Dr. Julia Houston
862-8000 x 1672
125 Gibson Hall
jhousto@tulane.edu
http://www.tulane.edu/~jhouston

In this class, we will explore what makes Shakespeare's plays superior within their historical context and on the contemporary stage.

Thursday, August 28
Syllabus, Policies, and Overview

Tuesday & Thursday, September 2 & 4
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tuesday & Thursday, September 9 & 11
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tuesday & Thursday, September 16 & 18
The Taming of the Shrew

Tuesday & Thursday, September 23 & 25
The Taming of the Shrew

Tuesday & Thursday, September 30 & October 2
Henry IV, Part 1
Essay #1 Assigned

Tuesday & Thursday, October 7 & 9
Henry IV, Part 2

Tuesday & Thursday, October 14 & 16
Henry V
Essay #1 Due

Tuesday & Thursday, October 21 & 23
The Merchant of Venice

Tuesday & Thursday, October 28 & 30
The Merchant of Venice

Tuesday & Thursday, November 4 & 6
Much Ado about Nothing
Midterm Exam Thursday

Tuesday, November 11
Much Ado about Nothing

Thursday, November 13
Richard III

Tuesday & Thursday, November 18 & 20
Richard III
Essay #2 Assigned

Tuesday, November 25
Measure for Measure

Thursday, November 27
Thanksgiving

Tuesday & Thursday, December 2 & 4
Measure for Measure
Essay #2 Due Thursday

There will also be the occasional sonnet.

Final: TBD

Grading:
Essay #1 25%
Midterm 15%
Essay #2 30%
Final 20%
Class Participation 10%

ESSAY POLICIES:

1. ALL PAPERS written outside class must be neatly typed on standard white, non-erasable paper, double-spaced and with a title page bearing a title (all caps, no underline) in the center and in the lower right hand corner: your name, essay number and my name. Don't put a title on the second page or give it a large margin. In-class writing requires bluebooks.

2. Do not justify the right margin. This means that you are not to line up the right margin like you do the left one. Many computers will do this automatically, so you may have to change the margin default. Justifying the right margin screws up your spacing.

3. Remember: one space after commas and semi-colons (;), two after periods and colons (:), and it's ." or ," in ALL situations except a series of quotes.

4. All subsequent pages must have a header consisting of your last name in normal type and the page number. The first page after the title page is page number 1.

5. Pages must be attached by staple or paper clip -- not computer feed paper which hasn't been separated or one of those plastic folder things!! No graphics.

6. Margins should be at 1 1/2 " on top, the rest at 1".

7. Type font should be around 10/12 point, giving you about 250-300 words per page.

8. Paragraphs are to be indented 5 spaces. DO NOT PUT EXTRA SPACES BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS. That's for business writing and certain formats of technical papers.

9. Check your spelling & grammar. The Writing Workshop is available, and for those who'd like a quick refresher on the basics, try http://www.tulane.edu/~uc/writing/

10. Failure to follow these format rules will lower your grade.

11. However, I am not a machine, nor do I expect you to be. The occasional mistake will not lower your grade.

12. NO LATE PAPERS. Papers are due at the beginning of the class period. Do not hope that we won't get to your project or presentation on the day you are scheduled.

13. If sickness or loss of limb causes you to be unable to meet a due date, and you contact me as soon as you can, you may turn one paper in at a later appointment. You can do this only once in the semester, so don't use this emergency except for anything but an emergency.

14. Please note that class participation is an extremely important 10% of your course grade. Class discussion is the whole point.