ENG442.001: Advanced American Literature Dr. Brian C. Billings University Center 241 University Center 222 TR 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m. 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (MW) Fall Semester (2016) 4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m. (TR) Texas A&M University-Texarkana (and by online appointment) 903-223-3022 [email protected]
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES
Bryan, David, and Joe DiPietro. Memphis: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2011. (ISBN: 978-1557837714)
Dorsen, Annie, Heidi Rodewald, and Stew. Passing Strange: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2009. (ISBN: 978-1557837523)
Frankel, Scott, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright. Grey Gardens: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2007. (ISBN: 978-1557837349)
Funderburg, Lise, et al. The Color Purple: A Memory Book. Da Capo Press, 2006. (ISBN: 978-0786718443)
Guettel, Adam, and Craig Lucas. The Light in the Piazza. Theatre Communications Group, 2007. (ISBN: 978-1559362672)
Hansard, Glen, Markéta Irglová, and Enda Walsh. Once. Theatre Communications Group, 2013. (ISBN: 978-1559364218)
Hollmann, Mark, and Greg Kotis. Urinetown: The Musical. First ed., Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2003. (ISBN: 978-0571211821)
Kitt, Tom, and Brian Yorkey. Next to Normal. Theatre Communications Group, 2010. (ISBN: 978-1559363709)
LaChiusa, Michael John, and George C. Wolfe. The Wild Party. The New American Musical: An Anthology from the End of the Century, edited by Wiley Hausam, Theatre Communications Group, 2003, pp. 353-450. (ISBN: 978-1559362009)
Lopez, Robert, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Whittey. Avenue Q – The Musical: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. Applause Libretto Library ed., Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2010. (ISBN: 978-1423489047)
Lopez, Robert, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone. The Book of Mormon Script Book: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. Newmarket Press, 2011. (ISBN: 978-1557049933)
McNally, Terrence, and David Yazbeck. The Full Monty: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Hit Broadway Musical. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2002. (ISBN: 978-1557835567)
Meehan, Thomas, et al. Hairspray: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Hit Broadway Musical. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2003. (ISBN: 978-1557835147)
Miranda, Lin-Manuel, and Jeremy McCarter. Hamilton: The Revolution. Grand Central, 2016. (ISBN: 978-1455539741)
LIBRARY-RESOURCES OR MEDIA-RESOURCES ASSESSMENT
This course does not require special library or media resources.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines representative works of United-States musical drama from the year 2000 to the present using historical, philosophical, and structural filters to investigate social themes unique to America in the twenty-first century.
DISCLAIMER
Several of the selected works deal with unsettling and distasteful scenarios. These situations exist not for gratuitous purposes but rather to show the complexities and difficulties of life. Classroom discussions will directly address these issues. COURSE OBJECTIVES
1) Examine the literary and cultural contexts of individual scripts. 2) Discuss scripts as literary and dramatic works. 3) Use scholarship to produce critical writing about scripts.
STUDENT-LEARNING OUTCOMES
1) Create an argumentative critical essay that analyzes and evaluates a work of literature by synthesizing the primary work’s content and information from five secondary sources (earning three hundred and fifty of a possible five hundred points).
2) Evaluate the success of two theatrical presentations by writing one critical review and earning one hundred and forty of a possible two hundred points.
3) Develop an understanding for basic acting preparation by writing four personal responses to scripts and earning two hundred and eighty of a possible four hundred points.
4) Display comprehension and analytical consideration of literary works by writing four script analyses (featuring examinations of unifying principles and significant elements) and earning two hundred and eighty of a possible four hundred points.
PROJECTS (METHODS OF EVALUATION)
1) Critical Paper
Write a critical essay examining one of the scripts from the reading list. Use one of the standard analytical filters for literary analysis to approach the script. The essay should range from ten pages to fifteen pages in length. Create a strong argument. Use textual evidence and content from at least five critical articles to inform the paper. Append an annotated list of works cited to the essay. Follow MLA format. This assignment is worth five hundred points.
2) Performance Review
Write one critical reviews of a local or regional play. This review should use no fewer than seven hundred and fifty words. Follow MLA format. Scan the show’s program or ticket stub and submit the scan to the instructor as proof of attendance. Use the following questions as a guide when preparing the review:
a) How does the set contribute to the performance? Consider believability, colors, conjured environment, construction materials, style, and suggested mood. b) How do the costumes contribute to the performance? Consider attention to time period, character appropriateness, color, fabric, style, and suggested mood. c) How do the lights contribute to the performance? Consider colors, interaction with the actors and the set, special effects, suggested moods, and timing for changes. d) How does sound contribute to the performance? Consider appropriateness, believability, choices, effects, and volume. e) What acting choices contribute to the performance? Consider articulation, believability, dialect, listening and responding, movement, presence, projection, and variety. f) What directing choices contribute to the performance? Consider blocking, casting, composition, concept, message, pace, style, and unity. g) What is the strongest moment of the performance? h) What is the weakest moment of the performance? i) Would you recommend this production of the play to other people?
