Shakespeare

Assignments

First Thoughts. Brief in-class jottings, rarely over a page, to formulate your ideas on some issue before discussing it. [Par 5 grading]

Reflection Essays. Essays on works we read in class. The questions for each assignment can be reached from the Schedule. You will find them listed according to when each essay is due. [4+ pages; 25 points each]

Quizzes. Generally straightforward factual questions on the plays involved. Sometimes literary terms and concepts. Short answer and brief essay. [10 points each]

Performance Response. Two-page informal discussion of how Chicago Shakespeare Theatre performed Taming of the Shrew and how their artistic choices affect our understanding of the play. [Par 5 grading]

Annotated Bibliography. Summaries and critical assessments of four scholarly sources on one play or a single, highly focused topic across multiple plays. Each source should be the length of a standard scholarly article (15-35 pages); book chapters count as one source. The annotations, each of which should run 3+ pages, should include a full, correct bibliographical citation, a summary of the main argument, your critical assessment of the case being made, and suggestions for further inquiry and discussion. Following the four entries should be a conclusion of 3+ pages in which you draw together the themes of the studies and discuss what questions or insights they raise. You will develop your work over three assignments you will turn in separately.

  1. Preliminary Bibliography. This contains the bibliographical citations for the four sources you plan to use, each followed by a one-paragraph abstract of the article. It is prefaced by a brief introduction to the theme you will be pursuing through your Annotated Bibliography as a whole. [10 points]
  2. First Annotation. This is a complete annotation of any one of your sources. It presents the correct citation, summary, assessment, and further questions. [10 points]
  3. Annotated Bibliography. This is the full, complete project: all four annotations and the conclusion. [75 points]

Checklist for Annotated Bibliographies. This link leads to a thorough checklist of Dos and Don'ts regarding the Annotations and the Bibliography as a whole. You should check your work against these criteria and revise it accordingly before submitting it.

Final Exam. In-class short-answer and essay exam. [35 points]

Participation. Full participation means coming on time to every class, reading the plays in advance, and joining in class discussions.