Basic Information
Instructor Information
Dr. Karen U. Fulton, Professor
Communication
Tel: 271-4317(work) 1-660-582-8830 (home)
e-mail: fulton@griffon.mwsc.edu
Office Hours
Office: JGM 304A
MW 9-10, M 2-4, W 2-3; other hours by appointment
Required Texts
Anonymous. Everyman and other Miracle and Morality Plays. Toronto: Dover Thrift, 1995.
Brecht, Bertolt. The Threepenny Opera. New York: Grove Press, 1960.
Gay, John. The Beggar's Opera. Toronto: Dover Thirft, 1999.
Gilbert, Willima Scwenck. The Mikado. Toronto: Dover Thrift, 1992.
McMillin, Scott, ed. Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy, 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 1977.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Toronto: Dover Thrift, 1992.
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Toronto: Dover Thrift, 1991.
------. Antigone. Toronto: Dover Thrift, 1993.
------. Oedipus at Colonus. Toronto: Dover Thrift, 1999.
Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. New York: Grove Press, 1967.
Recommended Text
Pavis, Patrice. Theatre at the Crossroads of Culture. London: Routledge, 1992.
Other Required Supplies
Access to word processor with spell-checker or a typewriter and a good dictionary
A 3 ring-binder (spine no greater than 1") for submission of end of semester portfolio.
Course Objectives and Means
English 333
- Identify the major characteristics of the drama genre and subgenres
- Relate the historical context of drama to present-day instances of genre.
- Discuss drama, orally and in writing, with assurance.
- Appreciate literary connections and intertextuality from test to text within the genre.
- Respond to the different ways drama impacts and surrounds us today.
In order to achieve these goals, ENG 333 will use the following means:
- Read, view, stage, and inhabit various types of drama.
- Use various critical methodologies
- Use intertextuality in print and in discussion.
- Write short papers
- Prepare and revise an end of semester portfolio
Course Policies
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is critical although I do not record absences every day. I consider 3 recorded class absences reasonable; more than 3 absences (excused or not) may result in penalty to the overall grade. More than 6 recorded absences places the student in danger of failing the course. A student who is not prepared for class is considered absent and will be so recorded.
- The final session is required . Missing it carries a heavy penalty--failure for the course. The final is scheduled Monday, December 4 at 2pm in JGM 302. Attendance is a requirement and failure to appear at the designated time will result in failure for the course (so line up your baby-sitter or work replacement now!).
- Instead of a traditional "final," you will write to next semester's class, present your portfolio to this semester's class, and receive your copy of the class publication .
Academic Honesty Policy
It is required that students submit their own work. Students who are guilty of plagiarism or cheating in any form will automatically receive a zero for the assignment involved and will place themselves in jeopardy of failing the course.
Student Disability Policy
Students who have a disability which might prevent their maximum performance in the class should make this known to the instructor immediately so that provisions may be made for any assistance needed.
Grading Policies
Mid-term grades
Because no grades are in place by mid-term, grades at mid-term are based on attendance, completion of papers, and class participation. A rubric for mid-term grades will be handed out during our second week of classes.
Final grade
Your grade will be determined on the basis of a portfolio due November 20, 2000 (Monday prior to Thanksgiving break). This portfolio will consist of at least five finished and revised pieces of writing (in addition to the self-reflective essay). Three pieces must come from class although all three pieces may initially been in response to class assignments.
During the first two weeks of class, more detailed portfolio specifications will be handed out and previous portfolios will be brought to class. Because this is the first time ENG 333 has been offered, these portfolios will come from other classes and we will use them to shape both the scope of our portfolio as well as the scoring rubric.
We will meet to grade the portfolio on November 27 and 28, 2000. Class will not meet, therefore, on Monday November 27. You have the option of revising and resubmitting the portfolio at the final (December 4, 2000 at 2 pm).
You have only one opportunity to resubmit.
Minimal Passing Standards
In order to pass (grade of "D") the class
- the student complete all written assignments;
- the student submits a self-graded portfolio on November 20, 2000;
- the student amasses no more than 6 absences over the semester;
- the student attends the scheduled portfolio conference; and
- the student participates in the final session
- December 4, 2000.
- Failure to complete any one of these results in failure for the course.
Learning Activities and Projects
Fastwriting (freewriting)
Most classes begin with a short fastwriting to warm up. Bruce Ballenger defines this technique as encouraging us to think through writing rather than before. "Basically you just write down whatever come into your head, not worrying about whether you're being eloquent, grammatical, or even very smart." (Curious Researcher, 1) Frequently, our writing will focus on the reading, but sometimes the writing will be without focus. In all cases you will know how long you will be writing and with whom you will be sharing. These are not graded; however date and keep each freewriting.
Word Processing
In order to facilitate publishing and peer feedback, all drafts of papers (including any early drafts) must be word processed.
Deadlines
It is your responsibility to have material ready (i.e. proofread, spell-checked, edited, etc.) by deadlines assigned.
Instructor Response
Papers are scheduled so I can do three readings of your work and return the work to you at the next class period. If the work does not come in at the time assigned, it may not be returned to you until the end of the semester.
Credit will not be given until the instructor has commented on the work.
No letter grades are given on the writing assignments. Instead feedback is given by way of:
- an audio-tape contains my spoken on your paper,
- a ranking by thirds of your paper in comparison to the other papers submitted on the assignment (upper, middle, or lower).
These indicators are not convertible to letter grades. I welcome conferences with anyone who has questions about the paper, the tape, or how the paper might fit into the final portfolio.
