SYLLABUS
EN233 – Introduction to Drama
Fall 2001, Dr. Glauner
Office: Copley 310, Phone Ext. 6352
Email: jeff.glauner@park.edu
Website: http://captain.park.edu/jglauner/index.htm
Office Hours:
MF - 9:00-11:30 a.m.
W - 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Or by appointment
Class meets: 8:00-8:50 a.m., MWF
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of the development of dramatic literature from its origins to the present. Emphasis is upon English and American drama.
II. GOALS OF THE COURSE: Students will emerge from the class with a greater understanding of and appreciation for dramatic literature. They will develop a paradigm for examination and analysis of the language of such literature, and they will acquire a language for discussing it.
III. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:
Note: This is a general education (GE) course. Therefore,
some of the performance objectives are specifically related to the requirements
for GE courses.
A. Students will demonstrate understanding of theories of origin, nature, and function of
dramatic literature through written and oral responses, individually and in groups, to
topics arising from the study of text materials and individual research.
B. Students will demonstrate understanding of the history and development of dramatic
literature through written and oral expression of ideas explored in the course.
C. Students will provide evidence of their skills in individual research through the
production a 1000-1500-word research paper.
D. Students will demonstrate their skills in oral communication through informal oral
readings from the texts of the plays, formal presentation of ideas from their research
before the class, and formal and informal class discussions of various topics.
E. Students will demonstrate critical literacy in regard to dramatic literature through
class discussions, testing, and their personal research.
F. Students will demonstrate aesthetic literacy through the study of dramatic literature
and through their written and oral responses to it.
G. Students will demonstrate values literacy in regard to cultural ethnocentrism through
open discussion of dramatic literature and critical responses it.
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
A. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Revised: December 11, 2002
BE IN CLASS!!!
I allow three absences without penalty. For each additional absence, whatever the reason, you lose 15 points (30 points for 8-week courses) out of approximately 1000 for the term.
Weather-related absences will be handled as they occur. You must use your own judgment as to whether travel to school during inclement weather is safe. I must make the final decision on an individual basis whether absences due to weather may be excused. In most cases, we will probably agree. Do not endanger your life to avoid absence. I do not, however, believe that, for an able-bodied person, a walk from the dormitory or from downtown Parkville will endanger one's life in typical snowy weather.
Graded in-class assignments missed because of absence may be made up only with my approval. Assignments handed in late because of absence will lose one letter grade per class period. You may avoid this penalty in many cases by successfully submitting assignments on-time by email. Do not choose the email option if you are in class. Your homework is often the topic of class discussion.
Students with unusual attendance problems (Park athletic team travel,
hospitalizations, jury duty, etc.) should consult with me regarding special arrangements
for make up of missed classes and course work.
B. Each student must prepare a 1000-1500-word research project including prospectus, two
drafts, and oral report on a focused topic in regard to dramatic literature.
C. Each student must complete regular homework assignments and turn them in on
time.
D. Each student must participate in a peer group to develop a
one-class-period presentation of dramatic sweetness and light regarding a play which
is not included in our syllabus.
E. Each student must complete midterm and final examinations.
F. Students are required to maintain a Park email address, be able to
receive and send email--and check it often. (Note: Email addresses along
with all necessary hardware and software are available free at Park University’s
computer laboratories.)
V. TEXTBOOK:
Jacobus. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Drama, 4th Edition.
VI. CLASS POLICIES:
Academic honesty is the prerequisite for academic study. Academic dishonesty is inimical to the spirit of a learning community. Hence, Park will not tolerate cheating or plagiarism on tests, examinations, papers, and other course assignments. Students who engage in such dishonesty may be given failing grades or expelled from Park.
Plagiarism, the appropriation or imitation of
the language or ideas of another person and presenting them as one’s original
work, sometimes occurs through carelessness or ignorance. This does not make it
less serious. However, students who are uncertain about proper documentation of
sources should consult their instructor for guidance.
Attendance and timely arrival in
class are required. Assignments must be submitted on time. An automatic
reduction of one letter grade per class period is assessed for late submission. Make-up of missed major in-class work is possible only through special arrangements with the
professor.
VII. GRADING:
Attendance - See Section IV.A.
Homework - 15%
Group Report - 15%
Research Project - 20%
Midterm Examination - 20%
Final Examination - 30%
Grade Conversion:
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
0-59% F
Note extra credit availability on my home page.
VIII. CLASS MEETING AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE: Assignments should be read before the
class period for which they are due. For a class like this one, most students need to
spend two hours reading and preparing for each class period. This includes time spent on
your research projects. Page references are to Jacobus. Homework assignments are
100-word typed responses and must be turned in the day they are due. If
you are absent, send homework on time by email in order to get credit.
