Instructor Insights

Instructor Insights pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 21L.703 Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Company as it was taught by professor Diana Henderson in Spring 2014.

This course is an intensive study of the works of one of Britain’s most respected, prolific and funny dramatists, Sir Tom Stoppard, and some of his contemporaries. It explores a wide range of knowledge in fields of math, philosophy, politics, history and art in order to think about the medium of drama as well as one writer’s work in depth. We analyze how drama connects with both the culture it represents and that which it addresses in performance.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

In addition to participating in the fun of reading Tom Stoppard & Co., there are seven course objectives outlined on the syllabus page.

 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

Two previous literature courses.

Requirements Satisfied

CI-M

Offered

Every other spring semester

The Classroom

  • This photo shows the classroom for this course, which has seating for 22 in three rows of tables and movable chairs.

    Room 1 of 1

    Lecture

    This classroom had three rows of long tables with moveable chairs that accommodated 22 students.

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by reading, class participation and contribution, including watching films, providing feedback, and other events. 30% Reading, class participation and contribution, including watching films, providing feedback, and other events
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by concert reports and class leadership. 20% Reports and class leadership
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by a focused single-play analysis. 10% Focused single-play analysis
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by self-assessments, scene and other writing. 15% Self-assessments, scene and other writing
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by a major analytical essay/project. 25% Major analytical essay/project
 

Student Information

On average, 10 students take this course each time it is offered.

Enrollment Cap

12

Breakdown by Year

Mostly junior and senior undergraduate students and occasionally grad students.

 

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class/Seminar

3 hours per week
  • Met 2 times per week for 1.5 hours per session; 26 sessions total; mandatory attendance.
  • Student-led discussion of readings and films.
  • Three sessions included exchange and discussion of an essay with a partner.
  • Three subsequent sessions involved class discussion of partner essay ideas.
  • The last two sessions were student presentations on the major project.
 

Out of Class

9 hours per week
  • Completed readings, watched films.
  • Prepared seminar questions and discussions based on the readings and films.
  • Completed self-assessments, essays, Stoppardian scenes, and reports.
  • Attended MIT DramaShop’s production of Arcadia.
 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. Class scheduled. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
2 No session scheduled. Class scheduled; attend MIT DramaShop's production of Arcardia; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
3 No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. No session scheduled. Class scheduled; exchange and discussion of partner essays; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
4 No session scheduled. Class scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
5 No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
6 No session scheduled. Class scheduled; exchange and discussion of partner essays; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
7 No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
8 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
9 No session scheduled. Class scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
10 No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
11 No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
12 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
13 No session scheduled. Class scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class scheduled. No session scheduled.
14 No session scheduled. Class scheduled; exchange and discussion of partner essays; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Class scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
15 No session scheduled. Student presentations on major project. No session scheduled. Student presentations on major project; assignment due date. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class sessions are held. Class session
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate the date when students attend a production of Arcardia. Attend MIT DramaShop's production of Arcadia
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when various assignments are due. Self-assessment, essay, report, or Stoppardian scene due
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when students exchange and discuss partner essays. Exchange and discussion of partner essays
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when students present their major projects. Student presentation of major project