Combine answers into a single evaluative response. The instructor will not grade a review that merely answers the provided questions with no attempt at cohesive expression. The review is worth two hundred points.
3) Script Analyses
Choose one script from each unit of this class and write a script analysis for each script: action analysis for the first script, given-circumstances analysis for the second script, character analysis for the third script, and style analysis for the fourth script. Each script analysis must follow MLA format and should feature no fewer than five hundred words. Collectively, script analyses are worth four hundred points. Do not analyze a script for which you have chosen to write a script response.
4) Script Responses
Choose one script from each unit of this class and write a personal response to each script that follows MLA format and uses no fewer than five hundred words. Each response should answer the following questions in a cohesive fashion:
a) What do I like the most about the script? Why?
b) What do I dislike the most about the script? Why?
c) How would people in my community respond to this script? Why?
d) Which character would I like to portray the most? Why?
e) What difficulties would I face when trying to portray this character?
f) How would I attempt to surmount these problems?
g) Which personal experiences would help me portray this character?
h) Which character would I like to portray the second most? Why? i) Which character would I like to portray the third most? Why?
Collectively, personal responses are worth four hundred points. Do not respond to a script for which you have chosen to write a script analysis.
REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION
This course requires numerous readings, four script analyses, four script responses, one performance review, and one critical paper. Students should expect an intense class discussion during each class session. The instructor does not accept late work.
INFORMATION ABOUT SUBMISSIONS
Students will complete most assignments during class time. Students should submit any additional written assignments that the instructor requests to Turnitin.com. (The course’s identification number is 13209795, and the course’s password is amermusical.) The instructor does not accept late work.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Class-oriented assignments and group work are essential for this course, so students should attend all class sessions. A student should miss no more than two class sessions to maintain a passing grade. Dropping the course is the student’s responsibility.
UNIVERSITY DROP POLICY
To drop this course after the twelfth class day, a student must complete the Drop or Withdrawal Request Form located on the university’s Web site (http://tamut.edu/registrar/ droppingwithdrawing-from-classes.html) or in the registrar’s office. The student must submit the signed and completed form to the instructor of each course indicated on the form for his or her signature. An obtained signature is not an approval to drop but confirmation that the student has discussed the drop or withdrawal with the faculty member. The student must submit the completed form to the registrar’s office for processing in person, by e-mail (registrar@ tamut.edu), by mail (7101 University Avenue, Texarkana, Texas, 75503) or by fax (903-223- 3140). The registrar’s office will not accept or process drop or withdrawal forms missing any required information. Responsibility rests with the student to ensure that the registrar’s office receives a properly completed form. If a student stops participating in class (attending and submitting assignments) but does not complete and submit a drop or withdrawal form, that student will receive a final grade based upon completed work as outlined in the syllabus.
DROP DATES (FALL 2016)
September 7, 2016 This day is the last day to drop without receiving a grade. November 11, 2016 This day is the last day to drop with a W.
CELLULAR PHONES (COURSE ETIQUETTE I)
Set cellular phones to vibrate during class sessions. Do not send text messages during class sessions.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (COURSE ETIQUETTE II)
Students enrolled in this course should practice academic honesty. Cheating during examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification of research data, and plagiarism (the copying or undocumented use of materials from any source) constitute academic dishonesty and may be grounds for a grade of F in this course or disciplinary action. Each student is responsible for reading and understanding the University Policy on Academic Integrity (UPAI).
PLAGIARISM POLICY FOR THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Any student who plagiarizes work in an A&M-Texarkana English class will automatically fail that English class. Do not plagiarize any work for this class.
CONFERENCES
Students should conference with the instructor for assignment clarification or immediate writing feedback. Conferences are available during the instructor’s office hours or by special appointment. Please arrange a date and a time for a conference by sending a request to the instructor using e-mail. For this course, please use only the Blackboard e-mail system to correspond with the instructor.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS
Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations through the Texas A&M University-Texarkana Disability Services Office by calling 903-223-3062.
A&M-TEXARKANA E-MAIL ADDRESS
After Texas A&M University-Texarkana accepts an applicant as a student, that individual will receive an A&M-Texarkana e-mail account. Instructors and university officials will deliver official university correspondence to this account. Each individual is responsible for information sent and received via his or her university e-mail account, and each individual must check his or her official A&M-Texarkana e-mail account completely and frequently. Faculty members and students must use their university e-mail accounts (or Blackboard mail for online courses) when communicating about coursework. For this course, please use only the Blackboard e-mail system to correspond with the instructor.
