Course Syllabus

SUMMER 2023             THA 31           CRN  54290- 961             

Course Syllabus Survey of Classical Drama 

Link to document version 50- 2023-54290 TH A 31- 961 .docx

Instructor Patricia Miller ( academic website)

 THA 31 Webpage

Important Dates                 

  • Day Class Begins: June 5, 2023
  • Day Class Ends: July 30, 2023
  • As a late start course, deadlines to drop etc are adjusted so check in with a counselor. ( also see Free City below)

Course Description

Readings and analysis of the plays that form the historical foundation of modem European and American drama. Lectures, reading and discussion of plays from ancient Greece through Shakespeare to the 19th century. We work through the cannon of theatrical literature with a lens of contemporary society and current concerns. Each module focuses on one important genre and representative play of classical theatre but also investigates contemporary adaptations or plays that build on historical examples.

Student Learning Outcomes

    • Outcome 1: Illustrate the development of European theatre through its major formative eras.
    • Outcome 2: Use accepted criteria and vocabulary for dramatic analysis and criticism
    • Outcome 3: Identify and compare styles of writing and staging practices from various eras
    • Outcome 4: Demonstrate the relationship between various dramatic styles and the social, religious, economic and political influences of the time in which they appeared.
    • Outcome 5: Differentiate between the thematic and narrative content of a play and the aesthetic form of the writing.
    • Outcome 6: Discuss and evaluate the quality of a production.

Class Meetings

All material and activities are offered asynchronously using Canvas. There are no physical meetings but course deadlines are shared, i.e. you must keep up the pace and not skip weeks. The midterm project requires group work to be organized per student goals and schedules

Instructor Contact: Professor Patricia Miller

  • Contact through your Canvas App Email system. Emergency email only: pmiller@ccsf.edu
  • Office Hours:  I am only holding office hours by free Zoom online conferencing by appointment.
  • Office Location: Music and Theatre Department A 209, second floor Arts Extension/Ocean Campus
  • I will respond to all course email within 24 hours Monday-Friday, exclusive of school holidays. Once the course begins, I prefer to get messages through the Canvas "Inbox". 
  • You can visit our Google site here

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management System for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing.

Time Commitment and assignments

  • This course represents an equivalent to a full time 52 hour class so time commitment cannot be underestimated.
  • There are 8 unique modules plus orientation and final exam.
  • Each module features a new play, classical theatre time period and requires that you read the play, read/watch provided materials, do a quiz, take part in discussion twice in the week and do an assignment that may require independent research.
  • Additionally you will practice what you learned by attending two live theatre events of your choice and provide a graded critique. This may be adjusted to one live and one recorded event.

Grading Rubric

Hours

Percentage of Grade

Reading a Play

21

N/A

Orientation

1

Discussions

7

25%

Assignment

7

25%

2 Play Critiques

8

30%

Quizzes and Final Exam

1

20%

Totals

52

100%

Textbook

  • Printed Scripts - You will need reading editions of all seven or eight plays. However they are freely available at libraries, second book stores and for free at the online library Project Gutenberg
  • https://www.gutenberg.org/

Oedipus Rex - ISBN 0671888048

Lysistrata - ISBN 0451527895 

Everyman - ISBN 046087280X

Hamlet - Any edition

 Tartuffe - ISBN 0822211114

The Country Wife ISBN  9781408179895

Cyrano de Bergerac - ISBN 1557832307

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course.

Important Dates

  • Are found at this link as they change each semester CCSF Instructional calendar
  • As a late start course, deadlines to drop etc are adjusted so check in with a counselor.

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.  Students who have not engaged in the academically related activity (such as taking a quiz, posting to a forum, or submitting an assignment) during the first week of class will be dropped.  Logging in and viewing the course, by itself, is NOT active engagement. 

FREE CITY rules and guidelines

 What happens if I drop my courses and FREE CITY is paying my enrollment fees?

  1.    If you drop courses before the date to receive a full refund, you owe nothing. Refund deadlines are next to each course listing on the college website.
  2.   If you drop after the deadline to receive a full refund, then you are liable for all applicable fees, and the money will be returned to the Free City Program.

 2)  What happens if I drop my course and I am receiving a FREE CITY stipend?

  1. If you drop all courses, before the refund deadline, you are liable for the stipend.
  2. If you drop from full time (12 credits or more) to part time (6-11 credits) after the refund deadline, you may be liable to return a portion of the stipend.
  3. If you drop below 6 credits, you may be liable to return the stipend.

Attendance

Students who do not participate in the academically related activity during the first week of class will be considered “no shows” and will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

How to Log-in to Your Course in Canvas

*Be sure to check your CCSF assigned Gmail account regularly for important CCSF communications.

If you need to, you can reset your @mail.ccsf.edu (Links to an external site.) email password at Web4, www.ccsf.edu/web4 (Links to an external site.).  Be sure to complete the entire process all of the way through to create your RAMID password.  For assistance contact the Help Desk at (415) 239-3711 or toll-free at (844) 693-4357.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences (Links to an external site.) as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates or of instructor.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at 5:00 PM PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless the student sends the instructor an email with URL for late work.

Methods of Evaluation

  • Exams, quizzes, online discussion, written work.
  • Mid term assignment requires presentation through power point or recorded video.
  • Exams: There will be an online final exam. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.

CREATING OUR BEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Theatre is a great space to explore your creativity and learn a craft, but it is also a highly collaborative team effort and we will establish a safe and cooperative learning and creative environment ONLINE!!! Others are relying on you and your energetic contribution. You will collaborate directly for the midterm Study Buddy Project so always assume best intentions, show leadership and support each other. Reach out to me if you have ongoing challenges!

SOME EXCELLENT CCSF RESOURCES…please look and share!

Student Resource Centers                          Student Scholarship Office            Student Counseling

SAFE SPACE, BRAVE SPACE

I understand that students represent a rich diversity of backgrounds and perspectives. The City College of San Francisco is committed to providing an atmosphere for learning that respects diversity. While working together to build this community I request all student members to:

i)share their unique experiences, values and beliefs

ii)value each other’s opinions and communicate in a respectful manner

iii)be open to the views of others 

iv)honor the uniqueness of peers

v)appreciate the opportunity that we have to learn from each other in this community

Studying theatre opens doors to so many experiences both those we learn from others and from ourselves in process. My performance classes will help you define and reach your goals in whatever major you are in but also discover, enjoy and play! Its as much about process as it is product. Please help me create an environment where that’s true for everyone. If you have any impediment to learning including basic needs, I would like to support you. You belong here!

Students seeking disability related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for more information and alternate locations.

Students who register in CCSF classes are required to abide by the CCSF Student Code of Conduct (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Violation of the code is basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Office of Student Affairs (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:

Encourage Academic Integrity and Prevent Plagiarism (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Citing Information Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.