ENGL 339: Introduction to Shakespeare
Calendar of Assignments, Winter, 2020 

Term: Winter, 2020
Class: T/R 7-9 AM (ENGL 339-01) and T/R 9-11 AM (ENGL 339-02) in 2-13
Office: 47-35G, tel. 756-2636 (email me rather than leaving a voicemail; I am not usually in my office outside my T 12-1 office hour)
Office Hours: T 12:10-1:00 PM in 47-35G; Th 11:10 AM - noon in 2-13; F 10:10 AM - noon in 2-13; and by appt.		 Players Dr. Debora B. Schwartz 
http://cola.calpoly.edu/~dschwart
Main English Office:  756-2597
e-mail: dschwart@calpoly.edu


NOTE:  THIS CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS is intended to be consulted online.  (Print-out would be VERY long, and assignments are subject to change.)  


Week  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Week 1   (January 7- 9)
 

Topic and Readings
Day 1 Introduction and background; course requirements and expectations; initial lecture on Shakespeare's Life and Backgrounds to Shakespeare. 
Day 2 Backgrounds to Shakespeare, cont., and introduction to A Midsummer Night's Dream.

1) Read completely through the "top layer" of the online syllabus (text only, without following any links) so that you are fully aware of course policies and expectations (not all of which we had time to cover at our first class meeting).

2) Fill out the ENGL 339 Questionnaire (stapled to the Information Sheet distributed in class) as fully and completely as possible; be sure to CIRCLE YOUR CLASS SECTION at the top of the questionnaire.  Questionnaires are to be turned in to Dr. Schwartz in class on Thursday so that she can use them to create the PolyLearn Discussion Groups you will be assigned to this quarter.

3) Purchase a copy of the required Signet Classics edition of A Midsummer Night's Dream (inexpensive; available for purchase at El Corral bookstore) and complete the following reading assignment BEFORE OUR CLASS MEETING:

REQUIRED BACKGROUND READINGS:
  • In the "Shakespeare: An Overview" portion of the Signet Classics required textbook A Midsummer Night's Dream, read the "Biographical Sketch," "The Shakespeare Canon" and "Shakespeare's Theater," including "A Note on the Use of Boy Actors in Female Roles" (Signet Classics MND, pp. vii-xviii and xxvi-xxxvi).
  • Three online background readings: "Humanist Education," "Problems with Shakespeare's Texts," and "Shakespearean Verse and Prose" (PRINT OUT, put in a course binder, and bring it with you to class)
  •  Dr. Schwartz's online A Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide (PRINT OUT, put in a course binder, and bring with you to class).
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
  • Read through a synopsis (plot summary) of A Midsummer Night's Dream  -- e.g. the online Shakespeare Resource Center's MND synopsis,  or any other summary you find helpful.
  • Watch a filmed version of the play.  I will be placing DVD copies of five different recommended video versions on 2-day reserve for ENGL 339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk.  There is also an online version of the BBC television Shakespeare series available through the Kennedy Library website (login through the Portal is required).
 REQUIRED PRIMARY READING:
  • In the Signet Classics required textbook A Midsummer Night's Dream, read all of Act I and Act II Scene 1 (pp. 2-26); use the list of characters (Dramatis Personae) on p. 2 to learn character names (which you will need to know on Tuesday for the MND Reading Quiz). Before you tackle the reading assignment in the play, follow the link to the online MND STUDY GUIDE, which should be printed out and consulted BEFORE you begin reading the play.
LOOKING AHEAD: The film of the 1982 Public Theatre / New York Shakespeare festival production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (165 minutes), directed by James LaPine (for the stage) and Emile Ardolino (for the film) and produced by Joseph Papp, is required viewing for this class, and must be screened prior to our class meeting on the video discussion day, day 2 of week 3. Two DVD copies of this filmed version will be on course reserve for ENGL 339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk; group screenings will be scheduled in a Kennedy Library Computer lab.

Week 2    (January 16 - 18)

Topic and Readings
Day 1 A Midsummer Night's Dream (whole play; follow link for online STUDY GUIDE).

READING QUIZ.

LOOKING AHEAD: The 1982 Public Theatre / New York Shakespeare festival film (165 minutes), directed by James LaPine (for the stage) and Emile Ardolino (for the film) and produced by Joseph Papp, is REQUIRED VIEWING before our class meeting on day 2 of week 3. 

