SPCH/THEA 340: Oral Interpretation

Course Syllabus

Spring 2005

Professor:       Dr. Mindy Fenske

Office Hours: TTH 3:30-4:30 W 2:30-3:30 and by appointment

Phone: 777-8174

Office:             HUO 503

email:              Fenske@gwm.sc.edu

 

Texts: Textbooks are available at the SC Bookstore at the corner of Main and Greene.                      

TextBook: Writing Through Literature, 3rd edition.

                       

Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories, revised edition.

 

Course Framework and Goals

 

The intent of this course is to explore using performance as a method of literary and cultural criticism and communication.  In this course we approach performance as a mechanism to both embody literary and cultural texts as well as communicate those perspectives to an audience. To that end, I do not demand or expect talent.  I do, however, ask for hard work, dedication and an open and critical mind.  By the end of the semester you will appreciate performance as a method of communicating and analyzing literature and culture from both the perspective of performer and audience.  We will explore group and solo performance techniques of poetry and short fiction.  The final project of the semester asks you to apply those techniques through the composition of a performance that addresses a cultural/social issue.

 

Ground Rules

I tend to treat the course syllabus (other than the calendar) as a contract.  That is, once we cover it in class we all agree to abide by what it says.  With that in mind, make sure that you keep this copy and if (through no fault of your own, I dare say) you happen to accidentally misplace it, make sure that you print another copy from BlackBoard as soon as you realize you=ve lost it. 

 

Course Requirements

 

Active Participation: This class depends on all members diving in with both feet.  Ultimately you end up learning as much from each other as from me which makes it vital that everyone put forth their best effort.  Some of the activities may seem a bit odd or weird but give them all the benefit of the doubt.

 

Attendance: Closely related to participation is attendance.  It is my belief that no one can learn how to perform from a book.  All the real learning takes place in experiencing performance both as actor and audience.  To that end, if you do not come to class, you will not learn and will very likely do poorly in your performances.  I will pass around a roll sheet every day.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you sign the roll, it is the only record of your attendance.   Attendance grades are computed in the following way:

 

4 absences= 15% deduction from attendance/participation grade

5 absences= 25% deduction from attendance/participation grade

6 absences=40% deduction from attendance/participation grade

7 absences=60% deduction from attendance/participation grade

more than 8 absences =ZERO credit for attendance/participation

 

Each un-excused absence on a performance day will result in an automatic 5% deduction from your overall grade. So, if at the end of the semester you have been absent 4 times and one of those is a performance day, you will both lose 15% from your participation grade AND lose 5% from your overall grade. 

 

Acceptable excuses for absences are few.  They include, for example, travel for University sponsored activities, and illnesses or emergencies that require hospitalization.  They DO NOT include picking people up from airports, appointments made during class time, oversleeping, parking problems, fatigue ---these situations are the reason why you have 3 free absences to use however you wish.

 

Each excuse will be handled on an individual basis and the student must inform me of the excuse IN WRITING either prior to the absence or the day they return to class after the absence.  No excuses will be accepted outside of this time frame.

 

Performances: There are three graded performances: poetry, prose and compiled.  The criteria for each will be clearly explained well in advance of each performance.

 

Papers: With each performance goes a paper.  The criteria for grading the papers are (in no particular order):

 

1.         Organization: the papers should clearly adhere to the structure described in the assignments.   In some cases I will be asking for an essay format and in others the paper will be much like answering a series of short answer questions.

2.         Analysis: each claim you make must be clarified and supported by your interpretation and explanation of specific events and issues present in the text you are analyzing.  Always provide quotations or examples of events from the text to explain what you think the story or poem means.

3.         Grammar and style: sentences should be clearly structured and you should proof read for spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors.

4.         Content: the paper should satisfy the requirements outlined in the assignment to earn a passing grade. 

 

Workshops:  Each performance is preceded by an opportunity to work on and rehearse the performance in class through a workshop process.  Each workshop is unique. 

 

Workshop #1: For the first performance which is a group performance of poetry, the workshops will consist of group activities, meetings, and rehearsals.  Grading for this first workshop will be based on attendance and participation in the activities, meetings, and rehearsals. 

 

Workshop #2: The second workshop will be an individual rehearsal with class input.   Because the second performance is a solo performance, the grading will as follows:

 

100%:              student has text memorized with clear performance choices and concepts

90%:                student is nearly memorized (occasional prompting) with clear performance ideas.

80%:                student is using the script but not reading from it and had clear ideas

70%:                student is reading from the script and the ideas are there but the execution is problematic

60%:                student is reading the script and completely unprepared


 

Workshop #3: The third workshop session is for the compiled performance and will consist of individual meetings with me.  Grading for the third workshop will be based on the level of preparedness each student/group has for their meeting.  The specific requirements and explanations for each workshop will be clearly stated prior to each performance series. 

 

Exams: There will be 2 exams.  The first will be right around the middle of the semester and the second will be a take-home. The first exam is listy and definey and the second exam will be an essay for which you will be given the question well in advance.

