average (including quizzes, study guides, video
critiques, late attendance, and extra-credit points) 30% 22.5%
Midterm exam 30% 22.5%
Final exam 40% 30%
Research paper --- 25%
100% 100%
Optional acting scene, monologue, or recitation [1-3 points added to final course grade]
Grade scale:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 0-59
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:
These assignments are subject to announced changes. Items in italics apply on to students taking the course for graduate
credit. You are responsible for all such changes whether or not you are
present when they are made. If a class meeting is canceled and you receive no
instructions to the contrary, continue to follow these assignment dates. The first
week a play is assigned, the quiz will include the introduction to the
play in The Riverside Shakespeare. The second week a play is
assigned, the quiz may include questions from the entire play rather
than only the last two acts.
Aug. 21: Introduction to course
Begin watching BBC video of Titus Andronicus in class.
Aug. 28: Titus Andronicus
Study Guide 1 (5 points)
Sept. 4: Romeo and Juliet 1-3
Study Guide 2 (5 points)
Read
Macbeth.
Sept. 11: Romeo and Juliet 4-5
Read handouts on Aristotelian tragedy (available in hard copy only).
Write a critique of a video you have not previously seen of Titus Andronicus or Romeo and Juliet (minimum 1 full page, 10 points). See “Writing a Video Critique” on the class Web page.
Sept. 18: Julius Caesar
Study Guide 3 (5 points)
Submit first set of bibliographical entries in MLA form, summaries, and
responses for five (5) articles from the casebook on Macbeth.
Sept. 25: Hamlet 1-3
Study Guide 4 (5 points)
Oct. 2: Hamlet 4-5
Write a point-by-point
comparison/contrast of two different videos of Hamlet (minimum 2 full
pages, 20 points). See “Writing a
Comparison of Two Videos” on the class Web page.
Submit second set of bibliographical
entries in MLA form, summaries, and responses for five (5) more articles from the
casebook on Macbeth.
Oct. 9: First half of
period: Midterm exam:
Submit essay written out of class.
Take objective exam in class.
Second half of period: Begin watching Othello in class.
Oct. 16: Fall break
Oct. 23: Othello 1-3
Study Guide 5 (5 points)
During
this week, bring a proposal for your research paper to a scheduled
30-minute conference. Include the
following items: one or more tentative thesis statements, a tentative list of the main points of the body of the paper in
complete sentences, a list of supporting details from the play and from
casebook articles to support each main point, and a working bibliography in MLA
form of at least ten (10) potentially useful articles from the casebook,
including at least seven (7) Renaissance texts.
Oct. 30: Othello 4-5
Write a critique of a video you
have not previously seen of Othello.
Since we will have already seen in class a significant portion of the
film directed by Parker and starring Fishburne and Branagh, do not use this
video for your critique unless you watch it again outside class in its entirety
(minimum 1 full page, 10 points).
Nov. 6: King Lear 1-3
Study Guide 6 (5 points)
During
this week, bring a draft of at least three (3) typed, double-spaced pages
of your research paper to a scheduled 30-minute conference. Include a works-cited page for the sources
you have used so far.
Nov. 13: King Lear 4-5
Write a point-by-point comparison/contrast of two different videos of King Lear (minimum 2 full pages, 20 points).
Submit
a complete draft of your research paper, including the following items:
checklist, research paper of at least six (6) pages, and works-cited page with entries
for the play and at least seven (7) Renaissance texts. (Complete draft may be submitted as late as
Nov. 20 only if you can meet with me
during my office hours on Mon., Nov. 24, to discuss your draft.)
Nov. 20: Macbeth
Study Guide 7 (5 points)
During
this week, or no later than Mon., Nov. 24, have a scheduled 30-minute
conference to discuss the draft of your research paper.
Nov. 27: Thanksgiving break
Dec. 4:
Study Guide 8 (5 points)
Submit clean checklist and revised research paper along with marked checklist
and draft.
Dec. 11: Student study day
Dec. 18: Final exam (comprehensive):
Submit take-home essay
Take objective test in class