A MND Video Worksheet for this production is available on PolyLearn; it will be due in hard copy at that class meeting.  Additionally, you must post an electronic version of your Video Worksheet to your Discussion Group on Polylearn (failure to do so will count as an Unexcused Absence in the calculation of the 20% of your course grade based upon Participation, Intellectual Engagement and Collaboration).

Two copies of the film, each copied onto two DVDs, are on reserve for ENGL 252/339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk, under the call number 822.33 M584P2 (DVD) Pt.1 and 822.33 M584P2 (DVD) Pt.2.  Please note that the Joseph Papp production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was never released on DVD and that the VHS version was never released commercially and is out of print; the film therefore cannot be obtained through Netflix or any online streaming service I am aware of.
 
For your convenience, Group Screenings will be scheduled in a library computer classroom over the next week (specific times and locations TBA). 
Day 2 A Midsummer Night's Dream cont. 

NOTE 1: The MND Video Worksheet for the required video, the 1982 Joseph Papp production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (available on PolyLearn) is DUE in hard copy at our next class meeting (day 2 of wk. 3). 
Additionally, you must post an electronic version of your Video Worksheet to your Discussion Group on Polylearn (failure to do so will count as an Unexcused Absence in the calculation of the 20% of your course grade based upon Participation, Intellectual Engagement and Collaboration).

NOTE 2:  FIRST DISCUSSION GROUP 2-PAGE MINI-ESSAY IS DUE TO YOUR POLYLEARN DISCUSSION GROUP BY MIDNIGHT this F (end of week 2).  2 CLASSMATE RESPONSES (="CRs") of 1-2 meaty paragraphs each, citing AT LEAST ONE new piece of textual evidence (a quote that is not included in the ME to which you are responding) ARE DUE BY MIDNIGHT this SUNDAY (between weeks 2 and 3).

  • In your assigned Polylearn Discussion Group, post a TWO-PAGE Mini-Essay which uses textual support to explore some aspect of A Midsummer Night's Dream that goes beyond simple plot summary (what happens) to provide some sort of textual analysis (e.g. how what happens is conveyed: the implications of specific imagery used by Shakespeare; what speeches and scenes demonstrate a given character's motivation; the implications of parallels found in the text; how symbolism is used to convey an underlying message or theme, etc.) HINT: Thinking about questions on the A Midsummer Night's Dream Study Guide or a class discussion that you found particularly interesting can be a fruitful starting point for your ME!
  • Read carefully through both the information found within the ME Template and the Guidelines for Discussion Group Mini-Essays and Classmate Responses.  You must FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES (click on the links) to receive credit for Discussion Group assignments.  Edit your ME carefully, using a hard copy of the printer-friendly version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist available on Polylearn.
  • Use the ME Template available on Polylearn to format your ME, which should be pasted into the template itself.
  • This two-page MINI-ESSAY ("ME 1") is due to your assigned PolyLearn Discussion Group no later than MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY of week 2. 
  • To receive credit for posting ME 1, you must post TWO 1- to 2-paragraph Classmate Responses (=CR), one to each of TWO MEs posted by other members of your Discussion Group, no later than MIDNIGHT on SUNDAY before the start of week 3.  Each CR must cite at least one additional piece of textual support (beyond the quotations in the ME you are responding to) in support of your comments and claims.
  • Be sure that both your Mini-Essay and your two Classmate Responses follow assignment guidelines! 
  • Bring HARD COPY PRINT-OUT of your ME 1 to our first class meeting of week 3.  You will exchange print-outs within your Discussion Group for the first peer-editing assignment, due in class on day two of week 3.  As you complete the Peer Editing Assignment, use a hard copy of the printer-friendly version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist available on Polylearn. (Do NOT print out the web page version of the Checklist.)

Week 3    (January 21 -23)

REMEMBER: the Joseph Papp production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (165 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by class time on day 2 of week 3.  Group screening rooms have been reserved for the following dates and times:

•TBA
The first person arriving for a group video screening will need to check out the two DVDs (two different DVDs labelled Part 1 and Part 2) out of the ENGL 252/339 Course Reserves at the library Circulation Desk; the 1982 Joseph Papp production is on two DVDs that are filed under the call numbers 822.33 M584P2 (DVD) Pt.1 and 822.33 M584P2 (DVD) Pt.2.


