Fall 1997
Bruce Leland
Western Illinois University

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:

Introduction to Drama is a General Education/Humanities course intended, not surprisingly, to introduce the issues, conventions, and problems of dramatic texts. More specifically, English 202 sections 2 and 3 will focus on the construction of race, class, and gender in popular American drama.

Race, class, and gender are three of the most important "screens" through which we perceive, understand, and interpret experience. These screens are constructed for us by the social groups we live and work with. Authors of plays, like the rest of us, have these screens, and their own race, class, and gender inevitably influence what they write. Furthermore, the authors we'll be studying chose one or more of these three as a topic for their work. In addition, each of us, as audience members or readers of plays, uses our screens to understand them. We'll try to figure out how.

Other issues we'll consider include the relationship of a playscript to a theatrical performance of a play, and the relationships among the genres of the novel, drama, and film.

General Education Writing Emphasis courses:
English 202 is a Writing Emphasis course (of which you must take two as part of your General Education requirement). That means that there will be quite a bit of writing in the course. Anyone who is taking English 100 should wait until they pass that course before taking any Writing Enphasis course.

TEXTS:

• Ferber, Edna. Showboat
• Jones, LeRoy. Dutchman and The Slave
• Harling, Robert. Steel Magnolias
• Simon, Neil. Brighton Beach Memoirs
• Simon Neil. Biloxi Blues
• Hansberry, Lorainne. A Raisin in the Sun
• Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman
• Williams, Tennesee. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• Web sites

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Assigned readings from texts (completed on due date)
2. Attendance at Theatre Department productions
3. 6 microthemes (a series of single-page papers)
4. 2 short papers (3-4 pages)
5. Quizzes on reading (sporadic and unannounced)
6. Faithful attendance
7. Full participation in class discussion and activities

COURSE OUTLINE:

Schedule page: Check regularly for updates. Writing assignments will be posted here.

GRADING:

• Quizzes 15%
• Participation 15%
• Microthemes 40%
• Short papers 30%

Both the microthemes and the papers will be evaluated on both general qualities of writing and the specific expectations of each assignment.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

If you have a condition which requires physical accommodation in the classroom, or which may interfere with your completion of any course requirements, please let me know at once. If illness or personal emergency prevents you from attending class at any time, please let me know by phone or email. If at any time you feel you are falling behind or failing to work up to your potential, come in to see me.

OFFICE:

DISCLAIMER:

This syllabus may be updated with written notice. All updates and revisions will be posted on the class web site.