ENG 109-01; 109-02: The Shakespeare Experience

Fall 2002

Mr. Stallcup

Course Information and Expectations

 

Instructor

Stephen Stallcup

127 McIver Hall 

(336) 334-4694
sbstallc@uncg.edu

 

Time and Place

(Section 01)  T/Th 11 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. ● Gram 302

(Section 02)  T/Th 2-3:15 ● McIver 330

Description and Learning Goals

This course is designed to introduce students to a representative sample of the poetry and plays of William Shakespeare. It will include plays in all the major Shakespearean genres: comedy, tragedy, history, romance (“problem”). Students will gain insight into these plays through readings, lectures, discussions, debates, and performances (on stage and in class). As a “Speaking-intensive” course, it will also concentrate on oral interpretation and discussion as a means of learning about the myriad interpretive possibilities that these plays afford. By the end of the course students should be able to (1) recite the basic biographical details of Shakespeare’s life; (2) correctly read, speak, and understand Early Modern English verse and prose; (3) describe the plots and characters of the plays studied; (4) discuss the major themes and issues of each play studied; (5) discuss the performance issues and challenges related to each play studied; (6) evaluate a performance of a given play or scene.

Evaluation

one short paper (5%)

Unlocking Shakespeare’s Language exercises (5%)
two in-class debates (2 @ 10% each) (20%)
four in-class group performance activities (best three grades) (3 @ 15%) (45%)
mid-term exam (10%)
final exam (15%)

Attendance

Regular and prompt attendance is required of all students. Students missing more than six classes (20% of total) for whatever reason will be dropped from the course.

Participation

65 percent of the course grade comes from some form of in-class participation/ activity. Debates and performances cannot be “made up” due to absence.



Performance activities

Students will be divided into acting troupes of five. Each troupe will be responsible for performing an assigned selection from each play. Each troupe will perform the same selection, and we will discuss the thematic issues and literary challenges that the assigned selection presents. Performances will be evaluated on the basis of: effort, initiative, creativity, clarity of speaking, comprehension of the selection.

North Carolina Shakespeare Festival

This fall, NCSF in High Point is presenting two of the plays we will study: Much Ado about Nothing and The Tempest. Because performance is essential to the Shakespearean experience, students are required to attend one performance of each play on one of the days listed on the syllabus. Tickets will be available at the door at special ENG 109 discounted rate of $13 per ticket. Attendance is non-negotiable. The paper will be about the Much Ado performance and the mid-term exam will ask about the Tempest performance.

Debates

On appointed class days, four students (in teams of two) will engage in a 10-minute debate on an assigned topic. Debaters will be evaluated on preparation, presentation, and persuasiveness. Each student will participate in two debates.

On-line discussion

In lieu of taking quizzes, students who are not participating in a debate will post at least one substantive comment on the on-line discussion forum on the Blackboard course website. This component of the course will begin on 10 September.

Policies

Food, drink, pets, etc. are not permitted in the classroom. Mobile phones must be switched off before class begins.

Academic integrity

UNCG’s policies on academic integrity (in the 2002/2003 Student Calendar/Handbook pp. 213-222) will be enforced rigorously. Students should especially familiarize themselves with UNCG’s definitions of cheating and plagiarism as well as the associated penalties for violations.

Disability policy

In order to receive special accommodation because of a legitimate physical or learning disability, affected students must register with the Office of Disability Services (334-5540) as soon as possible. The instructor will be happy to work out any necessary arrangements provided he is notified in a timely manner.

Required materials

*These are the only acceptable editions for use in this class.
Herny IV, Part 1
, ed XX (Signet Classic)
Much Ado about Nothing, ed. Stevenson (Signet Classic, 1998)

Othello, ed. Kernan (Signet Classic, 1998)

The Tempest, ed. Langbaum (Signet 1998)
*NCSF tickets for Much Ado and Tempest

Shakespeare on Video

The Learning Center (McNutt Building) houses UNCG’s video library, which includes videos of all the plays to be studied in this class. Copies of these videos are on reserve at TLC and may be viewed there during operating hours.

 

 

 

ENG 109-01; 109-02: The Shakespeare Experience

Fall 2002

Mr. Stallcup

Syllabus and Schedule of Activities

 

Date

Assignment/Activity

T 8/20

Introduction

Unit

Shakespeare’s Language

R 8/22

Unlocking Shakespeare’s Language
Prepare Worksheets 1 and 2

T 8/27

Unlocking Shakespeare’s Language
Turn in Worksheet 3; Prepare Worksheets 4 and 5

R 8/29

Unlocking Shakespeare’s Language
Turn in Worksheet 6; Prepare Worksheets 7 and 8

T 9/3

Unlocking Shakespeare’s Language
Prepare Worksheets 1 and 2

Unit ·

Comedy

R 9/5

Much Ado about Nothing, Act 1
Turn in Worksheet 3

T 9/10

Much Ado about Nothing, Act 2; (Debate)

R 9/12

Much Ado about Nothing, Act 3; (Debate)

T 9/17

Much Ado about Nothing, Act 4
*Review of NCSF production due in class

R 9/19

Much Ado about Nothing, Act 5; (Debate)

T 9/24

Performance Activity 1

Unit ¸

Romance

R 9/26

The Tempest, Act 1; (Debate)

T 10/1

The Tempest, Act 2; (Debate)

R 10/3

+Midterm Exam

T 10/8

The Tempest, Act 3

R 10/10

Performance Activity 2

F 10/11

Last day to drop courses without academic penalty

T 10/15

Fall Break: No class

R 10/17

The Tempest, Acts 4 and 5; (Debate)

Unit ą

History

T 10/22

Henry IV, Part 1, Act 1

R 10/24

Henry IV, Part 1, Act 2; (Debate)

T 10/29

Henry IV, Part 1, Act 3; (Debate)

R 10/31

Henry IV, Part 1, Act 4; (Debate)

T 11/5

Henry IV, Part 1, Act 5

R 11/7

Performance Activity 3

Unit ş

Tragedy

T 11/12

Othello, Act 1

R 11/14

Othello, Act 2; (Debate)

T 11/19

Othello, Act 3; (Debate)

R 11/21

Othello, Act 4; (Debate)

T 11/26

Othello, Act 5

R 11/29

Thanksgiving Holiday: No class

T 12/3

Performance Activity 4

R 12/5

Awards Ceremony, Exam Review

F 12/13

+Final Exam for 2 p.m. section (3:30-6:30 p.m.)

T 12/17

+Final Exam for 11 a.m. section (noon-3 p.m.)

 

 

Performance Schedule for North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, High Point, NC

 

Much Ado about Nothing

The Tempest

Fri 8/30 8 p.m.

Fri 9/20 8 p.m.

Sun 9/1 2 p.m.

Sat 9/21 8 p.m.

Thu 9/5 7:30 p.m.

Thu 9/26 7:30 p.m.

Sat 9/7 8 p.m.

Sun 9/29 2 p.m.

Fri 9/13 8 p.m.

Wed 10/2 7:30 p.m.