Missouri Western State College

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Languages and Journalism

ENG 333-01: Studies in Drama

Class meets 3 pm Murphy Hall 104

Fall 2008


Basic Information

Instructor Information

Dr. Karen U. Fulton, Professor

Communication

Tel: 271-4317(work) 1-660-582-8830 (home)

e-mail: fulton@missouriwestern.edu

Office Hours

Office: Eder Hall 222H (SS/C building)

M 10-11 and 1-3

TT 11-12; other hours by appointment

Required Texts

Gardner, Janet E. Twelve Plays: A Portable Anthology. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2003.

Stoppard, Tom. Rock ‘n’ Roll. Some copies available from the instructor.

Other Required Supplies

Access to word processor with spell-checker.

Access to internet connection so that you can receive materials posted on the O-drive or Web CT

A 3 ring-binder (spine no greater than 1/2") for submission of end of semester portfolio.


Course Objectives and Means

English 333

  1. Identify the major characteristics of the drama genre and subgenres
  2. Relate the historical context of drama to present-day instances of genre.
  3. Discuss drama, orally and in writing, with assurance.
  4. Appreciate literary connections and intertextuality from test to text within and between genres.
  5. Respond to the different ways drama impacts and surrounds us today.

In order to achieve these goals, ENG 333 will use the following means:

  1.  View, read, stage, and inhabit various types of drama.
  2. Use various critical methodologies
  3. Use intertextuality in print and in discussion.
  4. Write short papers
  5. Prepare and revise an end of semester portfolio

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Class attendance is critical although I do not record absences every day. In a class which meets only once a week, a student who misses one single class misses an entire week’s worth of work and may find the course grade adversely affected.  Missing twice places the student in danger of failing the class.   

The final session is required. Missing it carries a heavy penalty--failure for the course. The final is scheduled Friday, December 12 at 2pm in our classroom. 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.   Generally in the past, a common grade is decided on with deviations from that grade intended to convey information to the student.

Final grade

Your grade will be determined on the basis of a portfolio due Monday, November 17 at class time. This portfolio will consist of at least three finished and revised pieces of writing (in addition to the self-reflective essay). One piece 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.

You will meet with me to grade the portfolio beginning Wednesday, November 19. This will give you adequate time to revise (should you wish to do so). The final day for resubmitting the portfolio will be December 12, 2008.  You have only one opportunity to resubmit.

Minimal Passing Standards

In order to pass (grade of "D") the class

  • the student must complete all written assignments;
  • the student must submit a self-graded portfolio on November 17, 2008;
  • the student must not miss more 1 class during the semester;
  • the student must attend the scheduled portfolio conference; and
  • the student must participates in the final session
    • December 12, 2008
  • Failure to complete any one of these results in failure for the course.

 

 

Instructor’s Philosophy of Teaching Drama

Drama is perhaps the oldest form of literature.  Certainly it existed in performance before it was written down.  Equally certain is the fact that it is intimately related to and linked with religious observances.  We can pinpoint this easily with Greek theatre, but the impulse to “act out” as part of a religious rite can be seen in any religious service you attend even today.  This course will focus first on performance therefore. 

One of the fundamental differences between “drama” and “theatre” is, I believe, that drama takes in the category of reading the text, where theatre does not. Therefore, most sessions will begin with a writing and/or quiz which asks that you reflect in some way on the reading you have done prior to class.

In addition, you will complete a one page (12 point Arial double-spaced) on each play we read prior to coming to class. I will pick these up with regularity and you will include them in your end-of-semester portfolio.

Word Processing

All drafts of papers 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

The submission of your first paper will be followed by a conference with me where we will discuss the paper and record that discussion. I can burn a CD for you; however, if you have a recording device of your own, you may want to use it since the process of burning the CD is a somewhat time-consuming one. Credit is not be given until the instructor has commented on the work.

No letter grades are given on the writing assignments

Such indicators as I give are not convertible to letter grades. I welcome conferences with anyone who has questions about the paper or how the paper might fit into the final portfolio.

 

 

Minimal Standards for Projects

The project will be not be responded to if format requirements,  word-processing, and spell checking have not been completed.



 

Calendar:

 

8/25 Go over syllabus, procedures, portfolios, drama, etc.

9/1 No class – Labor Day

9/8 Sophocles Oedipus Rex and “A Brief History of Western Theater” (705-711)

9/15 The Mysteries

9/22 Shakespeare Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

9/29 Ibsen A Doll’s House

10/6 Williams, The Glass Menagerie

10/13 Miller, Death of a Salesman

10/20 Beckett, Endgame

10/27 Churchill, Top Girls

11/3 Fugard, ‘MASTER HAROLD’ . . .and the boys

11/10 Stoppard, Rock ‘n’ Roll

 

Due dates:

9/29 First paper due

10/20 Second Paper due

11/17 Portfolio due (including journal)

12/12 Final examination session 2pm