English 105, CRN #10382 Jon Bouknight
Winter 2004, MW 12:30-1:45 Deschutes 1
Introduction to Drama
3 credits
Course Description:
Examines drama as literature, through its traditions, its imaginative purposes and its organizing visions, such as tragedy, comedy, and realism. Close reading and interpretation of selected plays, with attention to the cultural contexts of their creation and to the literary dimensions of character, dialogues, plot, setting, language, and theme.
Outcomes:
A. Build Knowledge of a Major Literary Genre
1. Situate works of drama within their contexts (e.g. literary historical periods and influences, cultural and biographical background of authors, authorial intentions and critical reception).
2. Explain and illustrate how works of drama reflect and shape significant aspects of their contexts.
3. Define and explicate key literary and theatrical elements of drama, such as plot, character, theme, cast, stage, scene, symbol, and style.
B. Develop Skills in Literary Analysis & Evaluation
4. Apply close reading, contextual background information, dramatic and theatrical concepts and approaches, and multiple perspectives to the analysis and interpretation of works of drama.
5. Use comparative analysis to demonstrate significant differences and similarities among works of drama (e.g., between plays by the same or different authors; between one-acts to full length; between works of drama from different literary-historical periods).
6. Formulate and apply persuasive criteria to the evaluation of works of drama-- appropriate to the context and genre of the literary text, and distinguishing between personal responses and literary-critical judgment.
C. Exercise Effective Communication Skills
7. Use effective oral and written communication to express interpretations and evaluations of dramatic works.
8. Use well-selected evidence from the assigned texts to support one’s literary interpretations, analyses, and evaluations.
Office and Hours:
Jefferson 116 MW 11-12:20; TR 11-12 and by appointment. 330-4394;
See also the course website at <http://web.cocc.edu/jbouknight> for additional course information.
Texts:
Barnet, Sylvan. Eight Great Tragedies. New York: Meridian, 1996.
McNamara, Brooks. Plays from the Contemporary American Theatre. New York: Mentor, 1988.
Shaw, George Bernard. Pygmalion New York: Signet Classic, 1980 [1912]
Assignments:
Class Participation (30 points)
Much of our class time will have opportunities for class discussion. Whether working in small groups or with the entire class, students should feel free to share their views on our readings and topics, not concerning themselves with secondary sources (that is, published literary criticism). Should the quality of the discussions waver to the point where the instructor feels students are not keeping up with the readings, then quizzes will be implemented.
Oral Interpretation Assignment (10 points; Outcomes 4, 3, and 7)
Students will prepare part of a scene from a play to read before the class. This is not acting; “Oral Interpretation” is presenting the text through voice and facial expressions. The text need not be memorized, but the “reading” should be practiced so that you can make meaningful eye contact--from the front of the room--with your audience. (The instructor recommends xeroxing and enlarging the text you plan to present.) The text to be presented should last three minutes. With a brief introduction, the reading may be as long as four minutes but no longer. Readings will occur depending upon which text is selected as noted in the calendar. A sign-up sheet will be passed around the room in the first week of classes.
Criteria in brief:
Development/Length,
Vocal variation (for different moods/voices),
Eye-contact/facial expression,
Preparation/fluency with text,
Appropriateness of interpretation.
Quizzes (5 points each)
We will try to avoid these.
Midterm and Final Exams (50 points each; Outcomes1, 2, 7, and 8)
The midterm will cover Sophocles, Shakespeare and Shaw. The final will cover O’Neill, Rabe, Henley and Wilson. Each exam will feature identification questions (identify the author, play, speaker, and/or situation.), and short essay/answer questions having to do with themes from the readings and class discussions.
Papers (50 points each; Outcomes 3, 4, 5, and 6)
Two papers, each of 3-5 pages in length (typed, double spaced, 1 inch margins), will be written on topics of the students’ own devising and relating to one or more of the plays we will read. The first paper, like the midterm, will discuss plays by Sophocles, Shakespeare and Shaw. The second paper should cover O’Neill, Rabe, Henley and Wilson. Papers will be judged according to the following criteria:
1) Clear statement of an engaging thesis about one or more of the readings. (For topic suggestions consult the Website.)
2) Development of relevant support (evidence, reasoning) for a thesis.
3) Use of proper quoting and citing techniques. Make sure to cite the plays you’re discussing and include relevant page numbers in parenthetical citations. MLA or APA style is required. For more information on these styles for citations and references, follow the following links in our College website: “Library”; “Research Tools”; “Online Reference Sources”; “Citation Style Guides.”
4) Conformity to Standard Written English
Late papers will be penalized by one-half letter grade for each week day late.
Grades:
Students will be assigned points for major assignments. Letter grades may be determined by the percentage (your points divided by points possible). Thus an A = 100-93%, A- = 92.9-90%, B+ = 89.9-87%, B = 86.9-83%, B- = 82.9-80%, C+ = 79.9-77%, C = 76.9-70%, D = 69.9-60% and so on.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas or words as though they are your own. Because plagiarism is a breach of academic ethics and a theft of intellectual property, students who plagiarize on any Eng105 assignment should expect to receive a zero for the assignment. Students with further questions should consult the instructor.
Withdraws and Grade “W”:
Students may drop any full-term course they choose by the end of the seventh week of classes. A “drop” made before this deadline will leave no grade on the transcript and requires no instructor’s signature.
The College also allows students to drop after the seventh week and up to the Wednesday of the final week of classes. However, these drops require the instructor’s signature and will yield a “W” on the student’s transcript. This liberal drop policy was designed to help students who--although performing adequately during the quarter--find themselves in emergency situations and unable to complete the coursework satisfactorily. Any student who has kept up with the course and is in such an emergency situation should ask for my signature. Students who have not kept up with the course, who have allowed the seventh week to slip by, are not covered by this policy.
Calendar
Complete readings BEFORE class in which they are assigned.
Jan 5: Introductions; classical theatre, suggestions for oral interp.
Jan 7: Read Sophocles, Oedipus the King. (61-82 in Eight Great Tragedies)
Jan 12: Oedipus the King, 82-98. (all Oedipus readings)
Jan 14: Shakespeare, King Lear, Acts I-II; Elizabethan Theatre
Jan 19: MLK day.
Jan 21: King Lear; Acts III-V
Jan 26: King Lear, Optional rough drafts of Paper 1 are due (all King Lear readings)
Jan 28: Shaw, Pygmalion Acts 1-3
Feb 2: Pygmalion Acts 4-5
Feb 4: Pygmalion; Paper 1 Due--Shakespeare, Shaw or Sophocles (all Pygmalion readings)
Feb 9: Midterm,
Feb 11: O’Neill, Desire under the Elms, Part I
Feb 16: Desire under the Elms, Parts II and III
Feb 18: Desire under the Elms (all Desire Under the Elms readings)
Feb 23: Rabe, Streamers 15-61.
Feb 25: Streamers 61-83. (all Streamers readings)
Mar 2: Henley, Crimes of the Heart, Act 1; Optional rough drafts of Paper 2 are due
Mar 4: Crimes of the Heart, Act 2 (Crimes of the Heart readings)
Mar 9: Wilson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Act 1
Mar 11: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Act 2 (all Ma Rainey readings); Paper 2 Due--Henley, O’Neill, Rabe or Wilson.
Finals Week--Thurs. Mar 18, 1-3pm: Final Exam