In this course students will examine Shakespeare's life within the cultural and political influences of his age and trace the evolution of the playwright's career through close study of selected Shakespearean histories, comedies, and tragedies. Students will be encouraged to attend performances and/or view videotapes of his plays. Development of the students' ability to read and understand the Shakespearean play within the genre of drama is a primary objective of the course. Students will write short papers and complete one research project using print and on-line resources. Upon completion of this writing-intensive course, students will have gained an in-depth understanding of the playwright, his works, and the time and place in which he lived and wrote.