Topic and Readings
Day 1 NO CLASS -- MONDAY CLASSES MEET
Day 2 VIDEO DISCUSSION: Joseph Papp production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (165 min.), which must be screened in its entirety prior to today's class; clips from other versions of A Midsummer Night's Dream will also be screened and discussed in class (and covered on the Midterm Exam -- so take good notes!)

DUE IN CLASS TODAY:
  • Hard copy of MND VIDEO WORKSHEET (posted on PolyLearn) is DUE IN CLASS TODAY.  In addition to bringing hard copy with you to class SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADDITIONAL NOTES ON IT DURING CLASS DISCUSSION, you must post an electronic copy of your Video Worksheet to your PolyLearn Discussion Group (subject line:  MND Video Worksheet).  Failure to post the electronic version of your Video Worksheet to your PolyLearn Discussion Group will count as an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE in the calculation of the 20% of your final course grade based upon Participation, Intellectual Engagement, and Collaboration. 
  • Also bring HARD COPY PRINT-OUT of your two-page ME 1 (preferably printed on two sides of a single page) to exchange with a Discussion Group member for first required peer-editing exercise.  Peer-edited MEs must be turned in TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR, along with a filled out Essay Evaluation Checklist (.PDF file available on PolyLearn), at our next class meeting (day 1 of week 4). NOTE: Be sure to use a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist available on Polylearn. (Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)

Week 4    (January 28 - 30)

REMEMBER: Laurence Olivier's film of Henry V (136 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by class time on day 1 of week 5.  Group screening rooms have been reserved for the following dates and times:

•TBA
As usual, the first person arriving for a group video screening will need to check the video out of the ENGL 339 Reserves at the library Circulation Desk; the Laurence Olivier film you must see is a VHS tape filed under the call number  822.33 H393O5 (Vid. C.).


Topic and Readings
Day 1

Shakespeare's History Plays: Henry V

  • Required Primary Reading: Henry V, Acts I-II.
  • Required Reading Tools: HV online plot summary and Henry V Study Guide; read these BEFORE you do the primary reading as they will help you understand the play.
  • Required Background Reading:  "The Histories" (online reading).
  • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: viewing a filmed version of the play.  There are DVD and/or VHS copies of three different recommended versions on 2-day reserve for ENGL 252/339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk. 
    There is also an online version of the BBC television Shakespeare series available through the Kennedy Library website (login with your Cal Poly ID is required). 

DUE IN HARD COPY TODAY:  Your PEER-EDIT of a classmate's ME 1, along with the Essay Evaluation checklist you have filled out for that ME, is due to your instructor TODAY IN CLASS.  You will not be graded on your peer-editing, but failure to complete this assignment will count as an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE in the calculation of the 20% of your final course grade based upon Participation, Intellectual Engagement, and Collaboration. 

LOOKING AHEAD 1:  Laurence Olivier's film of Henry V (136 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by class time on day 1 of week 5.  You should read the short e-reserve reading by Laurence Olivier about his film of Henry V prior to screening the film (.PDF file, 2 pp.; on e-reserve in PolyLearn).   A HV Video Worksheet (available on PolyLearn) will be due in hard copy in class on the day of the Video Discussion.

Group screenings of this required film will be scheduled in a library computer lab (specific dates and times TBA), or you can see it on your own (may be available through NetFlix; may be available through Public Libraries and in some local video stores, e.g. Crossroads Video in SLO).  ONE VHS copy is on Reserve for ENGL 339 in the Kennedy library under the call number 822.33 H393O5 (Vid. C.)).

LOOKING AHEAD 2: Your two-page ME 2 (on Henry V) IS DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group BY MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY of week 4.   Two classmate responses (1-2 meaty paragraphs each) are due by midnight on SUNDAY between weeks 4 and 5.
Day 2
 Shakespeare's History Plays: Henry V, cont.  READING QUIZ.

  • Finish reading WHOLE PLAY by class time, using HV online plot summary and Henry V Study Guide to help you understand the play.  READING QUIZ.
  • NEW Required Background Readings:  "Textual Note" and "The Sources of Henry V" (129-134) in the Required Signet Classics textbook.

    • REMINDER 1:   Laurence Olivier's film of Henry V (136 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by our NEXT CLASS MEETING (day 1 of week 5).  Group screenings will be scheduled in a library computer lab (specific dates and times TBA), or see on your own (may be available through NetFlix, Hulu and/or Amazon.com; may be available through Public Libraries and in some local video stores, e.g. Crossroads Video in SLO).  ONE VHS copy is on Reserve for ENGL 339 in the Kennedy library under the call number 822.33 H393O5 (Vid. C.).  Hard copy of your HV VIDEO WORKSHEET (available on PolyLearn) will be DUE in class.

