Syllabus

Daniel Lupton

Email: dlupton@email.unc.edu

Office: Greenlaw 410

Office Hours: 11-12PM, Tuesday/Thursday

Course Description

This course is designed to train students in a variety of different methods for approaching, interpreting, discussing, and writing about dramatic literature. While most of us can understand and appreciate stories in movies, television shows, and other modern media, this course assumes no prior expertise. Over the course of the semester, you will be introduced to a variety of critical concepts, terms, and techniques that will not only deepen your understanding of dramatic literature, but also your enjoyment. While this course assumes no previous knowledge, , students who are already comfortable reading and writing about dramatic literature will appreciate the chance to experiment with the numerous and diverse methodologies that we will study this semester. By approaching the study of dramatic literature as both a skill (an activity you can learn or be trained in) and an art (an activity that invites creativity and invention), I hope that students with an extremely wide array of interests, skills, talents, and life experiences will enjoy and profit from the course.

Required Texts

The Wadsworth Anthology of Drama, Brief Sixth Edition

Grading / Assignments

Blog posts: 25%

Participation: 15%

Reading Quizzes 20%

Paper #1: 15%

Paper #2: 15%

Final exam: 10%

Attendance Policy

Your attendance at each class meeting is essential; this course is as much about discussing fiction as reading it, so in order to reap the full benefits of the course you will need to attend class regularly. Any student who accumulates more than 5 unexcused absences will fail the course (note: the only absences that will be counted as excused are those in which you are traveling on behalf of the university). Persistent tardiness may also affect your grade.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the unattributed or unacknowledged use of another’s words or ideas and is a breach of the honor code. If I suspect you of a willful violation of the honor code, I will report you to the honor court. See your Student Guide for further information on plagiarism.

The Writing Center (http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/)

Students are encouraged to visit the UNC Writing Center (located on the lower level of Phillips Annex). The tutors at the writing center will work with you one-on-one through problems or concerns about any stage of the writing process and can provide useful feedback between in-class draft workshops. Please note that the writing center tutors will not edit or proofread your papers.