SYLLABUS FOR ENGLISH 154 – Spring 2012
Description of the course:
English 154, "Shakespeare and his World," is a three-unit course, transferable to upper division schools. The course fulfills requirements for upper division transfer and the A.A. degree. It consists of a close critical study of five representative plays by Shakespeare. This "distance-delivered" version of the course is the equivalent of a class that meets face-to-face for 54 hours with a requirement for an additional 150 hours of out-of-class work. While you are expected to put in that amount of time, about ten hours a week, you may do so at times of your own choosing. I have been teaching this particular version of this course on-line for the last thirteen years. I pride myself on getting students through the course successfully, regardless of the obstacles.
Requirements for the course and basis for the grade:
The Rules
In this class for each play you will read a play, listen to a lengthy lecture or read the material on line, answer study questions on the play and watch at least one video performance. The sequence in which you do these activities is up to you. It may make more sense for you to watch the video first, or your best strategy may be to read the play aloud. You may listen to the lecture or read the material on-line, or both. The format of the course allows you this latitude. After you have finished studying the play and the lecture material, you'll have specific study or discussion questions to help you think about what you've learned. These questions are based largely on the lecture material.
When you finish each play you will demonstrate your knowledge of the text, the lecture and the performance by taking a quiz. You may choose to meet with me at a time and place of mutual convenience and take a quiz of 25 questions (true-false, multiple choice and short answer) in-person. Or you may choose to take the quiz on-line at DVC’s WebCT under timed conditions. The best four of the five quiz grades will be averaged together and will constitute 25% of your final grade. All the questions on the quiz are based on the study/discussion questions you have for each play and the performance of the play on the required video.
The material for the course (syllabus, schedule, plot summaries, lectures, study questions, assignments and concepts) is on the course web page (www.srvc.net/engl154). Also on this page is illustrated material on Shakespeare's background, divided into three sections on his life, his society and his theater. You are responsible for learning this material and passing a 35-question quiz at some point in the semester. If you cannot pass the quiz after two tries (at least 24 correct answers), you are required to complete a set of worksheets based on the material. .
You will write three essays which will require you to examine the plays in text and in performance. Each of these essays will constitute 25% of the final grade. Collectively the essays constitute 75% of the final grade. The essays will ask you to respond to specific issues in the plays. I reserve the right to ascertain to my satisfaction that you have indeed written the essay bearing your name. There are no midterms or final examinations.
Contact:
Because the material for this class is delivered via distance means, it is vital that you maintain contact with me. This contact will normally be by e-mail. The special e-mail account for this class is orsinox@msn.com. I expect to hear from you at least once a week with any questions you have and with some indication of how you're doing. Asking questions is essential in a course where you are studying works written in sometimes challenging language about a society very different from our own. There are no dumb questions, only dumb people who won't ask them.
Students in the past have found it helpful to work with a study group. I will assist in setting up such groups for those interested.
I can hold office hours, if necessary, at a time that will be convenient with you. The hours and location of these office hours will be announced in the "Shakespeare Newsletter" which I will send out weekly via e-mail. In emergencies I can be available to meet with you by appointment at almost any time during the week.
You can reach me by phone at (925) 932-8298, by cell phone at (925) 457-6589, by fax at (925) 935-2538, and by surface mail at 21 Boulevard Court, Walnut Creek, CA 94595. There is no reason why you can't get hold of me if you need to.
Grades
Consider taking this class on a credit/no credit basis. If you fulfill the minimum requirements of the class, you will receive credit. The class will count toward your graduation and will transfer to any upper division school. If you receive no-credit, it won't. Neither credit nor no-credit counts toward your grade point average, however. Taking the class on this basis really eliminates pressure about the letter grade. You are responsible for filling out the credit form at the Registrar's office. Credit/no-credit is a respectable way of taking course work outside of your academic major.