    		REMINDERS:
    • Your two-page ME 2 (on Henry V) IS DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group BY MIDNIGHT this FRIDAY (end of week 4).   Classmate responses are due by midnight on SUNDAY before the start of week 5. 
    • Remember that your two-page ME 2 must use textual support to explore some aspect of Henry V that goes beyond simple plot summary (what happens) to provide some sort of textual analysis (e.g. how what happens is conveyed): the implications of specific imagery used by Shakespeare; the importance of a key theme, such as the conflict between public and private; an argument concerning Henry's character or lack of same (is he a heroic and selfless king or a savvy and corrupt possibly corrupt political player?); what speeches and scenes demonstrate a given character's motivation; the implications of parallels found in the text; how symbolism is used to convey an underlying message or theme, etc.  HINT: Thinking about questions on the Henry V Study Guide or a class discussion that you found particularly interesting can be a fruitful starting point for your ME!

    ME 2 (two pages on Henry V) IS DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group BY MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY.   Two classmate responses are due by midnight on SUNDAY.

    Week 5  (February 4 - 6) 


    		TOPIC AND READINGS
    Day 1
    		 Henry V wrap-up and film discussion.  BEFORE this class meeting:
    • You must have read Laurence Olivier's comments on his 1944 film Henry V (.PDF file, 2 pp.; on e-reserve in PolyLearn);
    • You must have screened the required Laurence Olivier film in its entirety and filled out the Henry V Video Worksheet which is DUE IN HARD COPY IN CLASS.
    NOTE 1: Clips from other versions of Henry V will also be screened and discussed in class, and THESE CLIPS WILL BE COVERED ON THE EXAM, so take careful notes!  

    New required reading : 
    • Laurence Olivier on Henry V ( read prior to screening film) (.PDF file, 2 pp.; on e-reserve in PolyLearn)
    REMINDERS:
    HV VIDEO WORKSHEET DUE IN CLASS TODAY.  In addition to bringing hard copy with you to class SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADDITIONAL NOTES ON IT DURING CLASS DISCUSSION, you must post an electronic copy of your Video Worksheet to your PolyLearn Discussion Group (subject line:  HV Video Worksheet).  Failure to post the electronic version of your Video Worksheet to your PolyLearn Discussion Group will count as an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE in  the calculation of the 20% of your final course grade based upon Participation, Intellectual Engagement, and Collaboration. 
    Henry V     wrap-up (text, required film, and video clips). 
    Day 2
    		1st hour: Henry V wrap-up (text, required film, and video clips). Thereafter:

    2nd hour: Timed Essay-Writing Workshop -- Tips on Writing GWR-Worthy Exam Essays

    REQUIRED READINGS:





    Week 6  (February 11 -13)

    Day 1
    		 MIDTERM EXAM.   BRING 100-QUESTION SCANTRON FORM (50 questions per side) AND LARGE FORMAT EXAM BOOK FOR ESSAY SECTION! (GWR certification possible.)
    Day 2
    		 Shakespearean Tragedy 1:  Macbeth.
    • Required Primary Reading:  Macbeth (in required Signet Classics edition). Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 
    • Required Reading Tools: Macbeth online plot summary and Macbeth Study Guide; read these BEFORE you do the primary readings as they will help you understand the play.
    • Required Background Reading: "Tragedy" (online reading)
    • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: viewing a filmed version of the play.  There are DVD and/or VHS copies of several recommended versions on 2-day reserve for ENGL 252/339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk, or you may watch another version of your choice.  There is also an online version of the BBC television Shakespeare series available through the Kennedy Library website (login with your Cal Poly ID is required). 
    NOTE: there is no required film version of Macbeth, but if you choose to watch a video version of the play, you may write up the Macbeth Video questions for Extra Credit. Be sure identify the specific video you are writing up by year, director, and production company.