 

Course Policies

 

Make-ups

 

Performances: The nature of the class makes make-ups near to impossible.  UNLESS YOU HAVE A FAMILY EMERGENCY, ARE DEATHLY ILL OR HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM COMING TO CLASS BY SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS WHICH YOU ARE UNABLE TO BREAK, I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY MAKE-UPS ON PERFORMANCES.  What I=m trying to not-so-subtly point out is that lack of preparedness is not considered a justifiable excuse for missing a performance. I am very University activity friendly and if you have to be out of town for a University sponsored event, let me know in advance so that we can make arrangements.

 

Workshops: Making up workshops is equally undesirable, but possible.  If you miss your workshop appointment for the second or third workshop, your grade will automatically be deducted 50%.  The first workshop is a group effort—a series of rehearsals and activities.  Grading is based solely on your participation in the workshop activities and so this is an all or nothing endeavor.  Each workshop day is worth 50% of the grade for that workshop.  If you miss one day, you lose 50%.  If you miss both days, you receive a zero. 

 

Late papers: Papers are on time if they are handed in or emailed to me by the end of class on the day they are due (3:15pm). Late papers lose one full grade per day they are late. For example, if it is due on Tuesday and you email it to me Tuesday at 4:00pm, it loses a grade. It will lose another grade Wednesday afternoon, etc. Never slide papers under my office door.  If you need to bring a paper to my office, go to the first floor of the Humanities Office Building and ask someone in the English office to place the paper in my box with the time and date. Only in cases of personal or family emergencies will the grade deductions for any assignments be waived.

 

Exams:  Students may arrange to take their first exam early if they will be out of class when the exam is scheduled.  This make-up exam will be a combination short-answer and essay exam taken at the instructor’s convenience.  Student’s failing to attend class on the exam date without prior notice will be allowed to make-up the exam only with instructor approval and with an automatic deduction of one full grade.  This exam will also be a short-answer and essay exam.

 

The second exam will be treated like a paper and the same grade deductions will apply.

 

Academic Honesty 

 

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines for academic honesty provided in the “Rule of Academic Responsibility” found in the Carolina Community.  (http://www.sa.sc.edu/carolinacommunity/judicial.htm#Academic%20Responsibility)

 

Open Door Policy

 

I actively invite students to come to me to discuss performances and grades.  The deal with grades, however, is that I will not speak to you until 48 hours after you receive the grade.  This cool-off period is designed so that our discussion is fruitful and productive rather than heated and ugly.  I will be happy to clarify any and all rationale for grading.

 

Grading

 

In this class an ‘A’ represents excellence—not only meeting the basic assignment parameters, but demonstrating a careful, dedicated, sophisticated and in-depth understanding and deployment of the concepts.  In other words, going above and beyond what the assignments requests of you both in terms of content and execution.

 

A ‘B’ represents outstanding work—meeting and exceeding the basic requirements.

 

A ‘C’ represents average work---meeting the assignment requirements

 

A ‘D’ does not satisfy the basic requirements in at least one part.

I grade based on the following scale:

90-100=A,   86-89=B+,   80-85=B, 76-79=C+,  70-75=C, 66-69=D+,  60-65=D,  59=F

 

Point Totals

 

Exam #1          10%                Poetry Performance   5%

Exam #2          20%                Prose Performance    10%

Paper #1         5%                  Compiled                    20%

Paper #2         5%                  Workshops                 15%

Script             5%                  Participation               5%

 

The performance component of the grade (workshops and performances) is 50% of the total grade.  Written assignments (exams and papers) are 45% of the total grade and participation is 5%.  The performance assignments are also graded to increase in worth as the semester progresses.  This is designed to ease your way into the performance component of the class.

 

Tentative Calendar

 

1/11:    Intro to class

1/13:    Intro to performance

 

1/18:    Poetry Read pp 68-77

1/20:    Poetry read pp. 94-103

 

1/25:    Poems and groups assigned/Image and poetry (workshop activity

1/27:    Image and poetry (workshop activity )

 

2/1:      group meetings PAPER DUE

2/3:      performances

 

2/8:      Narrative form (Read 1-17)

2/10:    Character (read pp. 42-45 and come to class prepared to discuss #5---which means you will have to also look at pp 21-24)

 

2/15:    Point of view

2/17:    Intertextuality (Read 150-157, 207-213) and review for exam

           

2/22:    Exam

2/24:    workshop

 

 

3/1:      workshop

3/3:      workshop/ paper due

 

3/8:      spring break

3/10:    spring break

 

3/15:    performance

3/17:    TBA

 

3/22:    performance

3/24:    Compiled lecture

            Read 238-248(mystory)

 

3/29:    Fragments (read 262-76)

3/31:    SSCA

 

4/5:      Samples (pp291-313) topics due

4/7:      Workshop meetings

 

4/12:    workshop meetings

4/14:    performance

 

4/19:    performance

4/21:    performance

 

4/29:   Final papers due at 2pm.