ENGLISH 423, SHAKESPEARE Fall 2010

Dr. Ernest Lee Office Hours: M 2:00-4:30,5:30-6:00 W 1:30-3:30 elee@cn.edu T,R 8 :30-9 :30 Appalachian Center 10 :30-11 :30 Ext. 3286 3:00-4:00 F 8:00-9:00 Texts: Current Signet Classic paperback editions of the following plays by William Shakespeare: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S

DREAM, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, HENRY V, TWELFTH NIGHT, HAMLET, KING LEAR

SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS. (Folger Library, Packet Books) New York:

Simon and Schuster, 1967 (or another approved collection). Supplemental text for writing assignments and revisions: current grammar text or MLA guide Course Purpose: To help each student

1. Broaden cultural literacy through a study of Shakespeare’s age and culture and representative plays and poetry.

2. Enrich appreciation of Western literacy heritage. 3. Appreciate Shakespeare’s art and genius. 4. Foster knowledge of dramatic forms, structures, and techniques. 5. Write and think more imaginatively and purposely. 6. Develop critical reading and thinking skills and be able to employ

critical approaches and critical studies to Shakespeare’s works and to develop an effective research document employing MLA style.

7. Enrich knowledge of selected representative plays and poems and the expansion of these works through film and stage treatments.

Evaluation: Two regular exams: 45% Final Comprehensive Examination: 20% Research Paper (1,500-2,000 words): 15%

(Specific requirements indicated on the research paper assignment sheet) Critical Reading Notebook: 20%

Final Exam Date: Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 1:30 The critical readings notebook and critiques: Concise written notes, personal responses and insights, and critical analysis will be required from your reading and studies, including Shakespearean critical sources and reference texts. It is your responsibility to follow in-class discussions and guidelines for preparing the critiques. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a failing grade on the critiques. Please refer to the notebook guideline sheet for more information and policies.  STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Any student with a special documented disability (learning, sight, hearing, mobility, etc.) which may affect class activities should contact David Humphrey, ext. 3268; located in the Wellness Center. Students will have to provide appropriate documentation. Class attendance/absences (in new catalog) Attendance at all class meetings is required and a student is responsible for all the work, including tests and written assignments of all class meetings. Each individual faculty member will establish the consequences for absences to their students and arrange to obtain assignments for work missed. Students will be allowed to make up class work missed with no penalty if the absence was caused by documented illness, death of immediate family member, or participation in College sponsored activities. Otherwise, the instructor has no obligation to allow students to make up work. Attendance will be taken for all students. Any student who does not attend class during the first 2 weeks of the semester will be administratively dropped from the class for non-attendance. Enrollment status (full-time/part-time/etc.) may be affected by this withdrawal which may impact billing and financial aid eligibility. Refer to the Refund Section of the catalog for more detailed information. A student who quits (desists) attending class and does not withdraw by the last day to withdraw from the course with a W, will be assigned a grade of VF. A grade of VF carries hours attempted and 0 quality points. Students who fail all courses due to non-attendance will be administratively withdrawn from the college for the semester. The last date of class attendance will be used to determine the date of the administrative withdrawal from the college. Financial Assistance recalculations will be processed for

students who are administratively withdrawn from the college within 45 days of the date of determination. If a student is administratively withdrawn from the college, financial assistance eligibility may be impacted. Class attendance is limited to the instructor(s) of the course, registered students and official guests of the College.   ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: CN Catalog  Academic dishonesty may include, but is not limited to the following: giving or receiving aid on tests; plagiarizing papers, assignments, book reviews; removing and/or copying test questions from office files.  Incidents of suspected dishonesty will be addressed by the course instructor/professor with the department chair and/or the school dean.  After hearing the student and considering all the evidence sanctions will be assessed if guilt is determined.  Academic dishonesty may result in sanctions including but not limited to, an immediate F and loss of credit for the course and, upon a recurrence or gross dishonesty, expulsion from the College.  Any student who receives an F in a course due to academic dishonesty will not be allowed to drop the course even if the F is assigned prior to the last date to drop a course with a W.  Any finding of academic dishonesty, and the sanction applied or recommended, shall be reported to the Provost who shall assess any sanction more severe than the loss of credit for the course.  A student may appeal a finding and/or a sanction assessed to the Provost.  Otherwise, no appeal shall be allowed.  For updates and questions related to this area, please contact the Provost Office. 

*ASSIGNMENTS

Aug. 26 Introduction to Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age, Comedies & Romances. Read first play(TS) and begin notebook.

Aug. 31-Sept. 7 The Taming of the Shrew – view selections from

Burton/Taylor production and discuss play. Sept. 9 Discussion of TS and introduction to A Midsummer

Night’s Dream. Sept. 14-16 MSND discussions

Sept.21-28 Much Ado About Nothing: view video Production/discussion Sept. 30 Exam I Oct. 5-12 Twelfth Night viewing and discussion, Notebook due Oct.14-21 the History Plays, Henry V, video selections and

discussion Oct. 26-28 Introduction to the Tragedies/Hamlet Nov. 2 Hamlet continued Nov. 9 Exam II Nov. 11-18 King Lear, --Second notebook section Nov. 23-30 Discussion of Merchant of Venice Dec. 1-8 Sonnets (TBA), complete critical readings, review for

final *These are projected assignments, but be prepared for possible changes in the schedule as class experience dictates. I reserve the right for spontaneous discussions and assignment/grading procedure changes.