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

Undergraduate 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 18^th 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. 

Touchstone Program Goals

All goals for the Touchstone Program are available at www.winthrop.edu/universitycollege/Touchstone/Touchstonegoals.htm.  The Touchstone Program is Winthrop University’s distinctive approach to general education. 

ENGL 510 helps students make progress toward several of their goals in the Touchstone Program:

            Goal One: To communicate clearly and effectively in standard English.

            Goal Three: To use critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a variety of research   
                        methods.
            Goal Four: To recognize and appreciate human diversity (both past and present) as well
                        as the diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical   
                        principles.
            Goal Seven: To examine values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits which define the nature and
                        quality of life.

Student Learning Outcomes
Undergraduate Students will

• Analyze masterpieces of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century drama selected from a range of authors.
• Identify the variety of genres, styles, and themes at work in this period.
• Discuss the relationship between literature and history.
• Promote learning through class discussion.
• Demonstrate the ability to read critically and to write analytically about literature through successful completion of tests and papers.
• Produce a research paper in multiple stages, including on-line research (MLA Bibliography and other databases).

Required Texts:

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

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

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

Course Content

Undergraduates                                                

Midterm Exam                                 20%                                                               

Final Exam                                       25%                                        

Passage Papers                                10%                                         

Proposal/First Draft                          10%                                        

Final Seminar Paper                          20%                                        

Paper Readings                                   5%                                        

Group Presentation                              5%                                        

Class Participation                               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.

Final Seminar Paper: The largest writing assignment of the course, this 8-10 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 prepared and 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.