Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Shakespeare's Plays (Face-to-Face)

THEA 2303-01

Course: THEA 2303-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: TA
CRN: 11653

Course Description

Students in this course will analyze selected dramatic works of William Shakespeare, from among the genres of comedy, history, tragedy, and romance. Students will gain critical and creative understandings of these dramatic works of the greatest English-language playwright, and will gain or enhance abilities to communicate effectively about them. (Spring - Even Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

  • The Tempest 
  • Hamlet
  • Troilus and Cressida 
  • Twelfth Night 
  • Four additional plays to be determined via an in-class exercise
  • Free online versions of all Shakespeare's plays can be found here

Learning Outcomes

1)    Creative and Critical Thinking:  Students will imaginatively apply creative and critical thinking to evaluate visual, textual, and performative elements of Shakespeare’s work, adaptations of Shakespeare, and Shakespeare’s influence on contemporary society.

2)    Communication: Students will write and speak about Shakespeare’s work, history, and performance. Students will demonstrate the ability to connect the study of Shakespeare to their own interests, majors, and specific fields of study.

3)    Knowledge of Human Cultures & the Physical & Natural World: Students will derive evidence from primary and secondary sources regarding the work, culture, and society of William Shakespeare and describe how our understanding of Shakespeare is shaped by social, cultural, linguistic, and/or historical circumstances. 

Course Requirements

Participation & Attendance: Attendance at every class period and play is expected and required. You are also expected to actively participate in class while also allowing others the space to participate. Full points for participation and attendance will be awarded to everyone at the start of the semester. Points will be subtracted for absences, tardiness, or failure to participate in the learning process. I recognize that students' learning and participation styles vary and I will try and be sensitive to those differences. 

Group Work: This class will have significant group work, including leading the class for at least two weeks during the semester. Since your contribution to group work can impact other student's work, failure to contribute will result in significant point loss.

Guest Artists: We may have guest artists during the semester. You will be expected to come prepared, be attentive, and actively participate when we have guests. 

Readings and Video Viewings: Because much of the learning in this class happens through discussion and processing various ideas raised in those discussions, you need to come to class having completed all assigned readings and videos for each day. You will not be able to adequately participate in class or process ideas if you are not prepared.

Attending Plays: Attendance at plays is mandatory and cannot be substituted with movies, videos, or attending alternate productions.

Pop Quizzes: Because staying current on your reading and actively participating in the class discussion is imperative in this class, I may utilize pop quizzes from time-to-time as a way to monitor your preparation. Pop quizzes cannot be completed late or made up. If everyone stays caught up on their reading and discussions are lively, you may never see a pop quiz! 

Course Outline

Week 1
Course introduction, reviews policies and expectations, and provides historical background on Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, and the First Folio genres.
 
Week 2
Shakespeare in performance, exploring Elizabethan theatres and how meaning changes from page to stage.
 
Week 3
Study of comedy through Twelfth Night, emphasizing mistaken identity, gender performance, and social norms.
 
Week 4
Twelfth Night with a focus on performance choices and interpretation, led in part by student groups.
 
Week 5
Introducing of tragedy through Hamlet, concentrating on revenge, soliloquies, and moral uncertainty.
 
Week 6
Hamlet in performance, comparing different productions and interpretations of character and theme.
 
Week 7
Exploring genre ambiguity through Troilus and Cressida, analyzing war, love, satire, and Shakespeare’s problem plays.
 
Week 8
Shakespeare’s late romance The Tempest, focusing on power, magic, forgiveness, and control.
 
Week 9
Analyzes The Tempest in performance, emphasizing adaptation, spectacle, and interpretive choices.
 
Week 10
First student-selected play, with students leading discussion and analysis.
 
Week 11
Second student-selected play, continuing student-led teaching and collaborative analysis.
 
Week 12
Third student-selected play, with attention to performance and thematic interpretation.
 
Week 13
Fourth student-selected play and synthesizes ideas across Shakespeare’s genres.
 
Week 14
Reflect on Shakespeare’s legacy, contemporary relevance, and major ideas from the course.
 
Schedule subject to change with advance notice.
 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work will not receive full credit unless arrangements are made with me before the due date. I recognize that “life happens,” so assignments will remain open for two additional days (occasionally even more) past the due date as a courtesy. After the lock date, submissions will no longer be accepted, and no points will be awarded. Please note: the due date is not the same as the lock date. Assignments are expected on time and the computer will automatically award a 0 if you miss the due date. If students begin treating the lock date as the actual due date, this courtesy will be discontinued. The extension is intended only for extenuating circumstances.

Attendance Policy

Attendance at every class period and play is expected and required. You are also expected to actively participate in class while also allowing others the space to participate. Full points for participation and attendance will be awarded to everyone at the start of the semester. Points will be subtracted for absences, tardiness, or failure to participate in the learning process. I recognize that students' learning and participation styles vary and I will try and be sensitive to those differences. 

Course Fees

None

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.