    OUT OF CLASS WRITING/ LOOKING AHEAD:
    • Your two-page ME 3 (on Macbeth) is DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY of week 7; two CRs are due by midnight on Sunday prior to week 8.
    • Remember that the revision and expansion to 3-4 PAGES of ONE two-page ME must be submitted for a grade.  Revised and expanded versions of MEs 1-4 will be accepted no sooner than a full week after CRs are posted for the ME; the last date to submit your revised ME is our final class meeting (day 2 of week 10).
    • The five ungraded, two-page MEs submitted to your Discussion Group are potential first drafts of the 3-4 -page revised/expanded paper you will submit for a grade; this 3-4 page Graded Paper (ME Revision/Expansion) will be worth 15% of your final course grade.  Along with your revised and expanded ME, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page ME submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.
    • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.

    Week 7  (February 18 - 20)


    		Topic and Readings
    Day 1 Macbeth, conclusion; intro to Hamlet. Bring BOTH textbooks with you to class!

    1st hour (or as needed): complete discussion of Macbeth.

    Thereafter: NEW TOPIC:     Introduction to Shakespearean Revenge Tragedy:  Hamlet. 
    • Required Primary Reading: Acts 1-2 of Hamlet (in required Signet Classics edition).
    • Required Reading Tools: Hamlet online plot summary and Hamlet Study Guide; read these BEFORE you do the primary reading as they will help you understand the play.
    • Required ONLINE BACKGROUND READINGS:  "Revenge Tragedy"

    OUT-OF-CLASS WRITING ASSIGNMENT: your 2-page ME 3 (on Macbeth) is DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY of week 7.  Classmate responses to TWO classmates' ME 3s are due by MIDNIGHT on SUNDAY before week 8.

    • In your assigned Polylearn Discussion Group, post a Mini-Essay which uses textual support to explore some aspect of  Macbeth that goes beyond simple plot summary (what happens) to provide some sort of textual analysis (e.g. how what happens is conveyed: an argument about who has moral responsibility for the tragic events; the implications of specific imagery used by Shakespeare; what speeches and scenes demonstrate a given character's motivation; the implications of parallels found in the text such as the use of dramatic foils; how symbolism is used to convey an underlying message or theme, etc.)  HINT: Thinking about questions on the Macbeth Study Guide or a class discussion that you found interesting can be a fruitful starting point for your ME!
    • Use the ME Template available on Polylearn to format your ME, which can be pasted into the template itself. 
    • As you work on your ME, edit your work using a hard copy of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist available on Polylearn.
    • To receive credit for ME 3, you must post TWO short Classmate Responses (one to each of TWO Mini-Essays posted by other members of your Discussion Board group) no later than midnight on SUNDAY before Week 7. 
    • Be sure that both your Mini-Essay and your two Classmate Responses follow assignment guidelines!
    Day 2 Shakespearean Revenge Tragedy: Hamlet.
    • Required Primary Reading: Full text of Hamlet (in required Signet Classics edition). Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 
    • Required Reading Tools: Hamlet online plot summary and Hamlet Study Guide; read these BEFORE you do the primary readings as they will help you understand the play.
    • Required ONLINE BACKGROUND READINGS:  "Revenge Tragedy" and "Establishing the Text of Hamlet" (it may also be helpful to review "Problems with Shakespeare's Texts").
    • Required background readings in the Signet Classics textbook: "A Note on the Texts of Hamlet" (145-61); "A Note on the Sources of Hamlet" (167-70).
    • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: viewing a filmed version of the play.  There are DVD and/or VHS copies of several recommended versions on 2-day reserve for ENGL 252/339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk, or you may watch another version of your choice.  There is also an online version of the BBC Television Shakespeare Series available through the Kennedy Library website (entrance through the Cal Poly portal or login with your Cal Poly ID is required).

    LOOKING AHEAD 1:  your two-page ME 4 (on Hamlet) is DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY of week 8.
    Two Classmate Responses are due to your Polylearn Discussion Group by MIDNIGHT on SUNDAY before week 9.

  • Remember that the revision and expansion to three pages of ONE ME must be submitted for a grade (worth 15% of the final course grade).  Revised/expanded versions of MEs 1-4 will be accepted no sooner than a full week after CRs are posted for the ME; the last date to submit your revised/expanded ME is our final class meeting (day 2 of week 10). 
  • Along with your revised and expanded ME, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page draft submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.

  • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.

    •   LOOKING AHEAD 2: Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (155 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by our class meeting on day 1 of week 8.  Your Hamlet Video worksheet (available on Polylearn) must be filled out and brought in hard copy to that class meeting.

    A VHS copy of Olivier's Hamlet is on reserve for ENGL 339 in the Kennedy Library under the call number 822.33 H1805 (Vid. C.); I have also placed a personal DVD copy on the class reserve.  It may also be available on DVD through NetFlix, for rent from Amazon and/or Hulu, and may be available at public libraries and in some local video stores (e.g. Crossroads Video in SLO).  One or more GROUP SCREENING(S) will be scheduled; details TBA.

    Week 8  (February 25 - 27)


    		 Topic and Readings
    Day 1

    Hamlet film discussion.  BEFORE this class meeting:

    • Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (155 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by today's class meeting.  After watching this film, fill out the Hamlet Video Worksheet (posted on Polylearn) with as much specific detail as possible, and post it to your Discussion Group BEFORE our class meeting today.  (Also bring hard copy with you to class so you can take notes during the discussion!)
    NOTE: Clips from other versions of Hamlet will also be screened and discussed in class, and THESE CLIPS WILL BE COVERED ON THE EXAM, so take careful notes!  

    REMINDERS:
    • HAM VIDEO WORKSHEET DUE IN CLASS TODAY.  In addition to bringing hard copy with you to class SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE ADDITIONAL NOTES ON IT DURING CLASS DISCUSSION, you must post an electronic copy of your Video Worksheet to your PolyLearn Discussion Group (subject line:  HAM Video Worksheet).  Failure to post the electronic version of your Video Worksheet to your PolyLearn Discussion Group will count as an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE in  the calculation of the 20% of your final course grade based upon Participation, Intellectual Engagement, and Collaboration. 

    Day 2 As needed: Hamlet wrap-up and any remaining film clips. 

    NEW TOPIC:  Intro to Shakespeare's Romances: The Tempest. 
    • Read AT LEAST Acts 1-2 by class time, using The Tempest online plot summary and The Tempest Study Guide to help you understand the play.

    • Required Background Reading: "The Romances" (online reading) and "Blackfriars Theater and Audience Expectations" (first part of Tempest Study Guide).

    • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: viewing a filmed version of the play.  There are DVD and/or VHS copies of several recommended versions on 2-day reserve for ENGL 252/339 at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk, or you may watch another version of your choice.  There is also an online version of the BBC television Shakespeare series available through the Kennedy Library website (login with your Cal Poly ID is required). 

    REMINDERS:
    • Two-page ME 4 (on Hamlet) IS DUE to your Polylearn Discussion Group BY MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY of week 8.   CRs are due by midnight on SUNDAY before week 9.  
    • Use the ME Template available on Polylearn to format your ME, which can be pasted into the template itself.  
    • Read carefully through both the information found within the ME Template and the Guidelines for Discussion Group Mini-Essays and Classmate Responses.  You must FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES (click on the links) to receive credit for Discussion Group assignments.
    • In your assigned Polylearn Discussion Group, post a Mini-Essay which uses textual support to explore some aspect of Hamlet that goes beyond simple plot summary (what happens) to provide some sort of textual analysis (e.g. how what happens is conveyed: the implications of specific imagery used by Shakespeare; the importance of a key theme; what speeches and scenes demonstrate a given character's motivation; the implications of foil characters or other parallels found in the text; how symbolism is used to convey an underlying message or theme, etc.)  HINT: Thinking about questions on the Hamlet Study Guide or a class discussion that you found interesting can be a fruitful starting point for your ME!

  • Remember that the revision and expansion to three pages of ONE two-page ME must be submitted for a grade (worth 15% of the final course grade).  Revised/expanded versions of MEs 1-4 will be accepted no sooner than a full week after CRs are posted for the ME; the last date to submit your revised/expanded ME is our final class meeting (day 2 of week 10). 
  • Along with your revised and expanded ME, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page ME submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.
  • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.

    		•

    Week 9 (March 3 - 5)


    		Topic and Readings
    Day 1 The Tempest, cont. READ WHOLE PLAY; READING QUIZ.

    NEW REQUIRED BACKGROUND READINGS: 
    • "Textual Note" (p. 89 in the required Signet Classics textbook); 
    • "The Sources of The Tempest" and ALL SOURCES printed in the Signet Classics text, pp. 91-105.

    LOOKING AHEAD:  ME 5 (on The Tempest) is due to your PolyLearn Discussion Group no later than midnight on Friday of week 9.  Classmate Responses are due no later than midnight on the Sunday before week 10.

  • Remember that the revision/expansion of ONE ME must be submitted for a grade no later than our last class meeting (day 2 of week 10).  If you will be revising/expanding your ME 5 on The Tempest, you MUST arrange to receive feedback from your Peer Editor no later than day one of week ten, so that you can take the Peer Editor's filled out Checklist and Final Comment / Suggestions for Expansion into account before completing your ME revision and expansion (worth 15% of the final course grade).
  • Along with your revised and expanded three-page Graded Paper, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page ME submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.

  • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.

    • REMINDER 2:  If you have not yet claimed the speech/scene you will perform the last week of class, check out the Performance Sign-Up page of speeches/scenes that have already been claimed (and thus are off limits), and email Dr. Schwartz to reserve the speech or scene of your choice.

    The date/time on your email determines who gets a given speech / scene (first come, first served).  To reserve a speech or scene, please email me from your Cal Poly account.  Subject line of the email should begin with your class section (ENGL 339-01 or ENGL 339-02) and specify the abbreviated play title, act, scene and inclusive line numbers of the speech or scene you intend to perform.  In the body of the email, state the part you (and any others in the scene, if applicable) will be playing and briefly describe the scene/speech.
    Day 2 The Tempest, cont. 

    IMPORTANT: If you have not yet claimed the speech/scene you will perform the last week of class, check out the Performance Sign-Up page of speeches/scenes that have already been claimed (and thus are off limits), and email Dr. Schwartz to reserve the speech or scene of your choice.

    The date/time on your email determines who gets a given speech / scene (first come, first served).  To reserve a speech or scene, please email me from your Cal Poly account.  Subject line of the email should begin with your class section (ENGL 339-01 or ENGL 339-02) and specify the abbreviated play title, act, scene and inclusive line numbers of the speech or scene you intend to perform.  In the body of the email, state the part you (and any others in the scene, if applicable) will be playing and briefly describe the scene/speech.

    REMINDER:  ME 5 (on The Tempest) is due to your PolyLearn Discussion Group no later than midnight on Friday of week 9.  Classmate Responses are due no later than midnight on Sunday before week 10.

  • Remember that the revision of ONE ME must be submitted for a grade no later than our last class meeting (day 2 of week 10).  If you will be revising/expanding your ME 5 on The Tempest, you MUST arrange to receive feedback from your Peer Editor no later than day one of week ten, so that you can take the Peer Editor's filled out Checklist and Final Comment / Suggestions for Expansion into account before completing your ME revision and expansion (worth 15% of the final course grade).

  • Along with your revised and expanded three-page Graded Paper, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page ME submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.
  • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.

    Week 10 (March 10 - 12)


    		Topic and Readings
    Day 1

    As needed:  The Tempest, wrap-up. 

    PERFORMANCES.

  • Remember that the revision of ONE ME must be submitted for a grade no later than our last class meeting (day 2 of week 10).  If you will be revising/expanding your ME 5 on The Tempest, you MUST arrange to receive feedback from your Peer Editor no later than day one of week ten, so that you can take the Peer Editor's filled out Checklist and Final Comment / Suggestions for Expansion into account before completing your ME revision and expansion (worth 15% of the final course grade).

  • Along with your revised and expanded three-page Graded Paper, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page ME submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.
  • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.
    Day 2 More PERFORMANCES and ENGL 339 Academy Awards.

    Final Treats:

    The Simpsons' rendition of Hamlet (thank you Steven Johnson!):
    Sassy Gay Friend on . . .

  • LAST DAY to submit the revision/expansion to THREE PAGES of ONE ME for a grade. 

  • Along with your revised and expanded three-page Graded Paper, you must turn in HARD COPY of the original two-page ME submitted to your PolyLearn Discussion group, peer-edited by another group member, along with a hard copy print-out of the printer-friendly .PDF version of the Essay Evaluation Checklist (available on Polylearn) filled out by your Peer Editor.  (NOTE: Print-outs of the the web page version of the Checklist are not acceptable.)  Your name, the Peer Editor's name, and your DISCUSSION GROUP NUMBER should all be clearly listed on the front of the Checklist (i.e., "Feedback by: NAME"  and "Feedback to: NAME").  The Peer Editor's final comment with suggestions for expansion should be written on the back of the filled out Checklist.
  • You need not follow all of your Peer Editor's suggestions, but as you revise, edit your work carefully carefully for the errors and issues flagged by your peer editor, as well as for any other issues and errors not flagged by your peer editor, but listed on the Essay Evaluation Checklist.

    		•
     
    Final Exam:

    Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1996-2020