Ms. Cordero
ccordero@ausd.net
Class website
626-821-8370
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND SYLLABUS
Shakespeare 2 is a semester course designed to continue study of the works of William Shakespeare while
improving language arts skills. This course will fulfill district and state graduation requirements. Students
will read several Shakespearean plays as well as criticism and modern pieces associated with Shakespeare.
Students will also be expected to complete various writing tasks related to these works, including essays,
creative writing, research papers, presentations, and multimedia projects.
ATTENDANCE
The absence and tardy policy of Arcadia High School will be followed at all times. Do not return to class
from an absence without a readmit. When you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain the agenda
from classmates and to complete make-up work. MAKE-UPS ARE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE
ASSIGNMENT ONLY. Make-up work must be submitted by the Wednesday before the end of the
grading period (as defined by progress report and report card due dates) in which the absence occurs.
Good attendance is crucial to academic performance and is a demonstration of personal and academic
integrity. Students who have more than 10 absences and/or tardies will receive a U in citizenship.
OCCASIONAL requests to participate in extracurricular activities will be considered, but permission will
not be given if the student has grade and/or attendance issues. Unexcused absences (including vacations)
will result in zeroes on assignments and reduced citizenship grades.
GRADING
Assignments will be given point credit. There will be a maximum of 1000 points at the end of the semester.
Grades are determined by the amount of points according to Arcadia High English department policy (920
points+=A, 919-895=A-, 894-880=B+, 879-820=B, 819-795=B-, 794-780=C+, 779-720=C, 719-695=C-,
694-680=D+, 679-620%=D, 619-595=D-, 594-=F). Grades will not be rounded up (e.g., 894 points is a
B+). NO ADJUSTMENTS TO GRADES WILL BE MADE AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER.
THE SEMESTER ENDS AT THE END OF THE FINAL PERIOD. ALL GRADES ARE FINAL AS
OF THAT TIME AND WILL NOT BE CHANGED.
ALL WORK IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD. No late or incomplete work will be
accepted, including from activity absences. Inappropriate work will result in no credit.
APPEALS AND GRADE CORRECTION REQUESTS
Requests for appeals must be submitted in writing from the student only. The student must attach the
assignment in question as well as a detailed rationale for grade reconsideration. The appeal must be made
within 3 class days of the return of the assignment. No email appeals will be considered.
Incorrect grade entries should be addressed in person and with the assignment within 3 class days of the
return of the assignment. No email requests for grade correction will be considered.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are required to do their own work for this course in compliance with the instructions given for
each assignment. To that end, all work listed in the syllabus must be submitted to turnitin.com by
7:30 a.m. of the morning of the announced deadline and must include a complete bibliography.
Failure to do so will be considered unaccepted late work. Any possible violations of the cheating policy
will be fully investigated. Violations of the cheating policy may result in a drop from the English honors
program. The cheating policy of Arcadia High School (as listed in the student handbook) will be adhered
to at all times. ANY STUDENT WHO VIOLATES THE CHEATING POLICY WILL BE
INELIGIBLE FOR EXTRA CREDIT FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER.
Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately with regard to the course, both in and out of the
classroom setting. Students are responsible for all statements and actions taken with regard to the course,
including in the community and on social media. Any inappropriate behavior or actions will be reported,
and consequences will be assigned.
Those students earning Satisfactory or Outstanding citizenship grades will consistently demonstrate respect
for those around them, resilience, and academic curiosity and integrity. Those who fail to comply with the
expected behaviors listed will receive reduced citizenship grades.
SENIOR PROJECT
All Arcadia High School senior college preparatory English students are participating in the senior project.
Please consult the senior project section of the library wiki website for guidelines and deadlines. The
project is worth 20 percent of the total grade of this class, and any student who does not complete the
project as directed will be in danger of failing.
FINAL AND OUTSIDE READING ASSIGNMENTS
A final exam/project and individual reading assignment will be given. Failure to complete the final on time
or in compliance with the directions will result in a final grade of a D or a Fail in the course. Also, failure
to complete or to follow the directions of the individual reading assignment will place you in danger of
failing. ANY incident of cheating or misrepresentation of your work on either the individual reading
assignment or the final project will result in a fail in the course.
Outside reading project: Students will read one of the following plays and create a packet that contains a) a
staging plan for the play, b) dramaturgy research essay with bibliography (minimum 3 pages), c) an
analysis of the importance of this play to contemporary audiences, and d) a list of at least 10 significant
vocabulary words, with their definitions and line sources. Packets must be in MLA format and submitted
to turnitin.com. Projects are due March 18, 2016.
