INSTRUCTOR

CALENDAR

SYLLABUS

 

DEPARTMENT

CSUS

Unit 3: Comedy

English 190V
California State University, Sacramento

Unit 1: Domestic :Realism

Unit 2: Tragedy

Unit 3: Comedy

Unit 4: Director's Choice

 

 

 

 

Unit 3: COMEDY

Goals and Objectives
  • Know how comedy differs from tragedy.
  • Know that while tragedy is metaphysical, (the tragic hero vs. the universe), comedy is social (the reform and renewal of the community -- society) .
  • Know why comedy moves inevitably towards marriage as the perfect symbol for an improved society.
  • Know why comedy is profoundly conservative in the social values it espouses.
  • Know the the major dramatic plot structures.
  • Know the content and structure of Midsummer, Cyrano and Pygmalion.
  • Write several focused responses (See NOTES below), ask questions, search the Web.
  • Write paper #3.

Videos 

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Cyrano

Pygmalion

 

Responses due april 3 - 7 by Group

Responses due April 10 -14 by Group

Responses due April 17 - 21 by Group

Web Search: There's a wealth of info about these great plays and their authors. As you respond to each play, search the web for biographical data, themes, production history or how the play has been transformed into opera, symphony, previous movie adaptations, etc. etc. etc.  

 

My favorite search engines are: northernlight.com google.com
Type in either the title of the play , the playwright's name, or the names of one of the actors, director, etc., click search and you're on your way.

 

What ae you searching for?

Look for something that might have been included in a class lecture /discussion -- or just something that especially interested you.

 Do not just download a page from a site.

Summarize what you learned about one of the plays in the unit in your own words and post a 1 page report in Discussions -- Topic: "Web Search - Gr. 1,2,3," etc.

DUE: April 23

Include the Web Address (URL).

Group Activities: You were assigned to one of 5 groups on the first class meeting. Your group determines when your response and questions are due for each play. For example, for Midsummer, a response to the play (with one question) from Group 1 is due Wed. April 3, Group 2 Thurs. April 4, Group 3 Fri. april 5 , etc. Always check the CALENDAR to see when your response is due for any given week

 

 

 

 

 

 

For each play:

1) Read Preview

2) See Video.

3) Post a Response to one of the Questions on the NOTES for each play on the Billetin Board. Post in the proper FORUM. (The two Forums for this unit are Raisin and Woolf?) First come first serve. Once a questions has been selected by a classmate, you must choose another.

4) Attach at least one of your own questions at the end of your response -- one that occurred to you as you watched the video. Include this question in your Response on the Bulletin Board. Respond to your classsmates' responses and questions. Read every response. Participation is 25% of your grade.

5) Post your Response by due date for your group.

6) Search the Web for each play. Submit a report.

PREVIEW:
Midsummer

 

PREVIEW:
Cyrano

PREVIEW:
Pygmalion

 

 

NOTES
Midsummer

 

NOTES
Cyrano

 

NOTES for Pygmalion

 

 

 

Paper # 3

As with Units1 and 2, you've all participated in the on-line discussions, so you have lots of ideas for a paper. Click back to the NOTES for each of the plays and select one topic from any of the three plays and write a 2 - 3 page paper. As before, give your classmates credit if you use their ideas and footnote all information obtained from the Web. Remember: focus on the analysis of your topic, not plot re-narration. Review Instructions for Paper # 1 in Unit 1.


CRITERIA FOR PAPER EVALUATION.

Paper #3 due April 25 for all Groups.

Grades for papers will be posted in WebCt. From the home page click the GRADEBOOK icon.

Assessment
 

See Assessment in Unit 1.

 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR / SYLLABUS /
DEPARTMENT / CSUS

Page updated: Jan. 7, 2002