English 3306 Shakespeare's Major Works
Spring Semester 2011
Instructor: David Judkins, Ph.D.
e-mail: DJUDKINS@UH.EDU
http://www.uh.edu/~djudkins
ph 713-664-1382
Online Instruction:
This class is taught completely online through the University of Houston classroom management program, Blackboard. I have found that to be successful students must have reliable home access to the internet. It helps tremendously for this to be a high speed connection. In addition, students must have a back-up computer or computer site. I recommend that students identify a computer lab on campus such as the Writing Center in Agnes Arnold Hall, the University Computing Center in the basement of the UH Library open 24 hours per day 7 days per week, or at a remote campus site where they can work should their home computer not function. I discourage students from using a computer in an office where they are employed as the primary site to access the class. Please understand that regular, frequent access to the class is essential to your success. Students proceed through the class at their convenience but not at their own pace. In other words, you must keep up.
On or shortly after the first class day, January 18, 2011, go to www.uh.edu/blackboard and follow the instructions for signing on. If you are a fully registered student in the class, the class will appear after you have signed on. Please take time to explore the site and follow any directions that appear there.
General activities:
The calendar which comprises the second half of this syllabus outlines the activities in the class. Each Monday I will post a Weekly Message which applies to the week ahead, and normally I will also post the weekly assignment. If there is a contradiction, please follow the weekly message as the calendar below was prepared months before the class began.
Books:
The Norton Shakespeare edited by Stephen Greenblatt, 2nd edition (ISBN 978-0-393-92991-1) is the text for this class. Students are responsible for reading all assigned plays and poems and all introductory material both general (approximately 99 pages) and play specific (8-10 pages per play. There are also lecture notes for each of the plays and poems as well as background material for the Elizabethan period and Shakespeare himself. There is a link to these notes on the homepage and you are responsible for reading them. In addition I have supplied supplementary mini-lectures which are audio mp3 files. You may listen to those on the computer or you may download the audio lectures for your iPod or similar device.
Course Description:
English 3306 is an in-depth study of Shakespeare's major plays. This semester we are reading six plays, two history plays, two comedies, and two tragedies. We will also be reading some of Shakespeare’s poetry. You are also required to view two of the assigned plays on stage or on video/DVD.
Class Requirements:
You will receive 10 grades in this class. There will be there will be four examinations, two critiques of videos or stage plays, three commentaries, and one discussion grade. The tests will be spaced throughout the semester and will be available from 4:00 Friday afternoon until 11:55 PM Saturday night. A practice test will be given usually on Wednesday in the week a test is given. All tests will be multiple choice open book and online. (Don't be too excited about the open book; the tests are carefully timed. Usually you will have 45 minutes to complete the test once started.) The critiques will be 500-600 words long and due at times according to the calendar. Commentaries will be of varying lengths. Please see additional remarks on the tests, critiques, discussion, and commentaries under Other Information on the homepage. Discussion postings are due weekly. Below I have listed a break down of these grades:
Discussion 33%
Test 1 = 5%
Critiques = 5% each.
Commentary 1 = 7%
Commentary 2 = 10%
Commentary 3 = 13%
Test 2 = 5%
Test 3 = 7%
Test 4 = 10%
More information on class requirements: Because this is an online class, tests will also be online and therefore multiple choice questions will be supplied. Tests will be open book and will be accessible over a period of several hours. However, once you begin a test you will have a set period of time (usually 45 minutes) to finish. During the semester I will give you specific and general information on writing critiques and commentaries in the form of postings on the web site under Other Information. Thinking critically and writing well is a goal for my students in all of my classes. I believe the development of writing skill is a long but steady process; it is my greatest hope that you will make improvement in this process during my course.
To this end you will notice that Discussion is the single most important element in this class counting for 1/3 of your final grade! See my comments on Discussion in the Other Information folder where I give specific information concerning grading Discussion and the vital importance of your regular participation in Discussion. Note: If you find yourself unable or unwilling to participate regularly in Discussion, you should NOT take this class.
Learning Outcomes:
By the conclusion of this class students will have learned more about six major plays written by William Shakespeare. Students will have developed an appreciation for Shakespeare's language, his awareness of the human situation, and his acute perception of life's challenges and rewards. Students will further develop their critical reading skills and develop their writing skills and their ability to discuss literature at a sophisticated and critical level. Students should be able to write fluently utilizing such literary terms as imagery, analogy, metaphor, esthetics (aesthetics) ,narrative, dramaturgy, and exegesis.
Other matters:
Personal initiative is the most important quality which you can bring to this class to assure your success. It is imperative that you sign on often (a minimum of 4 times per week), that you keep up in your reading, and that you participate fully in discussion. I have taken considerable effort to post lecture notes with links from the home page. In addition, as noted above the text has introductory material for which you will also be held responsible on tests and examinations. Be certain that you read the notes for each of the plays. Always feel free to email me through the class, i.e., Blackboard email site if you have questions or comments. Generally, I pledge to you that I will answer each email within 12 hours from Monday to Friday. Please remember that this course is an upper division class at a major state research university. As the professor, I have certain expectations of the level students have achieved thus far and what I hope to accomplish during the course of this class. Occasionally students will have unexpected issues which arise during the semester sometimes relating to their own health or someone close to them. If a student is unable to keep up with the class owing to such unexpected events or issues, please let me know so that you may drop the class in a timely manner. I do not give incompletes for this online class, nor do I allow students to make up work at the end of the class. If papers are not submitted at the time specified or tests are not taken during the scheduled time, the student receives a zero for the assignment. Again read my comments on Discussion in Other Information. Extended silence in discussion will seriously impact your grade for the worse. Please do not ask to make up work that you missed. Do not supply me with doctor's excuses, obituaries, or other reports on truly regrettable events that impact your life and your ability to follow the daily schedule outlined below. I will cooperate fully in assisting you to withdraw from the class if, owing to such events, you are unable to complete your work in a timely fashion. I know this sounds blunt and perhaps harsh, but it is a policy developed from several years of teaching online classes.
