Course Requirements:
Response Papers ~ 20 points
    All undergraduate students will be expected to write 2 1/2-3 page response papers for four of the plays that we read over the course of the semester. All graduate students will be asked to submit five, 4-5 page response papers that address both the play text and any secondary material assigned to accompany it. Graduate students should ideally apply the critical material to their discussion of the play, rather than trying to respond to each text separately. Of course, undergraduate students are welcome to read the secondary materials assigned to the graduate students as well. Indeed, if you are considering enrolling in graduate school, this would be a useful exercise for you.
    The topics indicated for discussion of each play on the syllabus can certainly be used as a jumping-off point for writing these responses, but you should also feel free to explore questions, issues, themes, imagery, etc. that strike you as you read independently. These response papers are due at the class meeting dedicated to discussion of the play about which you have written. Like all work submitted for this class, response papers should by typed, double-spaced. Any and all material quoted or paraphrased should be properly documented.
ABSOLUTELY NO LATE RESPONSE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
         At the beginning of class, students who wrote response papers should put up on the board one issue they would like to explore, scene they wish the class to examine, speech they did not fully understand, etc. These suggestions will serve as our points of entry into the day’s discussion. While you may prepare response papers for whichever plays you choose, it would be in your best interest to do them earlier in the semester rather than later, so that you can devote full attention to your final project.

Mid-term Exam ~ 30 points
    One of the options offered for completion of the MA degree in English is a lengthy written examination covering a book list pre-defined by the MA candidate in consultation with their advisor. In order to help all students maintain their proficiency at written examinations, we will have a take-home mid-term exam to which you should devote no more than two hours of labor. There will likely be a choice of essay questions; details will be provided closer to mid-term time.

Staging Witchcraft ~ 20 points
    As you read this semester, look for scenes that you think present multiple staging possibilities (and, as a likely consequence, are open to multiple interpretations). We will stage variant versions of several of some of these scenes in the last week of class. You will have class time in preceding weeks to “rehearse.” Nominations for such scenes will be taken on a rolling basis all semester. Nominations will be closed at the end of class on April 16, at which time we will be organized into “theater companies” to prepare and present the scenes.

Final Project ~ 30 points
    By the end of the semester, you will be expected to research and write a paper of approximately 10 (undergraduates) to 15 (graduate students) pages. In addition to all of the work that we will read together as a class, there are a number of plays that we are not reading which you might want to consider for this assignment. See me over the course of the semester if you are interested in exploring such an option. The topics indicated on the syllabus for each day’s discussion also present possible issues to explore in your paper. In addition, the articles on reserve, as well as the work suggested on your bibliography might serve as inspiration for this assignment. You should discuss your topic with me by early April, either during office hours or by e-mail or phone.