English 640-001:  Shakespeare

Fall 2010, 3 credits

• Dr. Matthew Fike

• Wednesday, 6:30-9:15

• Classroom:  Kinard 016

• Office:  Banc 258; 803-323-4575

• Office Hours:  M-R, 3:30-5:00; and by appointment

• E-mail:  fikem@winthrop.edu

• Website:  http://faculty.winthrop.edu/fikem

Course Description

This course surveys eight plays (two from each genre or "mode"—comedy, history, tragedy, and romance) in order to illustrate Shakespeare's development over time.  We will also read information on the historical background, selected historical documents, and criticism from a variety of theoretical approaches.  Requirements include a research paper in multiple stages, oral presentations, class participation, and a final examination.  We will proceed "collegially"—with a high degree of interaction in a seminar format. The ultimate goal is to present your research paper at a conference after the conclusion of the course. Some of your papers may also be suitable for submission to scholarly journals.

Goals

• To gain an overview and solid understanding of Shakespeare's four genres or "modes."
• To deepen your understanding of Shakespeare's historical/cultural/literary situation by reading background information and original documents.
• To enhance your understanding of critical approaches to Shakespeare by reading and reporting on articles from a wide variety of theoretical perspectives.
• To do all of the above largely through active discussion with your classmates.
• To produce a paper at (or approaching) a level suitable for a professional or graduate student conference.
• See also goals for the M.A. program at http://www2.winthrop.edu/english/EGS/GraduateGoals.htm.

Student Objectives: Content Knowledge

The student will demonstrate knowledge of:

• the "modes" of Shakespearean drama
• the cultural contexts, styles, dominant genres, language, and subject matter of the Elizabethan period
• professional standards of grammar, mechanics, and usage accepted in the scholarly community
• standard reference tools, methods, and forms of documentation used in scholarly research
• the standard terminology of literary analysis used in scholarly writing
• various critical perspectives such as the formalist, psychological and New Historical approaches

Student Objectives: Skills in Analysis, Writing, and Communication

The student will:

• present orally the findings of research and critical analysis
• demonstrate the correct use of standard reference tools, the proper handling of primary and secondary sources, and proper documentation of all sources
• write a research paper in multiple stages onappropriate topics from language, literature, or pedagogy
• demonstrate a publishable level of critical, creative, or pedagogical materials
• sustain a high standard of written expression in lengthy critical or pedagogical works
• demonstrate synthesizing skills through a comprehensive final examination

 Texts

• David Bevington's The Complete Works of Shakespeare, 5th ed. (or any anthology or set of texts with footnotes) and act/scene/line numbers
• Russ McDonald The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare:  An Introduction with Documents, 2nd ed.
• Russ McDonald's Shakespeare:  An Anthology of Criticism and Theory 1945-2000.   

Course Requirements

Option #1:  Anyone may elect this option, but it is especially appropriate for those who wish to go on to a Ph.D. program.

• 50%:  Paper proposal (1-2 pages), New Critical paper (5+ pages), annotated bibliography (15+ sources), researched sentence outline reflecting a critical perspective (5+ pages), full researched draft (12+ pages)
• 20%:  Final draft with conference abstract
• 20%:  Class participation/presentations
• 10%:  Final examination

Option #2:  This is an option only for those who are or will be high school English teachers.

• 50%:  Stages of a Shakespeare lesson plan (to be worked out in consultation with me on the model at http://faculty.winthrop.edu/fikem/Courses/ENGL%20305/305%20Lesson%20Plan.htm
• 20%:  Completed lesson plan
• 20%:  Class participation/presentations
• 10%:  Final examination

Grading System

A = 88-100%; B = 80-87%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = 0-59%

Attendance and Other Policies

Such policies as appear in this paragraph should not be necessary in a graduate seminar; nevertheless, here they are in case we need them. 

• Punctuality:  You should attend all class sessions and be a few minutes early so that we can start right on time. 
• If you miss more than two weeks of class, your participation grade will go down 5% for the third absence. 
• If you miss four weeks of class (nearly 30% of the class meetings) or plagiarize in a significant way, the result will be an automatic F for the course. 
• I reserve the right to have you redo work so that I can justify giving you maximum credit. 
• Regarding the final examination, there will be no accommodations for travel plans.

Syllabus Change Policy

The version of your instructor's policy posted on her/his website, WebCT site, or www.turnitin.com site is the official policy statement for your class. This page may change during the semester, so make sure you check it frequently to keep up with changes.

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 first assignment, test, or paper.

Student Conduct Code

As noted in the Student Conduct Code:  “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook (http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf). 

Handheld Devices

You may not use any electronic devices in class unless I give you specific permission or unless you have official accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities.  See the College of Arts and Sciences' policy on handheld devices at http://www2.winthrop.edu/artscience/AppropriateUseApprovedPolicyMar2010.pdf. 

Format for Papers

Word-processed, double-spaced papers are required.  Only black print will be acceptable. Print only on one side of the page and do not use the draft function.  The margins should be 1.25".  If you use MS Word, the required font is called Courier New, 12-point (NOT Courier).  Put your name at the top of page one, number your pages, give your paper a title, and underline your thesis statement like this.  Staple your pages together 1/2" from the upper left corner; do not use paper clips or bend the pages over at the top.  Use the MLA format to document all sources used, including the primary ones.  Even your response papers must have a list of works cited.  I will ask you to redo a paper if it is not in the proper format (the main thing is to use Courier New 12-point, which looks like this).  I do not accept electronic submission of written work, but you must send your researched draft to turnitin.com.