Shakespeare & Film
Syllabus & Course Schedule
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Put out the light, and then put out the light.
Out, out, brief candle!
Now is the winter of our discontent.
Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.
I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.
Welcome to Shakespeare & Film! Through this class, we’ll not only read three of Shakespeare’s plays, but we’ll also examine the lasting influence of those plays on our popular culture of film. As a Renaissance writer, William Shakespeare was in great company – with the likes of Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, and John Webster – but why do we consistently return to the Bard as the greatest writer in the English language? Through our investigations, I hope we can answer this and many more questions about Shakespeare’s merit, influence, and legacy.
*Also, the first student to identify the six plays that the above lines come from wins some extra credit!
Required Materials
· Much Ado About Nothing; Othello, The Moor of Venice; Richard III
· Spiral notebook
· Two-pocket folder
· Computer access and flash memory
· An academic planner (recommended)
Course Policies & Expectations
· Be prepared for class! Come here ready to learn. Have all materials necessary – your book, notebook, pen/pencil, brain, etc.
o Attendance – Come to class! More than 10 absences a semester can jeopardize your credit for the course. Please make sure that your absences are excused as soon as possible. If you do miss a day of class, don’t ask me what we did. Instead, have a “note buddy” – someone you can count on to fill you in.
o Tardiness – Be here on time. If the bell rings and you’re not in class, you are considered tardy. Accumulated tardies can turn into unexcused absences, which can jeopardize your attendance record.
o Passes – You have three (3) out-of-class passes that can be used throughout the semester. Use them wisely. Don’t use class time to see a principal, counselor, or another teacher. Our time here is valuable.
o Turn off cell phones and other electronic devices. If I see it, it becomes mine for the remainder of the class period.
· Be responsible for yourself and your actions. Excuses don’t interest me. Take charge of the decisions that you make.
· Be respectful of the classroom and those in it. Be polite and courteous, listen when others are speaking, and treat others in a professional manner.
· Late Work – Turn in all work on time! Shorter assignments will not be accepted late. For longer papers, each day the paper is late, you will lose a letter grade. You have adequate time to complete all assignments. In the event of an excused absence on a due date, turn in the work when you return. If you have a planned absence (field trip, etc.) the work is still due on the due date. I do accept work early.
· Academic Integrity – Maricopa High School defines academic misconduct as “Copying the work of another person and submitting it as your own, obtaining unauthorized or undocumented material from the Internet or other sources, or securing teacher materials or work in a dishonest or unauthorized way.” Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional is a serious offense. Students must turn in original work. Engaging in academic misconduct can result in a zero on the assignment, a referral to the administration, a 3-day-out-of-school suspension, or a failing grade for the course. Do not underestimate your teachers; we generally discover when you decide to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Projects & Assignments
· Notebook – A simple spiral notebook (no binders!) to record all notes, bell work, in- class writing prompts, and other homework assignments. You will also record unfamiliar vocabulary that we encounter in our reading. This notebook will be a record of your work in class, and will be graded according to content, completion, and organization.
· In-class Writing – These assignments will range from informal literary reflections, to literary analyses, to literary imitations (i.e. writing your own poem, dramatic monologue, etc.)
· Film Analysis Essays – These papers will compare and analyze the plays we read with various film interpretations. There will be three 3-page papers of this kind throughout the semester.
· Portfolio – A simple two-pocket folder to collect all writing assignments that are not kept in the notebook.
· Independent Reading Project (IRP) – Each quarter, you will select a Renaissance-era play by a writer other than Shakespeare. I have many recommendations attached to the end of this syllabus, and most of these plays are either in my personal library or available online. You will compose a thorough book review and create a presentation for the class.
· Research Essay – A typed, double-spaced, thesis-based argument that utilizes multiple research perspectives. MLA conventions are required.
· Midterm Exam – An analysis-based critical reading and writing exam.
· Final Exam – Same as midterm.
Course Planner – Subject to change with notice.
Wk 1: Introduction to Shakespeare
Biography & History
Renaissance Era vs. Early Modern Period
Wk 2: The Language of Shakespeare
The Sonnets
Due: Oral Recitation of a Sonnet
Wks 3-6: Comedy
Much Ado About Nothing
The Principles of Shakespearean Comedy
Themes of the play
Due: Film analysis paper
Wks 7-11: Tragedy
Othello, The Moor of Venice
The Principles of Shakespearean Tragedy
Themes of the play
Due: Film analysis paper
Wks 12-16: History
Richard III
The Principles of Shakespearean History Plays
The True History of Richard III
Themes of the play
Due: Film analysis paper; Research Paper
Wk 17: Class Portfolio
Essay Revisions
Presentations
Wk 18: Finals