Minimal Standards for Projects The project will be returned unread and uncredited if
- required materials (especially the audiotape) are not submitted correctly; and
- correct word-processing and spell checking have not been completed.
- peer responses are not completed if the class elects this.
Calendar
M August 21 Syllabus distributed. Initial question "What is drama?" posed.
W August 23 Drama, ritual, and religion. Read Everyman prior to class.
F August 25 How does one separate drama from ritual? Writing assignment 1: over the week-end, attend a religious service of any denomination (one you are familiar with or not), observe it from the dramatic perspective. Where is the rising action, the climax, the falling action?
M August 28 Family drama, ritual and soap opera. Read Oedipus Rex prior to class. Select your soap opera to begin watching for writing assignment # 2 (where you observe it from the perspective of Greek tragedy? What things do the two forms of drama have in common? How do they differ?)
W August 30 Write up of week-end religious/ritual observation is due. What family elements are universal in Oedipus? Do we need further information? To be continued? Discussion of Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone (the Theban tragedies) and the Orestia as soap operas.
F September 1 The nature of the hero. Everyman and Oedipus. What difference does the title make? Oedipus Tyrannus vs. Oedipus Rex?
M September 4 Labor Day (No classes)
W September 6 Writing assignment # 2 due. Drama, men/women and (situation) comedy. Read prior to class Whycherley's "The Country Wife" and Behn, "The Rover".
F September 8 What situation is comic? Is it always sexual? Choose your "text" for writing assignment # 3 (see September 18)--it can be one episode of a situation comedy or a screwball comedy movie or a romantic comedy movie. I will bring in some suggested titles of movies which might work.
M September 11 Read Collier (493-506) and Congreve 513-516) prior to class. Consider Collier's beginning dictum--Is the business of plays "to recommend virtue and discountenance vice"? We'll be looking at "The Rover" and "The Country Wife" through Collier's eyes.
W September 13 Read Powell (582-592) prior to class. Class discussion will agree and disagree with Powell.
F September 15 Read Diamond (597-611) prior to class. Class discussion will agree and disagree with Diamond.
M September 18 Writing # 3 due: Use any of the material between 535 and 565 to evaulate your "text" (see September 8) as a restoration comedy. In what ways are the concerns of comedy universal? In what ways specific to the time? Class discussion: Is comedy a branch of drama or something else entirely?
W September 20 Drama, politics, and society. Read prior to class Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" and Brecht "The Threepenny Opera." We will be listening to an alternative version of "The Threepenny Opera" over the next several days in class. Choose your "text" for Writing # 4 (See September 29). This text will be a campaign for a candidate or on an issue.
F September 22 Hero and anti-hero. Why is the anti-hero model so powerful? What draws us to it?
M September 25 What are women's roles in a patriarchal society?
W September 27 How does music change the composition of drama? Looking ahead to spectaculars.
F September 29 Writing # 4 due. This is a creative assignment. Your job is to create a "script" for your campaign. It doesn't have to be musical, but it must be socio/political. This class will begin to look at a production of "The Mikado"
M October 2 Drama, spectacle and the spectacular. Read prior to class, Gilbert "The Mikado." We will continue to view the Stratford "Mikado". We may transfer over to Mike Leigh's "Topsy-Turvy" so don't count on seeing the production. Choose your text for Writing # 5 (see October 11 ); this text can be another G&S operetta, it can be an opera, it can be a half-time show--it must be spectacular.
W October 4 "The Mikado": souffle or satire?
F October 6 W.S. Gilbert and the beginning of the modern director.
M October 9 Columbus Day --No classes
W October 11 We will continue to watch one of the visual texts.
F October 13 Writing assignment # 5 due. Using your chosen text, discuss either the role/vision of the director or which elements of drama are emphasized in the spectacular and which ignored or glossed over. We will continue to watch one of the productions.
M October 16 Drama, drama about drama, drama in reaction to drama. Prior to class, read Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Plots and counterplots--point and counterpoint.
W October 18 What difference does it make how the words are said? Visions of Hamlet's "Too, too, solid/sullied flesh" soliloquy.
F October 20 View "The Fifteen Minute Hamlet". Stoppard Connections. Choose your text for Writing Assignment # 6.
M October 23 Stoppard as director. View "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead"
W October 25 Continue with "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead"
F October 27 View "Discovering Hamlet"
M October 30 View parts of "Green Eggs and Hamlet" and other surprises.
W November 1 Continue work on "Hamlet."
F November 3 Continue work on "Hamlet."
M November 6 Writing assignment # 6 due. Basically this is an open paper as long as it relates in some way (creatively, critically) to "Hamlet." Is it a drama if it doesn't have words? View "Sherlock, Jr."
W November 8 Begin work on portfolio. Initial question "What is drama?" reconsidered.
F November 10 Continue work on portfolio. Initial question "What is drama?" reconsidered.
M November 13 Begin work on portfolio. Initial question "What is drama?" reconsidered.
W November 15 Begin work on portfolio. Initial question "What is drama?" reconsidered.
F November 17 Begin work on portfolio. Initial question "What is drama?" reconsidered.
M November 20 Portfolio due
Tuesday -- 4 pm Thanksgiving Break
M November 27 No class. Individual portfolio meetings. Publication materials due at conference.
W November 29 Evaluation
F December 1 Evaluation
Saturday Dec. 2 Classes end
M December 4 Final Exams begin
ENG 333 (1 M) Monday December 4 2:00-3:50
Go to Main Page