Grading:
Students want to know where they stand in the class during the course of the term. This semester I will keep the grades on line at the Blackboard server. Your grades will appear under "My Grades" and they should begin appearing at the time papers or tests are graded. This is important. If you are not seeing grades show up, you must contact me on Blackboard email and explain what grades are not showing up. I will not remind you that I have not received something. You must keep up with the class and make sure that papers and tests are being received, graded, and recorded in a reasonable time. If your grade does not show up, send me an email so I can determine why the grade is not recorded.
The following is the grading scale that I use: A = 100-94; A- = 93-90; B+ = 89-87; B = 86-84; B- = 83-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-74; C- = 73-70; D+ = 69-67; D = 66-63; D- = 62-60; F= 59-0. Please note that this grading scale is subject to change should the University of Houston alter its grading policy.
Calendar:
Note that this calendar or schedule is made up months before class begins. It is subject to revision particularly if a Shakespeare play is produced in Houston during the semester.
For this course the week begins on Monday and ends on Saturday.
Tests are normally available on Friday at 4:00 pm until Saturday at 11:55 pm
Papers are due by Saturday at 11:55 pm
Please do not wait for the last minute to take a test or submit a paper. Your clock may not be on the exact time as Blackboard’s.
Week 1: January 18 - 22
Please send me a letter of introduction on the Blackboard assignment page. See the Weekly Message for details on how to prepare and submit your letter. This week you should also take a short test over the syllabus and the web folder Other Information but not including Background. The test will be available from 4:00PM on Friday the 21st until 11:55PM on Saturday the 22nd. This is a practice test and will not count toward your final grade. Please begin reading Richard II along with the introductory material on the play. the roman Also be reading the general introduction in the Greenblatt text. All communications, including the letter of introduction, in this class must be in Standard Written English. See my explanation of "Standard Written English" under Other Information. January 19 is the deadline to withdraw from class and get a 100% refund minus a $15.00 processing fee. The tuition and fees for this class is approximately $568.80. For full information on refunds on withdrawal see www.uh.edu/financial/payment/refunds/index.php
Week 2: January 24 - 29
Conclude Richard II. This week we will begin discussion of Richard II, so please look on the home page for my notes on what is expected in the discussion phase of the on line class. Also this week you should read my lecture notes on this play and listen to any audio mini-lectures I supply.
Week 3: January 31 – February 5
Please Note: February 2, Tuesday, is the official 12th class day. This is the last day for you to withdraw from a class with NO grade. Also, the class will NOT count toward the enrollment cap. See www.uh.edu/provost/stu/stu_enrollcapqs.html for additional information. Let us pause for a moment and talk about Shakespeare's background and what little we know of his personal life. See my notes on Shakespeare and the Background for his plays in Other Information. You should also conclude this week the Greenblatt "General Introduction to Shakespeare" in our text. On February 4 & 5 we will have the First Test. Details in the Weekly Message.
Week 4: February 7 - 12
We have looked at Shakespeare’s background, and this week we will look at some of his poetry and make some suggestions on why he may have written verse. We will read his poem, Venus and Adonis and a selection of his sonnets. See the Weekly Message for details. 1st Commentary is due on February 12.
Week 5: February 14 - 19
Begin reading Henry V. Read my notes on the play. Henry V is the son of Bolingbroke whom you saw in Richard II. Shakespeare wrote two other plays about Bolingbroke after he became king. These plays Henry IV part 1 and Henry IV part 2 describe the growth and maturity of Bolingbroke's son, also named HenryThe English see Henry V as one of the great kings who have ruled the English people largely because he personally led an army to France to reclaim England's authority to rule a major section of that country. Under very difficult condtions and against overwhelming odds, Henry and his army won a huge victory at Agincourt and reestablished England's authority in France...for at least a short time.
Week 6: February 21 - 26
Conclude Henry V Second Test February 25 & 26.
Week 7: February 28 – March 5
Begin As You Like It, the first of two comedies we will be studying. 1st Critique is due on March 5.
Week 8: March 7 - 12
Finish As You Like It and begin reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream. March 13 - 19: Spring Break
Week 9: March 21 - 26
Finish A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 2nd Commentary is due March 26.
Week 10: March 28 - April 2
Easter Sunday: We will move on to our next play, Hamlet. There are several film versions of this play available.
Week 11: April 4 - April 9
Please Note: April 5, Tuesday this week, is the last day to drop a class and receive a W for your grade. From April 6 onward, your professor must give you a letter grade from A to F. Continue Hamlet. 2nd Critique is due April 9. See weekly message details on the test.
Week 12: April 11 - 16
Conclude Hamlet. Be certain to visit the discussion page for an ongoing dialogue on Hamlet. Read my online notes and the introductory material in Greenblatt. Test 3 will be given on April 15 & 16.
Week 13: April 18 - 23
Begin Macbeth
Week 14: April 25 - May 2
Conclude Macbeth, a fairly short play and one many of you have read before. 3rd Commentary is due on Sunday April 30.
Final Test # 4: May 6 & 7. See Weekly message for details.