English 310, "Late Shakespeare"
Requirements

Attendance: I expect you to attend class meetings, and I will take attendance regularly. You are responsible for all information and assignments distributed in class, by email, or through the course communication tool, Ublearns (see below).

Book: A one-volume edition, titled The Norton Shakespeare (ed. Greenblatt) is available at Talking Leaves Books, 3158 Main Street in Buffalo: between Winspear and Hertel, across from The Steer restaurant.
Other editions of Shakespeare are acceptable. Just be sure that your text has full introductory material about Shakespeare's life and times, introductory essays about each play, and a well-annotated text, including glossaries and notes.

Tests: There will be two tests, each on a set of plays read in the weeks before the test: see Calendar. I will explain the format and review sample questions before each test.

Papers: Two are required: see Calendar. You can devise your own topics, but with important restrictions. See Guidelines for Papers.

Projects: Students will work together in groups, through the online Discussion Board, on specific projects related to the plays and the study questions. Each student must participate in one such project. Details are explained in UBlearns (see below).

Grades: Your final grade will consist of a finely-tuned subjective consideration of a rigorously objective calculation of the two papers (25% each), the group discussion responses (12.5%), the test average (25%), and attendance (12.5%).
Attendance grade: each recorded and unexcused absence is a 5% reduction in the attendance component of your grade. E.g., perfect attendance = 100%; 5 absences = 75%; 10 absences = 50%.

Office Hours: My office is in 431 Clemens; the telephone number is 645-2575 x1009. Email is willbern@buffalo.edu. Fall 2005 office hours are MWF 12:00 -1:00, and by appointment.

Course Web Site: The URL is

http://www.cas.buffalo.edu/classes/eng/willbern/Shakespeare/index310.htm

Web browsers and other useful software are available online, through the course Web site. You will also need an email account (see UBlearns / Blackboard information below).

Page last updated: August 29, 2005
Send comments to: Professor David Willbern