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Unit of study_

ENGL3713: Shakespeare

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Shakespeare is sometimes taken to be a writer with a particular capacity to represent human nature. In this unit, you will test the limits of this assumption by considering some of the following: Shakespearean inhumanity; Shakespeare's animals; Shakespeare and the natural world; Shakespearean scepticism. At the same time as considering and questioning Shakespeare's treatment of the human, you will also discover new and productive ways to read his complex figurative language. Shakespeare writes for the stage, but he does so in a very particular way. This unit will allow you to engage with how, as well as what, he writes.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ENGL3713
Academic unit English and Writing
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
ENGL2640
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level including 6 credit points from English
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Huw Griffiths, huw.griffiths@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Huw Griffiths, huw.griffiths@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Longer written-piece
Comparative essay, treating at least two plays.
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 07 Jun 2024 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Metaphor Exercise: "What means this metaphor?"
Close-reading exercise (incorporating use of AI tools)
20% Week 05
Due date: 22 Mar 2024 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Short Essay
Short, non-comparative essay on a single play
35% Week 10
Due date: 03 May 2024 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

(1). Metaphor Exercise (1000 words; 20%); (2) Short Essay (1500 words; 35%); (3) Longer Written Piece (2000 words; 45%)

Assessment criteria

Please refer to The University of Sydney “Guide to Grades”: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.html

How this will be applied in individual assessments will be embedded in the instructions for each task within Canvas. 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties as per University regulations.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Hamlet / Into to Shakespeare's Metaphors Seminar (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 Hamlet / "To be or not to be" x 2 (Hamlet and Scepticism) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Live Lecture #1: "Who's there? What, in /Hamlet/, do we believe? Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Titus Andronicus / ecphrasis Seminar (3 hr) LO1
Week 04 Titus Andronicus / race / gender / vulnerability Seminar (2 hr) LO2
Week 05 A Midsummer Night's Dream / the "environments" of MND Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Live Lecture #2: "Dreaming and Waking Up (A Midsummer Night's Dream) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Midsummer Night's Dream / Human and Non-human Animals Seminar (2 hr) LO2
Week 08 As You Like It / Imaging the World Differently Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Live Lecture #3: "Shakespeare's Environments" Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 09 As You Like It / some critical accounts Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 10 The Winter's Tale / Scepticism / Difficult Speech Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Live Lecture #4: "Shakespeare's Animals" Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 11 The Winter's Tale / The Boundaries of Scepticism / Preparing for Final Lecture Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 12 Seeing and Believing on Shakespeare's Stage Seminar (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Live Lecture #5: Collective Work on the final scene of /The Winter's Tale/ Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Student Choice: to be determined by poll Seminar (2 hr) LO3

Attendance and class requirements

It is my expectation that students attend all classes to which they are assigned. If, for some unavoidable reason, they are unable to come, then I expect them to observe the standard politeness of informing their teacher. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

We read five Shakespeare plays, all of which can be accessed online in the most up-to-date electronic edition (this is the edition I recommend people use) here: New Oxford Shakespeare

 

The five plays (in the order in which we study them) are: 

  • Hamlet
  • Titus Andronicus
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • As You Like It; and 
  • The Winter’s Tale.

 

If you are the kind of person who prefers to read hard copies of individual plays, let me know and I will recommend good editions. I need you to read from well-edited editions with all the notes so please don’t rely on any school copies that you might have lying around.

Critical readings will also be required, as detailed each week on Canvas. A link to some introductory readings that you might find helpful as general background is here:

https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/O6IbCvl1rKiE10lzofXR3Xz?domain=sydney.leganto.exlibrisgroup.com 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand key aspects of Shakespeare's dramatic language.
  • LO2. relate Shakespeare's dramatic texts to critical aspects of his and our own contexts
  • LO3. produce (in writing or other means) cogent, evidence-based arguments that develop independent interpretations of Shakespearean language and drama.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The main change to this unit, following the surveys from last year, is an increase in the "event lectures" from three to five. We got good attendance from the three lectures last year, so it would be good to keep that up for all five in 2024.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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