DURATION:  Block One of the 2007/08 year will run from September - November, 2007.   We will meet weekly each Friday afternoon from 3:00 - 4:00 PM.  The first Friday of the month we'll meet in person, the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Friday we will meet in our online meeting room for interactive discussion and visual aids.  Our online meeting room is password-protected for your child's safety.

AGE REQUIREMENT:  This workshop is open to jr. high and high school-aged  students.

TEXT BOOKS:  The texts for this course will be The Usborne World of Shakespeare, and two of Shakespeare's most famous plays. You do not need to have a copy of The Usborne book, but you will need the two plays.  We will study Romeo and Juliet, as well as Hamlet.  Please purchase or borrow the Folger Shakespeare Library version of these two books.  Links for these books from Amazon.com are below:

Romeo and Juliet

Hamlet 

The reasons I'm requiring the Folger Shakespeare Library version are as follows:

• Shakespeare is difficult to read.  Let's make it as easy as possible for our kids.  The Folger Shakespeare Library version contains explanatory notes and definitions throughout the text to help students understand what Shakespeare is saying.
• There are illustrations throughout the book showing what is meant by certain styles of clothing, weapons, etc.
• Plot summaries follow each scene.
• These versions contain a key to famous lines and phrases.
• These are inexpensive versions at $5.99 each from Amazon.com.  I am an Amazon Prime member, so I get free 2-day shipping on all books.  If we'd like to put in a group order to save shipping, I'm fine with collecting the money from everyone and doing that.  If you're interested in doing that, please send me a check for $11.98 to Tracey Amino, 10623 E. El Moro Ave., Mesa, AZ  85208.  I must receive your check no later than Monday, September 10th in order to have enough time to cash it and make our group book purchase.
  

NOTE TO PARENTS:  The themes in these Shakespeare plays can be adult in nature.  Romeo and Juliet deals with young love, rebellion to parents, murder, poisoning, suicide, and the practice of parent-arranged marriages.  Hamlet deals with murder, deceit, and unfaithfulness.  While I believe these subjects are handled in a tasteful way, that decision is a subjective one each parent must make for themselves.  By enrolling (and remaining in this class), you are agreeing that you also believe these plays are suitable for your child.

GRADING:  Since this class will be something high schoolers can include in their transcripts, there will be two graded tests which will be averaged into an overall grade for the class.  The grades are strictly for the parents' use when compiling high school transcripts for college.

CREDIT:  This class will count as 1/4 credit toward English requirements.

CLASS SCHEDULE AND OUTLINE: