ENGL 2010 emphasizes the development of an effective academic style in essays using traditional rhetorical patterns and culminating in a major research essay. In this course, as in all sections of English 2010, students will build on the skills learned in English 1010, focusing on critical thinking, argumentation, research, and documentation.

The thematic focus of this course is William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a play still frequently read, performed, and adapted into other creative media. Through two formal essays, we will 1) analyze the text as a literary work and 2) examine and interpret a film adaptation of the play, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool (2004). More broadly, we will examine why Macbeth remains culturally resonant in the twenty-first century.

• Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Folger Shakespeare Library, 2013.
• Additional readings are available in the Canvas course modules.
• A notebook and your preferred writing implement for in-class activities including notetaking and journaling.
• You must utilize your SUU Gmail account for this class for sharing GoogleDocs with classmates and me.

Required Film Viewings

• Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool (2003)

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of the General Education Written Communication requirement, students will have met the following learning outcomes:

Sources and Evidence: Locate, evaluate, and integrate credible and relevant sources to achieve various writing purposes.

Genre Awareness: Demonstrate critical and conceptual awareness of genre in reading and writing—including organization, content, presentation, formatting, and stylistic choices.

Context and Purpose: Analyze rhetorical situations and adapt to the audience, purpose, modalities, and the circumstances surrounding a range of reading and writing tasks.

Language Awareness and Usage: Recognize and make intentional, critical, and contextually informed language choices across a range of rhetorical contexts/situations.

Recursive Writing Processes: Develop flexible, iterative, and reflective processes for invention, drafting, workshopping, and revision.

Informal Writing. You will complete 8 short writing assignments, which will be graded based on content rather than technical aspects of your writing—although I will provide ungraded feedback on writing matters as needed. These assignments will directly connect to our readings, writing assignments, research, and the writing process. 10% [Learning Outcomes 2, 4, 5]

Journals. Students will write frequently in their journals as a means of reflection, brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising. Please note that I will require you to scan and upload some of these journal entries as part of your graded assignments, including some Informal Writing assignments, Essay 1, and Essay 2 and its draft. I will also collect these journals twice during the semester. 10% [Learning Outcomes 2, 4, 5]

Formal Essays. You will write two Macbeth-focused essays—a 5 to 6-page interpretive essay focusing on a thematic element in Macbeth (25%), and an 8 to 10-page adaptation essay on Maqbool (35%) with a draft (10%). 70% [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4]

Classroom Engagement. Your classroom engagement grade includes a range of activities, including participation in classroom discussions and small-group activities. For more information about what counts as effective participation, see the handout in the “General Resources” module. 10%

While I will take attendance daily, you will not earn points for simply showing up. Please see my attendance policy in the Course Policies section below.

Grading. Final grades will be determined by the percentage of the 100 possible points earned: 94-100% A, 90-93% A-, 87-89% B+, 84-86% B, 80-83% B-, 77-79% C+, 74-76% C, 70-73% C, 67-69% D+, 64-66% D, 60-63% D-, and 59% and below F. Also, if your grade lands at a .5, I will round it up (i.e., a B+/89.5 = A-/90).

Please complete all assigned reading assignments on the day designated below before attending class and be prepared to participate in class discussion and other activities.

Thanksgiving Break

Canvas Usage. All assignments must be submitted via Canvas for a grade. Under no circumstances will I grade essays that are emailed to me. Instructions for all writing assignments are available in Canvas. All Canvas assignments must be uploaded in either Word or as a pdf. Additionally, for Essays 1 and 2, I will also require you to share them via GoogleDocs. For more details, see instructions in individual assignment guidelines.

You will also use Canvas to access required readings in pdf. form, various handouts, and links to online resources.

Classroom Etiquette. I expect all students to come to class having done the reading and prepared to participate in class discussions and activities. I have a strict “no cell phone/no computer policy” in my class, although I will make exceptions when we are doing activities that require you to research online. Get into the habit of leaving your devices in your backpacks unless we have a designated Technology Day (listed in schedule below).

Communications. The easiest way to reach me is through the Canvas inbox, but you may also email me at . When communicating with the class, I will utilize both the Announcements feature and the Canvas inbox. Please update your Canvas settings so you receive these alerts/messages where you want.

Generative AI Policy. Students are not allowed to use generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude AI, Gemini, Grok, etc.) to produce content for their essays in this class. Presenting AI-generated intellectual work as your own constitutes a violation of SUU Policy 6.33: Academic Misconduct and opens the violator up to a series of potential sanctions. Use of AI for tasks like fixing grammar, adjusting dates, or reformatting documents is acceptable.

Late Assignments. All work is due as indicated in the syllabus. In Canvas, there is a final turn-in date of 24 hours after the original deadline, during which I will accept work with a point penalty calculated by the system. Thereafter, all assignments will receive a 0 unless you have arranged for an extension at least 48 hours before the deadline. Please note that extensions are not guaranteed, and I will expect you to meet with me in person to discuss your needs before I approve any extension request.

Attendance. Attendance is required to earn a successful grade in this class. Students with more than 2 weeks/4 class meetings worth of unexcused absences will receive a course reduction of 1 full letter grade, with each subsequent missed week/2 class meetings further reducing your grade by 1 full letter grade (10 points). If you have an A in the class at the time you exceed absences, the following will happen.

5 = B

7 = C

9 = D

11 = F

Excused absences = University-sanctioned excuses, including travel for athletes, academic-related events, health-related emergencies, and ADA accommodations, all of which must be documented.

Please note that if you are 15 minutes (or more) late to class, this will impact your engagement grade.

University Sanctioned Excuses. Student Athletes and any other students traveling on university business (conferences, competitions, field trips, etc.) must provide me with the dates of their absences as follows:

• Student Athletes: within the first two weeks of class via documentation from your coach or the athletics office. I expect to see the entire travel schedule at the beginning of the semester.
• Other Situations: within a week prior to your excused absence (or as soon as you know) with documentation from your instructor or department chairperson.

All assignments are still due as indicated in the syllabus unless you meet with me to arrange an extension 48 hours in advance.

The SUU Undergraduate Writing Center invites all students to the Writing Center in Braithwaite Center 101, where qualified peer tutors are ready to help with any stage of the writing process. Fall hours start September 2: M-R 8 am–9 pm, F 8 am–5 pm, and Saturday 11 am–3 pm. All appointments are free, and in-person, online, and written feedback appointments are available. To schedule, visit