Theatre and Ethical Choice
FYSM166-002 Fall
2008 MWF
11:00 – 11:50
Dr. Susan
Kattwinkel Office
Hours: W 12:00-1:00, TTh 10:00-11:00
Office: Lightsey Annex 183 email:
kattwinkels@cofc.edu
Phone:
953-8218 web:https://www.cofc.edu/~kattwins/SKhome.htm
Library
Liaison: Tom Gilson – 953-8014
Course
Description: Theatre often presents its audiences with
questions of ethical choice – which of two moral codes to follow, whom to
believe, when to sacrifice personal desires for the greater good. This class will look at plays and
performances that address these questions, examining not only the questions
themselves, but also the structures and styles of theatre that address them
most effectively.
Course Objectives: By
the end of this course you will be able to:
Course
Requirements:
Detailed instructions will be provided for each of these assignments.
Ethical
reading responses: you will highlight and respond to one element of a reading
at least twice during the semester. You may do one extra one to have it replace
an earlier grade if you wish.
Class
notes: You must post your notes on google-docs at least twice during the semester
– first half and second half.
Play
quizzes: each day a play is due we will have a quiz, also after we see the
plays in the Emmett Robinson. They
are basic did-you-read-the-play quizzes, not designed to trick you, but to be
sure you did more than just skim.
There are 11 plays, so there will be 11 quizzes, but I will drop your
three lowest grades.
There
will be a mid-term and a final exam.
We will have a review session and I will discuss the format of the test
beforehand.
Group
play analysis: in groups, you will analyze the dramatic methods used to explore
an ethical question in one of the plays we read.
Class
participation: will include your contribution to the class.
Play
responses/reviews: these are not play reviews, but responses based on plays you
see or read, based around one of a set of questions that I will provide for
you. You will write them for the
first two plays we see, and the third if you want a higher grade.
Research
paper – you will look for articles in the popular press to illustrate
differing sides of an argument on a contemporary ethical topic.
Course
Texts: All the plays
listed on the syllabus are available at the bookstore (except Not in My Name which is online). I have not ordered a text book. Other readings are on e-reserve through
the library web page.
Evaluation:
Ethical Reading Responses
(2) - 3% each = 6%
Class notes (2) –
2% each = 4 %
play quizzes (8) –
2% each = 16%
two exams – 10 %
first exam, 15% second = 25%
group play analysis
– 8%
class participation = 15%
play reviews (2) –
8% each = 16%
short research paper
– 10%
Grading scale:
A – 91-100
A- - 88-90
B+ - 85-87
B – 81-84
B- - 78-80
C+ - 75-77
C – 71-74
C- - 68-70
D+ - 65-67
D – 61-64
Attendance
Policy: You are
permitted 3 absences. Your next two absences (4 and 5) will lower your final
grade by 2 points. Each subsequent absence will lower your final grade by
one-third of a letter grade (i.e. 3 points). Nine or more absences, whether
excused or unexcused, will result in a grade of WA (equivalent to an ÔFŐ).
(HereŐs the math - 5 absences - minus 4 points on final grade, 6 - minus 7 pts,
7 - minus 10 pts, 8 - minus 13 pts) Three tardies (5 minutes or more) equal one
absence. You must tell me at end of class that you were late or risk being
marked as absent for the day. I do not count absences as excused or unexcused,
so if you know that you will be absent for auditions, etc., budget your time
accordingly.
Disability
Statement
Students
who have a documented disability and have been approved to receive
accommodation through SNAP Services my request extra test time or note-taking
assistance. Please discuss possible accommodations with me in as soon as
possible.
Lying, cheating,
attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when
identified, are investigated. Each
incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved.
Incidents
where the instructor determines the studentŐs actions are clearly related more
to a misunderstanding will handled by the instructor. A written intervention designed to help prevent the student
from repeating the error will be given to the student. The intervention, submitted by form and
signed by both the instructor and the student, will be forwarded to the Dean of
Students and placed in the studentŐs file.
