Discussion

Syllabus

Business 3920.01 – Spring 2020

Culture and Commerce in Chaucer and Shakespeare

2-3:20pm SFEBB 130 Prof. Disa Gambera LNCO 3612 [email protected] Office Hours: MW 3:30-4:30pm (801)581-6039 and by appointment Course Overview This course aims to introduce you to the work of Chaucer and Shakespeare in order to learn about how past

centuries thought about the relationship between business and individual identity while also considering what

these concepts might mean for us today. We’ll take the idea of the “transaction” and consider how these literary

texts reveal a world in which human relationships are understood in economic terms.

Course Objectives In this course, students will be prepared to:

1. Acquire a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the intersections of literary culture and economics in late medieval and Renaissance England.

2. Learn the techniques of close reading necessary for developing interpretations of literary texts. Such techniques are invaluable for analyzing evidence across a wide variety of fields.

3. Develop writing skills through assignments and exercises focused on sentence structure, paragraphing, and using evidence. By the end of the course, students should have acquired the ability to write articulate and sustained analyses of literary texts, giving them skills with a wide range of applications in the professional world.

Required Texts You are required to buy or rent the following 4 books for the course:

Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales in Modern Verse, Joseph Glaser translator, Hackett Classics: 9780872207547

William Shakespeare

The Comedy of Errors, Signet Editions: 9780451528391

Troilus and Cressida, Signet Editions: 9780451528476

The Merchant of Venice, Signet Editions: 9780451526809

All three texts are available through the Campus Store. Please order your books now if you have not already

done so. We will be using The Canterbury Tales in Modern Verse for the first seven weeks of classes.

Syllabus Optional Texts

If you have not read Shakespeare before and would like some additional help with his language, there are

optional texts you may purchase IN ADDITION to the Signet editions above (these cannot be

substitutes). These are also available through the Campus Store. Two of them are also available online.

No Fear Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors: ISBN 9781411479197

Available online: https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/errors/

No Fear Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice: ISBN 9781586638504

Available online: https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/merchant/

Troilus and Cressida in Plain and Simple English: ISBN 9781478342540

Teaching and Learning Methods I will teach this course using a mixture of lectures and discussion. Students will also work in groups on some assignments and there will be weekly Canvas discussion questions or quizzes to respond to. Required Work: Weekly Canvas Discussions or short answer quizzes (40% of grade) 2 papers of 3-4 pages each (30% of grade) **You must write both papers to pass this class** Attendance (20% of grade) 1 group presentation (10% of grade) Policies Attendance & Punctuality: Please come to class on time, and stay for the whole period. On the days I don't take attendance, I will usually be handing out one of the unannounced quizzes (which, among other things, serve as an index of attendance). Missed quizzes cannot be made up. It's probably better to arrive late than to miss class entirely, but a late arrival (after a five minute grace period) counts as an absence. Leaving early is disruptive to the class, and so is leaving and returning mid-class; these behaviors may not show up in my attendance charts, but I do notice, and so does everyone else. If you have to miss class or leave early for some pressing reason, an e-mail (preferably ahead of time) is the best way of explaining. If you miss more than 2 classes without a valid excuse (such as a note from your doctor), I will begin to lower your grade for each additional day that you miss. Cell Phones, laptops, and tablets: all electronics should be turned off or silenced and put away in your bag. If I see students using cell phones, I will ask them to leave the class. Laptops are also not allowed except by sp ecial permission. This is not a class where I will be lecturing a lot and then testing you on content so there is really no need to have laptop for this course. (If you have an accommodation from the university mandating the use of a laptop, please speak with me and I will make an exception to this policy). Prohibition on Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct “Plagiarism” means the intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person’s work in, or as a basis for, one’s own work offered for academic consideration or credit for public presentation. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one’s own without attribution, any individual’s words, phrasing, ideas, sequence of ideas, information or any other mode or content of expression (Student Code, p. 3 at http://www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html@SECTIONV In accordance with University policy (as articulated in the Student Code), academic misconduct—including creating, fabrication of information and plagiarism—is not acceptable. A student found engaging in this behavior may receive a failing grade. If at any time you are unsure whether your actions constitute academic misconduct, please see me in order to clarify the matter. See the following link for more information: http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html.

Syllabus Plagiarism cases will be reported to the relevant authorities and may result in severe consequences; including, but not limited to, taking a grade reduction, receiving a failing grade for the course, suspension or dismissal from the program. Thus any book or online source you consult should be included in a “Works Consulted” list at the end of your paper.

