English 3306 Shakespeare's Major Works
Section
 

Spring Semester 2009
 

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, WebCT Vista.  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.  

On or shortly after the first class day, January 20, 2009, go to www.uh.edu/webct 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  the weekly message as the calendar below was prepared months before the class began.

Books:  The Norton Shakespeare edited by Stephen Greenblatt (ISBN 978-0-393-92991-1)is the text for this class.  Students are responsible for reading all assigned plays and all introductory material both general (approximately 76 pages) and play specific (8-10 pages per play. There are also lecture notes for each of the plays and background material for the period and Shakespeare himself.  These notes appear 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. Alternate Text:  The Norton Shakespeare was revised in 2008 (Second Edition), students may use the earlier edition without fear of missing any material used on tests. The earlier edition (First Edition) is available used online, but probably not available in the UH Bookstore.

Course Description: English 3306 is an in-depth study of Shakespeare's major plays.  This semester we are reading seven plays, three history plays, one comedy, two tragedies and a romance.   You are also required to view two of the assigned plays on stage or on video. 

Class Requirements: You will receive 9 grades in this class  There will be there will be four examinations, two critiques of videos or stage plays, two commentaries, one discussion grade, .  The tests will be spaced throughout the semester.  A practice test will be given early 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.)  The critiques will be 500 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 25%
            Test 1 = 5%
            Critiques = 8% each.
            Commentary 1 = 10%

            Commentary 2 = 15%
            Test 2 = 7%
            Test 3 = 10%

            Test 4 = 12%

More information on class requirements:    Because this is an online class, tests will also be online and therefore multiple choice questions will be supplied. A practice test will be available early during the week a test is given.  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 60 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.  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.

Learning Outcomes:  By the conclusion of this class students will have learned more about seven 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.

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 (at least 4 times per week), that you keep up in your reading, that you participate fully in discussion.  I have taken considerable effort to post lecture notes on 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 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.  Notice also 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 daily schedule.  I will cooperate fully in assisting you to withdraw from the class if owing to such events you are unable to complete your work following the calendar below.

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 WebCT 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 WebCT 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 grading policy change.

 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 Sunday.
Tests are normally available on Saturday at 4:00 pm until Sunday at 11:59 pm.
Papers are due by Sunday at 11:59 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 WebCT's)

Week 1  January 20 - 25:   Please send me a letter of introduction on the WebCT email.    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 page Other Information.  The test will be available from 4:00PM on Saturday until 11:59PM on Sunday.  Please begin reading Richard II along with the introductory material on Richard II. 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" on the Homepage under Other Information. There is a 2001 DVD “William Shakespeare’s Richard the Second” starring Matte Osian and Kadina de Elejalde, which would work well for a film critique.

Week 2 January 26 - February 1: Conclude Richard II.  This week we will begin a 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 February 2 - February 8:  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.  You should also conclude this week the Greenblatt "General Introduction to Shakespeare" in our text.   On February 7 & 8 we will have the First Test.  Details in the Weekly Message.

Week 4 February 9 - 15:  Back to the plays and we turn to one of Shakespeare's most popular, Part 1 of Henry IV.(please note the roman numeral is 4 not 6) We will spend two weeks+ on this play. Be certain to read my lecture notes.  There is an interesting film, "Chimes at Midnight" which you may watch and critique for the play. Note: (“Chimes at Midnight” is an older b&w film. It is often difficult to locate a copy. It is sometimes entitled “Falstaff Chimes at Midnight”)  

Week 5 February 16 - 22  Continue with 1 Henry IV.  Commentary 1 is due on February 22

Week 6 February 23 - March 1: We will conclude 1 Henry IV and begin Richard III this week.  Be certain to visit the discussion page.

Week 7 March 2 - March 8:  Read the final history play, Richard III.  There is an exciting modern film of Richard III staring Ian McKellen and Annette Bening.  There is also a famous film with Al Pacino, "Looking for Richard" which you may use for a critique. Critique 1 is due on Sunday March 8.

Week 8 March 9 - 15:  Finish reading all materials on Richard III .   Second Test On March 14 & 15.  See the Weekly Message for details. 

March 16 - 22: Spring Break

Week 9 March 23 - 29:  Begin  Twelfth Night.  This is the first and only comedy we will be reading.  The humor in comedies is a little hard to follow sometimes, so take your time and try to visualize what is happening on stage.  Check out the discussion.

Week 10 March 30 - April 5:  We conclude Twelfth Night.   There is wonderful video films of  Twelfth Night by director Trevor Nunn.  We will also move on to our next play, Othello.Discussion will continue Critique 2 is due Sunday April 5

Week 11 April 6 - April 12: Conclude Othello, Shakespeare's most pure tragedy.  Quite a change from Twelfth Night. Test  3  will be given on  April 11 & 12.  See weekly message for review session and details on the test.

Week 12 April 13 - 19: This week we will be reading  King Lear.  Be certain to visit the discussion page for an ongoing dialogue on King Lear.  Read my online notes and the introductory material in Greenblatt.  

Week 13 April 20 - 26:  Conclude King Lear and begin The Tempest.  I know that Lear is a long play and difficult to understand, particularly near the end.  This play does take some time!  The Tempest, on the other hand, is fairly quick reading.  Be certain to read Act I, scene 2 very carefully. Commentary 2 is due on Sunday April 26

Week 14 April 27 - May 3.  Conclude The Tempest. 

Final Test # 4:  May 9 & 10  See Weekly message for details.