If you choose to work for a letter grade, remember that 75% of the course grade is dependent upon the essays. A student who earns a "C" completes all assignments with college-level writing, covers adequately the major points in response to the questions posed and uses citations from the play's text to support his/her conclusions. A student who earns an "A" or "B" completes all the assignments with college-level writing. In addition to responding to the questions posed, the student expands on the major points, explaining the dramatic, psychological or social factors which help explain why or how things are done in a certain way. Such a student will use extensive citations from all relevant sources.
If you decide to drop the course, please let me know. I also reserve the right to drop students who are not making satisfactory progress. About half the students who routinely begin this course drop out within the first six weeks. You need to be serious.
Lectures:
The lectures are available on-line in text and audio format. They provide a scene-by-scene, sometimes line-by-line, explanation of the text. They also include readings of passages from the play by professional actors. Some students find that they learn the material better by reading it, and some by both reading and listening. To access the on-line audio lecture, use the user name of bharlan and the password of m@cb3th .
Former students have found that they had to listen to the lectures or read the material in a purposeful manner, that is, concentrating on the content. Whichever approach, it is imperative that you cover the material with your text open. Most students found they could take notes right in the margin of their texts. Others learned best if they wrote the material down in narrative form. How many times students went over the material varied. All found it was not enough to simply listen or read the lecture material passively. They had to be actively involved in responding to what they learned. The study or discussion questions on each play will serve to sharpen your attention on the play. There is a sample quiz on our first play, Much Ado about Nothing, posted on the web page to give you some idea of the specificity you need to have to pass.
You must see all five plays in performance. They are on video which you can rent at some video stores and from Netflix. The Media Center at DVC will have copies, which you must view at the Center. Many students get together to buy the tapes from Amazon.com so they can have easy access. Here are the required versions for each play: Much Ado about Nothing (1993) directed by Kenneth Branagh; Romeo and Juliet (1968)directed by Franco Zeffirelli or Romeo + Juliet (1996) directed by Baz Luhrmann; Henry V (1989) starring Kenneth Branagh; Hamlet (1996), starring Kenneth Branagh;and The Tempest (2010)starring Helen Mirren. Most of these are available for purchase (new or used) at Amazon.com at prices ranging from $3.00 -- $26.00 or for rental at Netflix
Extra credit work: You can do extra credit work toward your grade at anytime during the semester up to two weeks before the end by doing one of the following things:
1.) See a live performance. I will provide you with information on what's playing in the Bay Area throughout the semester. I will post details on how to write an extra-credit report.
2.) Attend the special weekend tour set up for students in this class to see Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; Troilus and Cressida; Chekhov’s The Seagull; and the ancient Chinese love story The White Snake. The basic tour covers four tickets, two night’s lodging (double occupancy), background lectures and brunch with one of the principal actors. The cost will be $370. I will help arrange ride and room sharing. You can earn extra credit worth up to 25% of the course grade.
3.) Write a creative response to any of the plays in a poem, story, dramatic dialogue, etc. Be sure to check with me before you do this project.
Text:
Different editions of Shakespeare's plays vary greatly. That is why it is essential that you use the assigned textbook, the Signet paperback editions or the Folger Library paperback for Hamlet.
Policy on late work and missed quizzes:
It is vital that you learn from each writing assignment to help you improve on the next. Therefore, you need to get your work done in a timely fashion. For each essay assignment I have designated a first due date and a final due date. If you get your essay in by the first due date, you will receive full credit. For every week after that your essay grade will be dropped by half a grade. The final due date is designated and non-negotiable. No work will be accepted after the final due date, and you will fail that assignment.
Policy on plagiarism and cheating:
It is my assumption that each student is honest and above-board in doing the work for this class. Nevertheless, it is important to remind you that using other people's work as if it were your own is unacceptable. This includes using essays which other students have submitted in previous semesters, copies of which I have retained, or essays you have purchased on the Internet, most of which can be easily identified by anti-plagiarism software. Those found guilty of plagiarism will flunk that assignment. Repeated violations will result in the student failing the class or being dropped.
The Rules
1. It is your responsibility to keep your contact information current.
Dr. William K. Harlan
A.K.A. "Uncle Bill"