Instructor: Dr. Allen H. Redmon

Texas A&M - Central Texas

ENGL 400 Shakespeare

Fall 2013

Instructor: Dr. Allen H. Redmon

Office: Founder’s Hall, 217-P

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Office Hours: By appointment. The best way to contact me is through my TAMUCT email account. Messages sent to my TAMUCT account will usually receive a response within 24 hours if not much sooner. Phone calls will be returned within one week. Emails sent through Blackboard will not normally receive a response.
To access online components,

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   Visit https://tamuct.blackboard.com/webapps/login/
   
2. 
   Enter your user name and password
   
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1.0 Course Prerequisite:

Freshman composition I and II; six hours Sophomore Literature; permission of the instructor

2.0 Course Description:

An in depth study of representative types of Shakespeare’s drama and poetry. This particular section also gives particular attention to Shakespeare’s language and two adaptations of Shakespeare on film. Credit for ENGL 400 and THEA 400 will not be awarded.

3.0 Course Objectives:

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to do…

• Respond to the assumptions made about Shakespeare’s influence on the English language

• 
  Describe some of the particulars of Early Modern English and how this period of English differs from Modern English
  
• 
  Use knowledge about Early Modern English to analyze Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets
  
• 
  Describe Shakespeare’s plays against the traits of Elizabethan comedies and tragedies
  
• 
  Account for the implications of translating Shakespeare for a modern audience
  
• 
  Produce more effective academic essays
  

4.0 Required Texts:

Crystal, David. “’Think on My Words’: Exploring Shakespeare’s Language.” Cambridge University Press, 2008. ISBN—9780521700351

Shakespeare. “The Taming of the Shrew.” Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992. ISBN—9780743477574
--. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993. ISBN—9780743477543
--. “The Merchant of Venice.” Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992. ISBN—9780743477567
--. “Romeo and Juliet.” Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992. ISBN—9780743482806
--. “Julius Caesar.” Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992. ISBN—9780743482745
--. “Othello.” Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993. ISBN—9780743482820
Romeo + Juliet. Dir. Baz Luhrmann. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, and John Leguizamo. Fox, 1996. Film.
O. Dir. Tim Blake Nelson. Perf. Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles, and Josh Hartnett. Lions Gate, 2001 Film.

5.0 Technology Requirements

This class will have some online components. As such, you will need reliable and regular access to a computer and the Internet.

Blackboard supports the most common operating systems:

PC: Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000,

Mac: Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.5 “Leopard®”, Mac OS 10.4 “Tiger®”
Check browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the

TAMU-CTBlackboard logon page. (http://tamuct.blackboard.com) This is a CRITICAL

step as these settings are important for trying to see online components.
Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to Blackboard Student

Orientation under My Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials in this

orientation course. The new Blackboard is a brand-new interface and you will have to

come up to speed with it really quickly. This orientation course will help you get there.

There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the left-hand menubar.

The first week of the course includes activities and assignments that will help you get up

to speed with navigation, sending and receiving messages and discussion posts, and

submitting an assignment. Your ability to function within the Blackboard system will

facilitate your success in this course.
For technological or computer issues, students should contact the TAMU-CT Blackboard Support

Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Support Portal: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport

Online chat (through the support portal at: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport)

Phone: [phone]
For issues related to course content and requirements, contact your instructor.
Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement – make sure your computer is configured correctly and address issues well in advance of deadlines.
6.0 Course Requirements:
Regular Reading Assignments (the starting point for 100% of the course grade)

This course expects students to read all required readings and every post on the discussion board. The assigned readings introduce us to the critical ideas and the texts we want to consider. The discussion board documents our interaction with those materials. Students will need to go beyond simply letting their eyes move across the pages of these materials to be successful. The most successful students will struggle with the material in this course until they begin to see in new ways the ideas we are discussing and the texts over which we are discussing them. Students unable to meet this expectation should not expect to be successful in this course.

Exercises (contribute as many as 97 points toward the final grade)

Students will complete 16 exercises. Each assignment gives you the chance to reflect or utilize the insights of one particular insight in Crystal’s book. Some of these exercises are short assignments worth 3 points. Others are more formal assignments worth 10 points. The specific point values, directions, and submissions assigns 16 exercises. The point value, directions, and submission plan for each assignment will be communicated in the session before that exercise is due.

An absence is never a justification for failing to submit an exercise on time. Students who miss a class wherein an exercise is due will need to submit that work before that class session is scheduled to begin. They will also need to obtain the directions for the next set of exercises before returning to class.
Close Readings (worth up to 10 points each for as much as 60 points toward your final grade)

Students will post to the discussion board in Blackboard a close reading over each of the six plays that we read. These assignments will address in a formal way the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” of one particular moment in a play. More directions on these assignments will be given in the class before the first close reading is due.

