ENGL 78: Introduction to Shakespeare

Instructor: Dr. Adrienne L. Eastwood

Class Time and Location: Mondays & Wednesdays, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m., Sweeney Hall, 444

Office Location: FOB 116

Telephone: 408-924-4509

Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Course Description

In this course we will grapple with the question: does Shakespeare still matter in the twenty-first century? Students will study several of Shakespeare’s plays in depth, and then analyze modern film adaptations of those same works. Some of the pairings we will discuss include: The Taming of the Shrew – 10 Things I Hate About You (Dir. Gil Junger); Othello – “O” (Dir. Tim Blake Nelson); Macbeth – Scotland PA (Dir. Billy Morrissette); Twelfth Night – She’s the Man (Dir. A. Fickman); Hamlet – Hamlet (Dir. Almereyda, with Ethan Hawke). In each case, we will tease out the decisions made by each director in their attempt to remake or reinterpret Shakespeare’s work. This course satisfies the requirement in Area C2 (Letters) of the Core General Education.

Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives

The primary goal of this course is to introduce you to some of Shakespeare’s major works and to encourage you to imagine what life would have been like in Elizabethan England. You will also gain a reading competence in Elizabethan English. Finally, I would like you to acquire an appreciation for the range of choices involved in performing—and therefore interpreting—a Shakespearean play.

GE/SJSU Studies Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

v Recognize how significant works illuminate enduring human concerns by reading and discussing six of Shakespeare’s plays and comparing them with modern productions.

v Respond to such works by writing both researched-based critical analyses and personal responses. Written assignments will include three essays: two of which ask for personal comparisons and one which requires the research of recent stage productions.

v Write clearly and effectively. All written assignments will be graded and responded to in detail to foster clear and efficient writing.

Course Content Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

v Examine significant works of the human intellect and imagination

v Understand the historical and cultural contexts in specific works of art were created

v Recognize the accomplishments of and issues related to women and diverse cultures reflected in such texts.

Required Texts/Readings

Oxford School Shakespeare Editions of the following plays:

The Taming of the Shrew Henry V

Twelfth Night Othello

Hamlet Macbeth

All required books are available from Spartan Bookstore.

Grading Breakdown: Class Participation: 10%

Essay 1: 10%

Essay 2: 10%

Essay 3: 15%

Midterm Exam: 25%

Final Exam: 30%

Course Requirements: Have the materials read in full by the time we begin to discuss them in class. Active class participation is required. I reserve the right to assign quizzes and written assignments throughout the semester. There are several films (indicated on the schedule below) that you are required to view for this class. In some cases, these will be screened during class time, but in other cases, you are required to view these films as homework. Whenever possible, I will place these films on reserve at the Instructional Resource Center (IRC), 130 Dudley Moorehead Hall. Otherwise, they are widely available at video rental stores. You may also choose to view one or more of the recommended films which I will also place on reserve at the IRC.

Exams: There will be two exams for this course: an in-class midterm given on week 6 and a final. Several unscheduled quizzes will also be given during the semester to ensure that you are keeping up with the reading. The grades on these will count as part of your participation for the course.

Written Work: You will be asked to write three short (1-2 pages, single spaced) papers for this class. Topics and directions for each paper will be distributed in advance. One of these will be a research-based essay. In each paper, you will be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of particular directorial decisions and weigh them against your understanding of the themes in present in Shakespeare’s play text. Although in some cases you will be analyzing adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, your success on these papers will be directly proportional to your knowledge and understanding of the texts.

In addition to the three essays, you will be asked to write short (no more than one page), informal reviews of the films you are required to view. The ideas you produce here might be developed further for your longer essays. These reviews will be counted as part of your participation grade. Directions will be distributed or discussed in advance.

All assignments must be typed, with 1” margins all around. Please use a 12 point font. General guidelines for papers will be discussed in class. Each student will write a minimum of 3,000 words in this class. Written assignments will be spaced throughout the semester to allow instructor feedback on student writing.

Late Papers: Turning in assignments late is unfair to the other students; therefore, I will lower your grade one full letter for each day the paper is late. In the case of emergencies, please contact me.

I will not accept emailed assignments.

Participation: A portion (10%) of your grade will be based on your participation in class; therefore regular attendance is imperative. If for some reason you are forced to miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what information and/or assignments you missed.

In order to receive an A or a B in participation, you must do more than just attend class. You must also demonstrate to me that you have been keeping up with the readings and thinking about the questions raised by the lectures. I expect each of you to engage in the class discussions, participate in group activities, and come to class with the relevant materials.

Course Recommendations: Read the materials thoroughly before class. Read actively: mark passages that interest you and formulate questions about them. Come prepared to discuss what interests you about these texts. Bring the appropriate texts with you to class so that you can follow the lectures and participate in the discussions. In some cases, your homework will include viewing one of the required films. Make sure you plan ahead: the reviews are due the first class meeting after they are assigned. The films should be widely available at video rental stores.

THE WRITING CENTER: If you need extra help with any aspect of your writing, please visit our skilled tutors at the Writing Center, Clark Hall, Suite 126.

Call for appointments: 924-2308

Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Or go online: www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-298.html. Information about late drop is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.

University Policies

Academic integrity

Students should know that the University’s Academic Integrity Policy is availabe at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University’s integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical Development is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.

Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability.