:: Shakespeare ::

Class Policies

Participation: come to class prepared to actively engage in all activities, in order to avoid participation penalty. Bring your texts and writing assignments because it is my experience that people learn the most by taking active responsibility for themselves, which prevents us from simply accepting the opinions of others, or, feeding off their work. Of course, this requirement, like all others, is optional - this portion of your grade which will be based on the extent to which you do the following:

1) contribute in group activities,

2) participate in large group discussions and exercises, and

3) submit completed writing assignments which prepare you to participate. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified day; late work will be penalized.

This course is based on the learning community model which stresses creating the best possible environment for the learning of everyone involved. The traditional academic class format is a competitive, grade based culture based on survival of the fittest. Hopefully, you will begin to resist this format in favor of a model of inquiry based on cooperation, dispersal of information, and skills. If you do, you will learn to recognize the potential contributions of each class member. Remember that we may represent different interests and belief systems in this course, so please respects the opinions, standpoints, and comments of everyone.

A Reminder: my job is not to teach you material or explain texts to you, but instead, I have designed the as an environment in which a group of prepared, invested thinkers interact on an engaged level.

Attendance: you are allowed three absences during the semester, and it is up to you when you take them; however, I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. You must come to class on time, which means being present when class officially begins; three lates count as one absence. At the end of the semester, you will lose one third of a letter grade for each absence over three. Any more than five absences can result in automatic failure of the course. I will record all absences, but it is your responsibility to keep track of your own record.

Note taking : I realize that note taking is becoming a lost art. However, it is a daily course requirement because it a) keeps your attention actively engaged, and b) you will need the notes for exams and writing assignments.

Procedure for grade disputes: because I respond to your papers in writing, I would like for you to do the same. Please write out why you disagree with the evaluation you received and how you think your work fulfills the assignment in ways not recognized by me. Then submit your response along with the assignment in question, and we will then meet.

Evaluation: I assign a full range of grades from A to F and don’t grade with a curve. What you earn is what you will receive. Your final grade will be determined by my careful evaluation of the following:

• 30%: research project

• 10%: presentation

• 20%: early modern persona journal

• 20%: participation (includes collaborative work, in-class questions or comments,

quizzes and email)

• 20%: mid-term

Plagiarism: You commit plagiarism when you turn in someone else’s work, the same paper for two classes, or an old paper of your own, without the professor’s knowledge. In addition, you must acknowledge all sources in your papers. Any time you use direct quotations or paraphrases, or borrow ideas or structures, you must cite your source according to MLA requirements, which you can find in printed form on-line. Failure to do so may result in an F for the entire course. See your packet for a fuller description.

Special Needs:

• any student who needs accommodation of a documented disability should be in touch with the Office of Disability Concerns at 350 Fell Hall or call 438-5853 or 438-8620 (TDD).

• should you find yourself having difficulties dealing with the demands of any aspect of your life here at the university, you should contact the counseling center which can address a number of issues ranging from emotional trauma to study skills. If you have any questions in this regard, please feel free to speak to me; your conversation will be held in strictest confidence.

Miscellaneous:

• All work must be typed. Make a copy of all work; I seldom lose papers, but in case I do, you are responsible for having a copy. If you lose work for this class, there is nothing I can do to help you. You will have to rewrite.

• Late daily assignments will be penalized; late large assignments lose one letter grade per day.

• computer health

• do not share floppy discs or zip discs with anyone else

• work off the hard drive and update your floppy at each work session

• execute the “save” command obsessively

• update your Virex definitions weekly

• run the Virex disc check on a regular basis

Extra Credit Work : anytime you attend an extra-curricular event such as a university sponsored movie, play, lecture, poetry reading, discussion panel, etc., you will receive extra credit with proof of attendance. You may also submit a one full page, typed critical analysis of anything that causes you to think, such as a discussion in another class, a movie for entertainment purposes, a commercial on TV, something you have read, etc. A summary is not a critical analysis and will not be given credit nor will extra-credit be given for attendance alone.

In addition, you can watch any of these films and write a one full page response for extra credit. You cannot submit someone else’s electronic review.

• any of the BBC Shakespeare productions • Elizabeth

• Return of Martin Guerre • Shakespeare in Love

• Hamlets • Romeo and Juliets

• Othello • Lion in Winter

• Titus • Henry V

• Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Looking for Richard

• A Man for All Seasons