Learning the basics of Shakespeare's plays will help immensely when students graduate to reading the original version. This class relies on "A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories: 12 tales from the world's most famous playwright" ($13.69 on amazon.com) as the basis for class discussions. 

Over six weeks, we will discuss six plays: Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, The Tempest, and Hamlet. Students are expected to read the story prior to each class. 

Each week, class will follow a similar format: 
1) a warm-up activity designed to encourage interaction, creativity, and critical thinking
2) an overview of the play and other important aspects such as the historical period or political climate of the time
3) a read-out-loud portion from the actual text (displayed on screen by the instructor)
4) a discussion/presentation about the characters, their actions, and their motivations
5) a look at what makes this play unique
6) a glimpse at literary devices used in the actual text
7) class discussion questions that encourage students to analyze the text

For the sixth class, students are asked to read a story of their choice besides the ones we have read. They will have 5-10 minutes each to present their story in class. 

I believe it's important to engage students in class through fun, informative presentations, through thoughtful discussion, and through interactive activities. I further believe that Shakespeare is pretty awesome and that the earlier a student can learn exactly what happens in Hamlet, the easier it will be to read the real text!