Plays for outside reading: King Lear, Titus Andronicus, Antony and Cleopatra, Troilus and Cressida,
Timon of Athens, Coriolanus
Shakespeare 2 Syllabus (subject to change):
***Note: All unit projects and take-home assignments must be typed and double-spaced. MLA
format, including first and last name, must be strictly followed at all times.
Unit 1: Shakespearean Tragedy
Hamlet Festival: In groups, students will produce a scene from Hamlet. Props and costumes are required.
Groups may set the scene in any time period or location, but scenes must maintain structural and lingual
integrity. Scene presentations will occur during Week 7.
Week 1—Introduction, writing sample, Hamlet intro
Week 2—Hamlet Act I
Week 3—Hamlet Act II
Week 4—Hamlet Act III and IV, senior project proposal and permission form due
Week 5—Hamlet Act V, character committees, Hamlet film
Week 6—Festival preparation, outside reading project due
Week 7—Hamlet festival, test
Unit 2: Shakespearean Histories
Scrapbook Project: In groups, students will make a scrapbook of assigned figures from the histories.
Scrapbooks will address both the historical and fictional figures. Scrapbooks must address major quotes,
actions, and motivations of the character. Scrapbooks will be due Week 13.
Week 8—Richard III intro, Looking for Richard
Week 9—Richard III Act I and II
Week 10—Richard III Act III
Week 11—Richard III, Acts IV and V, senior project research paper due
Week 12—Richard III film and test
Unit 3: Shakespearean Comedies
Thy Mother Insult Contest: Students will research authentic Shakespearean insults and prepare them for a
one-on-one showdown with other students. Insults will be judged on their authenticity and ability to
respond to the insults of the other student. Extra credit will be available for the winners. Thy Mother
showdowns begin Week 14.
Not Another Teen Shakespeare Movie Project: In groups, students will read one of the following plays and
prepare a 10-20 minute teen film version of the play (credits do not count as part of the total time). Teen
mini –films must feature all members of the group. Groups will also submit a 2-page analysis of how the
film presents the significant aspects of the play as well as how the film appeals to contemporary audiences.
Films are due at the end of Week 16.
Plays for the mini-film: The Tempest, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night,
As You Like It, All’s Well That Ends Well
***This project may be changed for a teaching project with the English 9 students.
Week 13—Much Ado About Nothing intro, Act I
Week 14—Much Ado, Act II and III
Week 15— Much Ado, Act IV, Thy Mother contest begins
Week 16— Much Ado, Act V, film and test, videos due!
Week 17— Senior project essays due, senior project presentations begin
Week 18—Senior project presentations
Week 19—Senior project presentations, video screening
Students are expected to be familiar with or have mastery of:
1. Paragraph development: strong topic sentence, concrete details, quotation use, textual analysis, and
concluding sentence.
2. English grammar and mechanics
3. Thesis statement that covers topic of the essay
4. Essay structure, including introductions and conclusions
5. Reading: summary, characterization analysis, thematic analysis
6. Argumentative thesis statement and topic sentences
7. Quotation use and integration
8. Transitions between ideas and paragraphs
9. Symbolism analysis
10. MLA format, especially bibliography/works cited
Students will be introduced to and/or master:
1. Cause and effect
2. Passage analysis (diction, syntax, organization, details)
3. Defend/challenge/qualify
4. Comparison/contrast
5. Argumentation
6. Refinement of author purpose
7. Presentation skills
8. Speaking skills
9. Timed writings
10. Effective quotation use
11. Shakespearean vocabulary
12. Elizabethan history and philosophy
Film and video list:
Hamlet (Gibson, Olivier,
Hawke, Brannagh, Tennet)
The Lion King
O
Hamlet 2
Shakespeare in Love
Complete Works of
Shakespeare (Abridged)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Forbidden Planet
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are Dead
10 Things I Hate About You
West Side Story
Twelfth Night
Much Ado About Nothing
The Tempest (Mirren)
I understand and agree to comply with the requirements of Ms. Cordero’s Shakespeare 2 course as
set forth in this syllabus. I also give permission for the student below to read all literature associated
with the course and to view the videos listed.
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Student signature
Parent/Guardian signature
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Student name (print)
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Parent/Guardian name (print)