Cases
of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor
and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the
Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XF in the course, indicating
failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This grade will appear on the studentŐs transcript for two
years after which the student may petition for the X to be expunged. The student may also be placed on
disciplinary probation, suspended (temporary removal) or expelled (permanent
removal) from the College by the Honor Board.
Students
should be aware that unauthorized collaboration--working together without
permission-- is a form of cheating.
Unless the instructor specifies that students can work together on an
assignment, quiz and/or test, no collaboration during the completion of the
assignment is permitted.
Other forms of cheating include possessing or using an unauthorized
study aid (which could include accessing information stored on a cell phone),
copying from othersŐ exams, fabricating data, and giving unauthorized
assistance.
Research
conducted and/or papers written for other classes cannot be used in whole or in
part for any assignment in this class without obtaining prior permission from
the instructor.
Students can find the
complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook at
https://www.cofc.edu/studentaffairs/general_info/studenthandbook.html
Week 1
W Aug. 27
– Introduction
F Aug. 29
– Self-reflection
See Measure
for Measure –
Emmett Robinson Theatre (Th. 8/28- T 9/2)
Week 2
M Sept. 1
– Last day of drop/add
Read: Singer,
"About Ethics" – e-reserve
W Sept. 3
– Quiz on Measure
for Measure Read: entry on Greek theatre –
e-reserve
F Sept.
5 - Read: Antigone
Extra credit:
See Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet – Chapel Theatre (Th. 8/28
– Su 8/31, Th 9/4 – Tu 9/9)
Week 3
M Sept.
8 - Antigone's ethics
W Sept. 10 - Due:
Measure for
Measure response
F Sept. 12
– theatre tour
Week 4
M Sept. 15
– Read:
entry on Renaissance theatre – e-reserve
W Sept. 17
– Read: Hamlet Acts 1 & 2
F Sept. 19
– more Elizabethan
Week 5
M Sept. 22
– Read: Hamlet Acts 3,4,5
W Sept. 24
– continue Hamlet discussion
F Sept. 26
– Read: The
Responsibility Project (online – link from website)
Week 6
M Sept. 29
– Read: The
Story
W Oct. 1
– continue The Story discussion
F Oct. 3
– library visit
See The
Story at the
Emmett Robinson Oct 2 – Oct 7.
Week 7
M Oct.6
– review for test
T Oct. 7 -
Last day to withdraw from Spring classes with a W
W Oct. 8 - test #1 (includes quiz on The Story)
F Oct. 10
– discuss audiences Due: The Story response
Week 8
M Oct. 13 Fall
Break
W Oct. 15
– Read: Brecht entry – e-reserve
F Oct. 17 –
Read: Singer,
"The Ultimate Choice"
Week 9
M Oct. 20
– Read: Good
Woman of Setzuan
W Oct. 22 Susan
out of town
F Oct. 24 Susan
out of town
Week 10
M Oct. 27
– Discuss Good Woman
W Oct. 29
– Read:
ethical survey (online – link from website)
F Oct. 31
– Read: The
Visit
Week 11
M Nov. 3
– discuss The Visit
W Nov. 5
– Read:
"Civil Disobedience"
F Nov. 7
– Read: The
Night Thoreau Spent in Jail
Week 12
M Nov. 10
– in-class work
W Nov. 12
– Read:
"The Death Penalty" – e-reserve
F Nov. 14
– Read: Not
in my Name
See Tartuffe at the Emmett Robinson Nov. 13
– Nov. 18
Week 13
M Nov. 17
– in-class work
W Nov. 19
– Read:
ethical reading TBA – e-reserve
F Nov. 21
– Read: Doubt
Week 14
M Nov. 24
– in-class work
W Nov. 26
– Thanksgiving Break
F Nov. 28
– Thanksgiving Break
Week 15
M Dec. 1
– in-class work
W Dec. 3
– Group Presentations
F. Dec. 5 - Group
Presentations
Week 16
M Dec. 8
– catch-up and exam
review Due: research paper
The Final
Exam will be the final day of exams, and youŐll have to be there, so plan for
that now.
Final
exam: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 12:00 - 3:00