INFORMATION ABOUT GRADING
Each assignment corresponds to a given point value. The instructor calculates grades by dividing a student’s accumulated points by the number of points possible.
Points by Assignment
Critical Paper 500 Performance Review 200 Script Analyses (Four) 400 Script Responses (Four) 400
Total Points Possible: 1500
Grade Computation (Example)
Assignment Points Earned Points Possible
Script Analyses (Two) 150 200 Critical Paper 425 500 Performance Review 150 200
Points in Total: 725 900
Grade = 725/900 = 80.56% ~ 81.0% = B
GRADING SCALE
90%-99% = A 80%-89% = B 70%-79% = C 60%-69% = D 0%-59% = F
EXTRA INFORMATION FOR WEB-ENHANCED AND ONLINE COURSES
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Students are responsible for beginning their participation on the first class day by logging on and completing assignments according to the course calendar. Failure to submit online assignments between the first day of classes and the university’s census date (according to the university’s schedule) will result in an administrative drop from the course.
STUDENTS WITH FEDERAL LOANS OR GRANTS
Students who have federal loans and grants must be aware that monitors will observe their participation in online courses. In the event a student withdraws from a course, the student must refund all federal funds; these funds will receive proration from the last date of participation. A student’s last access to Blackboard does not suffice as participation. The required weekly activity may include a comment to a blog, a discussion-board posting, a journal entry, a quiz or examination, an assignment that the student submitted, or any other measurable or trackable activity.
STUDENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Solutions to common problems and questions for your web-enhanced and online courses are found on the online-student-training page located on the A&M-Texarkana Web site.
If you cannot find a solution on the online-student-training page, you may submit a support request by contacting the Information Technology Help Desk using the following methods.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 903-334-6603
Submission: Support Request Ticket
Students may find additional help for Blackboard by searching Blackboard Help for Students.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The minimum computer requirements for online learning include the following:
1) a computer capable of handling streaming video (i.e., a mid-range multi-core CPU),
2) a sound card,
3) a high-speed Internet connection that links to the computer via a hard-wired Ethernet connection rather than a wireless connection,
4) software protecting against viruses and adware,
5) Microsoft Word (minimum version 2007 or above),
6) Mozilla Firefox browser (available for free), and
7) the most recent versions of Java, Flash, QuickTime, Adobe Reader, and Shockwave.
(You can check that the versions for the latter programs are up to date by using the Firefox browser and visiting the Firefox Plugin Check Tool.)
Please note that some instructors may require the use of a headset with a microphone or a Web camera. If so, course fees do not include the cost of these items; you must acquire these items at your own expense.
BLACKBOARD MOBILE FOR IOS AND ANDROID DEVICES
Android and iOS devices are currently supported using the Blackboard Mobile App, available for free from your App Store or by scanning the code below:
The Blackboard Mobile App provides limited access to courses, including the ability to read and contribute to discussions, check grades and announcements, access content, read and comment on blogs, reflect in journals, link to your personal Dropbox, and receive push notifications when courses receive updates. Limited course features may also be available via your mobile device’s browser; however, your mobile device does not replace your personal computer and should not function as a substitute for one. You should complete high-stakes assignments, tests, or other such work on your personal computer instead of on your mobile device.
Tentative Schedule
First Unit
08/23/16: Course Introduction Brief History
08/25/16: Technical Information
08/30/16: The Wild Party
09/01/16: The Wild Party
09/06/16: The Full Monty
09/08/16: The Full Monty
09/13/16: Urinetown First Script Response Due
09/15/16: Urinetown First Script Analysis Due
Second Unit
09/20/16: Hairspray
09/22/16: Hairspray
09/27/16: Avenue Q
09/29/16: Avenue Q
10/04/16: The Light in the Piazza
10/06/16: The Light in the Piazza
10/11/16: The Color Purple Second Script Response Due
10/13/16: The Color Purple Second Script Analysis Due
Third Unit
10/18/16: Grey Gardens
10/20/16: Grey Gardens
10/25/16: Next to Normal
10/27/16: Next to Normal
11/01/16: Memphis
11/03/16: Memphis
11/08/16: The Book of Mormon Third Script Response Due
11/10/16: The Book of Mormon Third Script Analysis Due
Fourth Unit
11/15/16: Once
11/17/16: Once Performance Review Due
11/22/16: Hamilton Fourth Script Response Due
11/24/16: Thanksgiving
11/29/16: Hamilton Fourth Script Analysis Due
12/01/16: Critical Essay Due