Sexual Assault and Harassment Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status or genetic information. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 135 Park Building, 801‑581-8365, or the Office of the Dean of Students, 270 Union Building, 801-581-7066. For support and confidential consultation, contact the Center for Student Wellness, 426 SSB, 801‑581-7776. To report to the police, contact the Department of Public

Safety, 801-585-2677 (COPS).

University Safety Statement

The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity or to

request a courtesy escort, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will receive important

emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information

regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

Wellness Statement Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural differences, etc., can interfere with a student’s ability to succeed and thrive at the University of Utah. For helpful resources contact the Center for Student Wellness - www.wellness.utah.edu; 801-581-7776. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability and Access, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). The center will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability and Access.

Veterans Center If you are a student veteran, I want you to know that the U of Utah has a Veterans Support Center on campus. They are located in Room 161 in the Olpin Union Building. Hours: M-F 8-5pm. Please visit their website for more information about what support they offer, a list of ongoing events and links to outside resources: http://veteranscenter.utah.edu/. Please also let me know if you need any additional support in this class for any reason.

LGBT Resource Center If you are a member of the LGBTQ community, I want you to know that my classroom is a safe zone*. Additionally, please know that the U of Utah has an LGBT Resource Center on campus. They are located in Room 409 in the Olpin Union Building. Hours: M-F 8-5pm. You can visit their website to find more information about the support they can offer, a list of events through the center and links to additional resources: http://lgbt.utah.edu/. Please also let me know if there is any additional support you need in this class.

Learners of English as an Additional/Second Language If you are an English language learner, please be aware of several resources on campus that will support you with your language development and writing. These resources include: the Department of Linguistics ESL Program (http://linguistics.utah.edu/esl-program/); the Writing Center (http://writingcenter.utah.edu/); the

Syllabus Writing Program (http://writing-program.utah.edu/); the English Language Institute (http://continue.utah.edu/eli/).

Changes to Syllabus I retain the right to make changes to the course syllabus, course schedule, assignments, due dates and other course requirements. Students will be notified promptly of any changes.

Revised Reading and Assignment Schedule Week One: Chaucer and Medieval England 1/6: Course Introduction: Chaucer and Shakespeare 1/8: Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales in Modern Verse: read the Introduction pages 1-17, then the General Prologue pp. 21-42 *First Canvas Discussion Due by 1:45pm* Week Two: The Knight and the Miller 1/13: in The Canterbury Tales: The Knight’s Tale pp. 43-69 1/15: The Miller’s Prologue and Tale pp. 70-89 *Canvas quiz* due by 1:45pm Week Three: The Reeve and the Wife of Bath 1/20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1/22: The Reeve’s Tale pp. 90-102; The Wife of Bath’s Prologue pp. 107-119 (stop at line 486) Week Four: Marrying for Material Gain 1/27: The Wife of Bath’s Prologue pp. 119-128 and tale pp. 129-140 *Canvas Discussion due by 2:00pm* 1/29: The Friar and the Summoner pp. 141-168 Week Five: Marrying for Status 2/3: The Clerk’s Prologue and Tale pp. 169-187 2/5: The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale pp. 188-219 *Canvas Quiz on the Clerk and Merchant* Week Six: The Franklin and Pardoner 2/10: The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale pp. 225-240 *Canvas Discussion on the “Marriage Group”* 2/12: The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale pp. 249-265 *Canvas Quiz on the Pardoner* Week Seven: Commerce vs. Faith 2/17: Presidents’ Day 2/19: The Shipman’s Tale pp. 266-277, The Parson’s Prologue and Chaucer’s Retraction pp. 342-345 *Canvas Discussion on the Shipman and Parson* Week Eight: Early Shakespeare 2/24: Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors Acts 1&2 2/26: The Comedy of Errors Act 3 Canvas Quiz on Acts 1-3 FRIDAY 2/28 **PAPER 1 DUE**

Syllabus Week Nine: Merchants and Slaves 3/2: The Comedy of Errors Act 4 3/4: The Comedy of Errors Act 5 Canvas Discussion on the whole play Spring Break: 3/7-14 Week Ten: Pandering 3/16: Troilus and Cressida Act 1 3/18: Troilus and Cressida Act 2 Canvas Quiz on Acts 1&2 Week Eleven: Romance and Commerce 3/23: Troilus and Cressida Acts 3&4 3/25: Troilus and Cressida Act 5 Canvas Discussion Week Twelve: Merchants and Noblemen 3/30: The Merchant of Venice Act 1 4/1: The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Week Thirteen 4/6: The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Canvas Discussion 4/8: The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Week Fourteen 4/13 The Merchant of Venice Act 5 Canvas Quiz on the whole play 4/15: Presentations Week Fifteen 4/20: Presentations Final Canvas Discussion (not due until 4/22) 4/24: Paper 2 Due