Dr. Jack DeRochi 

Bancroft 256/Kinard 212A

Office Phone: 323-4577 (or 4653)

Email: derochij@winthrop.edu

Office Hours: W 4-5; and by appt.

 

English 510: Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama

Graduate Syllabus

Fall 2011

MW 5:00-6:15, Owens 210

 

Course Description: 

As advertised, this class will delve into the explosion and evolution of drama during the Restoration and Eighteenth Century.  When the theater houses reopen after the return of Charles II, the London stage becomes, more than ever before, a signifier for the world at large: women are now performing on and writing for the stage; colonial expansion is now a subject for dramatic consideration; and comedies become masterful satires of the aristocracy and middle class alike.  In our course, we will study the evolution of comedy, the theoretical influences of neoclassicism and the gothic on tragedy, the political ramifications of women in the theater, and, finally, the evolution of the theater experience throughout the 18th century.

 

By exploring this specific period, you will not only be able to distinguish and define essential elements of Restoration and eighteenth-century British drama, but will also recognize the interrelationship between society and literary forms, understand the political ramifications of authorship, and appreciate disparate worldviews and perspectives. 

 

Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Departmental Goals

See a complete listing of goals for the Department of English, please visit  http://www.winthrop.edu/english/undergraduate/index.htm.  There is a link to NCATE and NCTE standards on the department’s web page, and those students who are preparing to teach will want to visit the site.   Goals for English 510—Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama—derive from the sections on Knowledge of Literature, Knowledge of Language, Composing and Communication Skills, Critical Analysis, Diversity, Attitudes and Practices, and Opportunities. 

 

Student Objectives:
Content Knowledge
The student will demonstrate knowledge of:

  1. various forms of written texts (including fiction, poetry, drama, essay, and other literary genres);
  2. major periods in the history of English, American, and world literature in terms of cultural contexts, styles, dominant genres, language, and subject matter;
  3. major similarities and differences among British, American, and other national literatures;
  4. professional standards of grammar, mechanics, and usage accepted in the scholarly community;
  5. standard reference tools, methods, and forms of documentation used in scholarly research;
  6. the standard terminology of literary analysis used in scholarly writing;
  7. various critical perspectives such as the formalist, structuralist, and post-structuralist approaches;
  8. the English language, including its structure, grammar, vocabulary, and historical development; and
  9. writers from different cultural, ethnic, and minority backgrounds.

Skills in Analysis, Writing, and Communication.
The student will:

  1. present orally the findings of research and critical analysis;
  2. demonstrate the correct use of standard reference tools, the proper handling of primary and secondary sources, and proper documentation of all sources;
  3. write research papers and critical analyses on appropriate topics from language, literature, or pedagogy;
  4. demonstrate a publishable level of critical, creative, or pedagogical materials;
  5. sustain a high standard of written expression in lengthy critical or creative works (including but not limited to theses); and
  6. demonstrate synthesizing skills through a comprehensive final examination.

 

Required Texts:

Canfield, J. Douglas. The Broadview Anthology of Restoration and Early Eighteenth-Century Drama, 2001.

Thomson, Peter.  The Cambridge Introduction to English Theatre: 1660-1900, Cambridge UP, 2006. 

McMillin, Scott.  Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy, Norton Critical, 1997.***optional.

   

Course Content

 

Graduate Students                                           

Midterm                         20%                      

Final Exam                     25%

Passage Papers              10%

Scholarship Journal         10%

Final Seminar Paper        20%

Oral Presentations             5%

Class Participation             5%

Group Presentation            5%

 

Midterm and Final Exams:  The format of your midterm and final exams will be similar, both comprised primarily of essay questions.  Your final exam, however, will be comprehensive in nature.  (Graduate students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of specific secondary works in each exam as well—see “Scholarship Journal” assignment below.)

 

Passage Papers:  Due twice during the first half of the semester, these short (3-page) papers require you to analyze a passage of 15-20 lines (or thick paragraph) from one of our plays.  Your task will be to give a brief plot summary of the passage and establish its significance as it relates to other parts of the play.  Be sure to use quotes and proper MLA documentation. . 

 

Scholarship Journal: This assignment requires graduate students to read an additional scholarly work a week, one that I will choose and make available to you.  Unlike other secondary research you may perform this semester, these readings will be taken from works by major scholars in the field—the secondary canon if you will.  For each article, simply write a 1-2 page summary and response.  This is an informal writing assignment, so do not feel pressured to write a well organized essay.  I am simply looking for a grasp of the material and a considered response. 

 

Final Seminar Paper: The largest writing assignment of the course, this 12-15 page paper will be a critical study of some topic that arises from our discussion—or your reading—of an assigned play.  The goal for this paper should be that it warrants a conference presentation. Each paper must follow proper MLA guidelines for documentation and Works Cited.

 

Oral Presentations:  We will have multiple opportunities for oral presentations during this course.  First, students will orally present their short papers to the rest of the class, thus providing the basis for a portion of a class meeting’s discussion.  Second, students will be grouped up to give a scholarly introduction to a play from this period we will not have time to cover in class (more information will be given on this assignment later).  

 

Class Participation: As for class participation, given that this is an upper-level / graduate level course, I expect each student to be actively involved in daily class discussions.  Therefore, students who contribute to class discussions on a consistent basis will be rewarded more than those who remain silent or otherwise appear unprepared.

 

Course Technology

As for the main technological apparatus for this course, we will be using turnitin.com for submission of major assignments.  Students are required to establish accounts on turnitin.com using the following information.

 

1)   Turnitin.com (www.turnitin.com). 

This site will be used for submitting Passage Papers, certain homework assignments, and all drafts of final papers; turnitin.com will be where you receive feedback on all of your writing assignments and can monitor your grades throughout the term.   

Visit www.turnitin.com and establish your student account (if you have not already done so for another course).  Next, enroll in our class: our class ID is 4245704; our password is derochi.

 

Policies:

Attendance: See official Winthrop University Attendance Policy for more information, but obviously regular attendance is required.  Let me know in advance for illness or personal emergency.  As per university policy, you will automatically fail this course if you miss over 25% (7) of all scheduled classes. 

 

Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, will not be tolerated, and WILL result in an automatic “F” for the course.  It is your responsibility to read, understand, and follow the Code of Student Conduct outlined in the Student Handbook.  Students are required to review the English Department’s plagiarism policy at www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm.

 

A Note on “N” Grades:  October 21 is the last day to drop a course for this semester: students who drop before this date will receive an automatic “N”; students who drop after this date will receive an automatic “F.”  Extenuating circumstances must be addressed directly to the registrar.

 

All work must be completed in order to receive a passing grade.

 

Students with Disabilities: Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible.  Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the assignment.

 

Other Requirements and Notes:

~No late work will be accepted.

~Please turn off all cell phones before coming into class.

~Students are expected to use standard reference tools, methods, and forms of documentation in scholarly research.