English 145B
Shakespeare's Early Plays

Texts
Please use the Folger editions that I have selected for this course.

The Taming of the Shrew
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Merchant of Venice
Twelfth Night
Henry IV Part One
Julius Caesar
* http://shakespeare.mit.edu/ (Online text for reference)

Course Description

In this course, we will read six of Shakespeare's early plays. We will study his works through careful consideration of the characters and themes represented in each play: how female, comic, or heroic characters are portrayed; how the portrayals reveal gender, class, and familial relationships; and how the characters illuminate significant themes explored in the plays-- themes such as honor, revenge, love, jealousy, justice, mercy, power, and ambition.

Apart from short lectures, we will also see some film clips to supplement our readings. And there will be plenty of opportunities for class discussions as well. I expect you to come to class prepared to contribute your responses to the reading questions for each play. I also expect you to come to class with your own questions to help jumpstart each day's discussions.

Course Goals

By the end of the semester, you should be able to:

• enjoy Shakespeare's early plays, both on the stage as well as on the page
• develop your own interpretations of Shakespeare's early plays through literary analysis
• articulate your understanding of the plays and their relevance to our contemporary lives
• continue to explore other Shakespeare plays on your own-- with confidence and pleasure.

Course Policies

1. Your attendance is extremely important for the success of this course: please don't cut class.
2. Always bring your textbooks to class.
3. Please complete the reading assignment for each class day. Also read the introductory materials and “Modern Perspective” essays at the back of each text.
4. Always be prepared to respond to the reading questions for each play.
5. Please be prepared to share the written work that you complete for this course. I may use your writing as examples to illustrate a point.
6. All writing done for the course should include substantive content as well as observe general principles of good writing: correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and careful use of language.
7. Your paper must be submitted to me at the beginning of class on the due date. But I would find it very helpful if you would also email me a copy of your paper on the day that you turn it in.
8. A late paper will be penalized one letter grade.
9. All work submitted for this course must be your own: plagiarism or using other people's ideas without proper acknowledgement will result in a course grade of F.
10. Please turn off your cell phones during class. If you need to leave it on, please remember to turn down the volume.
11. Please do not use your laptop during class. If you need to do so, please check with me first.
12. When you email me using my regular campus account, julie.yen@csus.edu , which is preferable, please remember to type in your full name and course number (145B or 145C) in the Subject line.
13. During class discussions, please pay attention to the person speaking and refrain from having private small group discussions.
14. If you are experiencing any difficulty in the class, please come see me as soon as possible, or send me an email.
15. Materials that are handed out in class generally will only be available in class on the day they were distributed. If you miss a class, please download the material from the course SacCT page.

Requirements

15% Reading Quizzes (Quizzes cannot be made up; please don't ask.)
5% Attendance and Class Participation
20% Test 1 (explication of text passages) (blue book) ( Sept. 30 )
20% Test 2 (explication of text passages) (blue book) ( Dec. 2 )
20% Paper (5 - 6 typed, double-spaced pages) ( Oct. 28 )
20% Group Dramatic Performance and Portfolio ( Dec. 9 )

Extra Credit Opportunities

1. Reading quizzes cannot be made up. However, you may earn some extra credit at the class following the quiz date by leading class discussion for 10 to 15 minutes. You may use the reading questions for each play (on the SacCT course home page) or devise your own discussion questions. Send me an email or speak to me if you want to do this.
2. You may also earn extra credit by writing up a response to one of the reading questions for each play and posting it in the Discussion Board in SacCT. Please see the course SacCT page for an example of a response. Again, send me an email or speak to me if you want to do this.
3. The options of earning extra credit by leading class discussion or posting a response to a reading question can also be used to improve your attendance/participation grade.

Tentative Schedule

Information Form

Please email your responses to the following questions to me by 5 pm tomorrow, at this address: julie.yen@csus.edu . Remember to include in the Subject line your name and course number.

1. Name
2. Major
3. Class level
4. What other courses are you taking this semester?
5. What English courses have you taken?
6. Who is your favorite author? Why?
7. Can you recall teaching strategies used in a recent class that was helpful for you?
8. Are there any activities in class that you would particularly enjoy? (film viewing, dramatic reading/performance, small group discussions, debate, lectures . . . .)
9. Which play would you like to work on for your dramatic performance project?
10. Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?

Faculty Home Page

English Department
California State University, Sacramento