Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Shakespeare's Outsiders (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 4320-01

Course: ENGL 4320-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: English
CRN: 31579

Course Description

This course examines the figures who inhabit the margins of Shakespeare's world—the outsiders, the others, and the dispossessed—and asks what it means to exist outside the boundaries of power, belonging, and social norms. Through close reading of selected plays, we will explore how Shakespeare represents difference across categories including race, religion, gender, class, age, ability, sexuality, illegitimacy, and foreignness, attending carefully to the ways these categories overlap and complicate one another. Along the way, we will consider who gets to access power and on what terms, how marginalized figures resist, subvert, or accommodate the social order, and whether—across four centuries—these characters still have something to say to those who have ever felt themselves on the outside looking in. Texts will include Henry VI, Part 1, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Othello, and King Lear, read alongside selected early modern historical documents and contemporary Shakespeare criticism.

Required Texts

For this class, I’ve ordered the Folger Shakespeare editions of the above plays because I prefer them; however, if you have other editions with footnotes (Oxford, Cambridge, Arden, Norton, the Bedford Text in Context series, Signet, or Pelican), you are free to use them.

Learning Outcomes

  • Inquiry and Analysis: Students demonstrate the ability to apply a range of literary theories and/or critical perspectives through close reading and analysis.
  • Communication: Students demonstrate the ability to articulate interpretations and critical positions through presentations and academic essays.
  • Information Literacy: Students demonstrate the ability to conduct scholarly research.

Course Requirements

  • Critical Responses: 3 short interpretive responses on the assigned texts, which, ideally, will allow you to test out some ideas in preparation for the Interpretive Essay. 20%
  • Interpretive Essay: An 8–10-page essay developing an original interpretive argument and utilizing secondary sources (35%). Shorter, related assignments will include a Proposal w/ Annotated Bibliography (10%), a Draft (10%), and an Abstract (5%). 60%
  • Classroom Engagement: Classroom engagement encompasses your day-to-day participation in large and sometimes small-group discussions of the readings. 20%

Grading. Final grades will be determined by the percentage of the 100 possible points earned: 93-100% A, 90-92% A-, 87-89% B+, 83-86% B, 80-82% B-, 77-79% C+, 73-76% C, 70-72% C-, 67-69% D+, 63-66% D, 60-62% D-, and 59% and below F. Also, if your grade lands at a .5, I will round it up (I.e., 89.5 = 90).

Course Outline

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

From this point onward, students will work independently on assignments for the Interpretive Essay; however, I will be available via email if you have questions.

Thanksgiving Break

I will arrange for individual conferences Exam Week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, if needed, so please email me if you need to set up a Zoom appointment.

Reading Assignments/Classroom ActivitiesWriting Assignments
R 9/3 | Introduction to Course
Handout on Shakespeare’s History Plays (“Peter Saccio on Shakespeare’s Kings”)
T 9/8 | Henry VI, Part 1, Acts 1 & 2
The Kings and Queens of Britain—read Richard, Duke of York through Edward, Prince of Wales (in Canvas Histories Module)
R 9/10 | Acts 3 & 4
T 9/15 | Act 5
Mario DiGangi, “Wounded Alpha Bad Boy Soldier” (in Histories Module)
R 9/17 | Richard III, Act 1
The Kings and Queens of Britain—read Richard Neville, Duke of Warwick through Lady Margaret Beaufort (in Canvas Histories Module)
Discuss Requirements for Critical Responses
T 9/22 | Acts 2 & 3
R 9/24 | Act 4
T 9/29 | Richard III, Act 5
Pasquale Toscano, “Rhetorical Rebound: Disabling Critique in Richard III” (in Histories module)
R 10/1 | The Merchant of Venice, Act 1
“Jews as Other” (in Comedies Module)F 10/2: Critical Response Due
T 10/6 | Acts 2 & 3
“Eight Accounts of Boy Actors” (in Comedies Module)
Discuss Interpretive Essay Requirements
R 10/8 | Acts 4 & 5
T 10/13 | As You Like It, Acts 1 & 2
“The Renaissance Ganymede” and “Female Homoeroticism” (in Comedies Module)
R 10/15 | Acts 3 & 4
T 10/20 | No Class: Fall Break
R 10/22 | Act 5
Christina Torres Cawdery, “’I Like This place’: Race, Conduct, and Ownership in As You Like It”F 10/23: Critical Response 2 Due
T 10/27 | Othello, Acts 1 & 2
R 10/29 | Act 3
“Moors and Blackness” and “Turning Turk” (in Tragedies Module)Conducting Research for Interpretive Essay
T 11/3 | Acts 4 & 5
R 11/5 | King Lear, Act 1
Peter Martyr, “Of Bastards” and Thomas Milles, “A paradox, in defense of bastards” (in Tragedies Module)
T 11/10 | Acts 2 & 3
R 11/12 | Acts 4 & 5F 11/13: Critical Response 3 Due
T 11/17 | No Class: Work on Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
R 11/19 | No Class: Work on Proposal and Annotated BibliographyProposal and Annotated Bibliography (2 secondary sources)
T 12/1 | No Class: Work on Outline/Draft
I will arrange for individual conferences this week if needed, so please email me if you need to set up a Zoom appointment.Draft Due
R 12/3 | No Class: Review guidelines for abstract and review sample abstracts in Interpretive Essay Module—and please reach out if you have any questions.
T 12/8 | No Class: Work on Essay Revisions/Abstract
I will arrange for individual conferences this week, if needed so please email me if you need to set up a Zoom appointment.
R 12/10 | No Class: Work on Essay Revisions/AbstractAbstract Due
R 12/17 | Interpretive Essay due by 11:59 pm—please note that there is only a 24 hour no-penalty window for this assignment.

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

Late Assignments. All written work is due as indicated in the course schedule below. You will have a 48-hour window to turn in Critical Responses, Proposal/Annotated Bibliography, Draft, and Abstract without penalty; you will have a 24-hour window to turn in the Interpretive essay without penalty. I will provide extensions on a case-by-case basis, so please reach out to me at least 24 hours in advance for approval if you need one for any assignment.

Attendance Policy

Attendance. Attendance is required, and participation in classroom discussion is expected. Because these categories are worth 20% of your grade, failure to attend class and participate (or chronic lateness) could result in a low grade in this category and create confusion about expectations for writing assignments.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

Generative AI Policy

This course expects that all work submitted by students will be generated by the students, working individually as directed by class assignment instructions. Using Generative AI tools (such as Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude) to produce essay content is not acceptable in this class; moreover, relying on AI for organizational strategies, especially for comparative interpretations, usually results in weak essays.

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.