Mon., Jan. 13 - Intro. to the course. Fill out information sheets. Initial Assessment
Essay.
Wed., Jan. 15 - Review the syllabus. Read: 1-28 including The Rising of the Moon.
(Homework: Write a character sketch of the sergeant.)
Fri., Jan. 17 - Read: 29-51 including Scene 1 of Oedipus Rex.
Mon., Jan. 20 - Read: 51-55 including Scene 2 of Oedipus Rex.
Wed., Jan. 22 - Read: 145-53, 180-91, 55-71 including the remainder of Oedipus Rex
and Aristotle's Poetics. (Homework: According to Aristotle,
what are the six constituent elements of tragedy?)
Fri., Jan. 24 - Read: 192-4, 236-56 including Acts I and II of Othello.
Mon., Jan. 27 – Read: 256-81, Othello, Acts III, IV, V.
Wed., Jan. 29 – Read: 281-88, 919-30. Othello
(continued).
(Homework: Describe two settings in Othello.)
Fri., Jan. 31 – Read: 361-71. (Group #1 report) DUE: PROSPECTUS FOR RESEARCH
PROJECT.
Mon., Feb. 3 – Read: 372-89 including A Doll House Act 1.
Wed., Feb. 5 – Read: 389-98 A Doll House, Act 2.
Fri., Feb. 7 – Read: 398-406 including the remainder of A Doll House.
(Homework: The ending of A Doll House was called a door slam heard
around the world. Explain why.)
Mon., Feb. 10 – Peer review session on Research Project. Students bring your
latest draft.
Wed., Feb. 12 – Read: 548-59 including Desire Under the Elms, Part I.
Fri., Feb. 14 – Read: 559-66 including Desire Under the Elms, Part II.
(Homework: In terms of Aristotle's Poetics, how is Desire Under
the Elms like Oedipus Rex?)
Mon., Feb. 17 – Read: 566-74, Desire Under the Elms, Part III.
Wed., Feb 19 - DUE: FIRST DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROJECT.
Fri., Feb. 21 – Read: 616-25 including The Glass Menagerie. Scenes 1,
2, 3.
Mon., Feb 24- Read: 625-31, The Glass Menagerie, Scenes 3, 4, 5.
(Homework: Describe the setting of The Glass Menagerie. How
does this setting enhance the action of the drama?)
Wed., Feb. 26 – Read: 631-47, The Glass Menagerie, Scenes 6, 7.
Fri., Feb. 28 – (Group #2 report.)
Mon., March 3 –Prepare for midterm examination
Wed., March 5– Midterm Examination. .
Fri., March 7 - Schedule individual oral reports.
Mon., March 10 – Spring Recess.
Wed., March 12 – Spring Recess.
Fri., March 14 - Spring Recess.
Mon., March 17- Read: 655-76 including Death of a Salesman, Act I.
Wed., March 19 – Read: 676-96 including Death of a Salesman, Act II and
"Requiem."
Fri., March 21 - Read: 699-701, "Tragedy and the Common Man."
(Homework: Compare and contrast the characters Willy Loman and Oedipus.
How does Miller explain this difference?)
Mon., March 24 – (Group #3 report).
Wed., March 26 – Read: 709-20 including 1/3 of Endgame.
Fri., March 28 – Read: 720-33 including 1/3 of Endgame.
Mon., March 31 – Read: 733-44 including the end of Endgame.
(Homework: What is the concrete meaning of Endgame?)
Wed., April 2 - Oral reports:
Fri., April 4 – Read: 745-63 including Act I of A Raisin in the Sun.
Mon., April 7 – Read: 763-78 including Act II of A Raisin in the Sun.
Wed., April 9 – Read: 778-85 including Act III of A Raisin in the Sun.
(Homework: Who do you consider to be the leading character in A Raison
in the Sun? Why?)
Fri., April 11– Oral
reports:
Mon., April 14 – Group #4 report.
Wed., April 16– Read: 824-44 including Fences, Act I.
Fri., April 18 - No classes.
Mon., April 21– Read: 845-60 including Fences, Act II. (Homework:
In a Robert Frost poem, an important line is "good fences make good neighbors."
Relate this line to Wilson's play.)
Wed., April 23 – Fences (concluded).
Fri., April 25– DUE: FINAL DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROJECT.
Mon., April 28-Oral reports:
Wed., April 30- Oral reports:
Fri., May 2 - Prepare for final examination.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Monday, May 5, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
This schedule is subject to change on short notice.