Film Posts (worth up to 5 points each for as much as 10 points toward your final grade)

Students will post to the discussion board in Blackboard a response to the two films that we will watch this semester. These posts will address in a formal way the extent to which the film remains Shakespeare’s play or becomes something else. More directions on these assignments will be given in the class before this assignment is due.

Exams (worth up to 20 points each for as much as 60 points toward your final grade)

Students will complete three exams this semester: an in-class exam over Shakespeare’s Language; an essay exam over Shakespeare’s Comedies; and, an essay exam over Shakespeare’s tragedies. More directions on these assignments will be given in the class before this assignment is due.

Reflection Paper (worth up to 10 points toward your final grade)

Students will complete a reflection paper at the conclusion of the course. More directions on theses assignments will be given in the class before this assignment is due.

7.0 Grading Criteria Rubric

Final Grades will adhere to the following grading rubric:

Exercise 1 3 point

Exercise 2 3 point

Exercise 3 3 point

Exercise 4 3 point

Exercise 5 3 point

Exercise 6 3 point

Exercise 7 10 points

Exercise 8 3 point

Exercise 9 3 point

Exercise 10 10 points

Exercise 11 10 points

Exercise 12 10 points

Exercise 13 10 points

Exercise 14 3 point

Exercise 15 10 points

Exercise 16 10 points

Close Readings 60 points

Film Posts 10 points

Exam Over Shakespeare’s Language 20 point

Essay Test over Comedies 20 points

Essay Test over Tragedies 20 points

Reflection Paper 10 points

TOTAL 237 points
Final grades reflect the accumulation of points from these assignments in the following way:

215-237 cumulative points earns an A

190-214 cumulative points earns a B

166-189 cumulative points earns a C

143-165 cumulative points earns a D

0-142 cumulative points equals an F

A point system of this sort does not yield “borderline” grades. To assure yourself the frustration of “just missing” a desired grade, be sure to capitalize on every opportunity to earn points.
8.0 Complete Course Calendar

The following presents the ideal schedule for this class. This schedule is subject to change.

8-27 Course Introductions

8-29 Crystal Chp 1

9-3 Crystal Chp 2

9-5 Crystal Chp 3

9-10 Crystal Chp 4

9-12 Crystal Chp 5

9-17 Crystal Chp 6

9-19 Crystal Chp 7

9-24 Crystal Chp 8

9-26 Crystal Chp 9

10-1 Epilogue

10-3 Exam Over Shakespeare’s Language

10-8 Taming of the Shrew

10-10 Taming of the Shrew

10-15 Midsummer

10-17 Midsummer

10-22 Merchant of Venice

10-24 Merchant of Venice

10-29 Review Session

10-31 Essay Exam over Comedies

11-5 Romeo and Juliet

11-7 Romeo and Juliet

11-12 Julius Caesar

11-14 Julius Caesar

11-19 Othello

11-21 Othello

11-26 Essay Exam over Tragedies

12-3 Discussion over Romeo+Juliet; Film Post Due

12-5 Discussion over O; Film Post Due

12-10 Reflection Paper Due

9.0 Late-work/Make-up Policy

Late work WILL NOT exist in this course. Assignments that fail to be submitted in the prescribed manner by the time specified when the assignment is given will not be accepted. There are no exceptions to this policy.

10.0 Drop Policy

If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the student. The record’s office will provide a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed and signed. Return the signed form to the records office, wait 24 hours, go into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will receive an F in the course.

11.0 Academic Integrity

Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonestly are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonestly. More information can be found at www.tamuct.org/studentconduct. 

Depending on the severity of a student’s act of academic dishonesty, a student found to have committed any of the above infractions will receive nothing less than a zero on the assignment on which the infraction occurred and nothing more than expulsion from the university. A minor infraction includes but is not limited to improper citations or allusions to a source never cited. A major infraction includes but is not limited to the undocumented lifting of a phrase from a source that finds its inspiration some place other than the student.
12.0 Disability Support Services

If you have or believe you have a disability, may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing documentation to the Academic Support Programs Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek information about accommodations to help assure success in this class.  Please contact Ryan Thompson at [phone] or Main Building Room 114. Additional information can be found at www.TAMUCT.org/StudentAffairs.
13.0 Smarthinking

Online tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, General and Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology, Accounting, Economics, Introductory Finance, Spanish, and Statistics.

Access: Students will have access after 5:00pm on the 4th class day. Students may gain access by going to www.smarthinking.com and entering in their University Student ID as their username and Birthday (mmddyyyy) as their password. Once you log-in, you have the option to change your log-in information. If you have difficulties contact Student Affairs at 254-519-572110.
14.0 Library Services

INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques. Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of information resources such as library collections and services, identification of subject databases and scholarly journals, and execution of effective search strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at. http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library/

THIS SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DESCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR