AcadiaUniversity Faculty of Arts

English 1413 D1: Writing and Reading Critically

Regular Session 2009-2010(Fall Term)

MWF, 11:30 pm-12:20pm. (Slot 4) Location: BAC 206

Instructor: Dr. Jon Saklofske
Email: / Office: 423 BAC
Office Phone: 585-1442
Office Hours: 3:00-4:30 MWF

Course Description and Objectives:

This course will introduce you to the study of literature in English through close readings, comparative considerations and an exploration of the form, content and context of a number of representative literary works. The purpose of this course is to enjoy our encounter with poetry, prose and drama from various historical periods while exercising and improving our skills in comprehension, composition and independent critical thought.

Required Course Materials:

  1. Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Toronto: Random House of Canada, 2002.
  1. Babington, Doug, Don LePan & Maureen Okun. The Broadview Guide to Writing. 4th Edition. Peterborough: Broadview, 2009.
  1. Stott, Jon, Raymond Jones and Rick Bowers, eds.The Harbrace Anthology of Literature. 4th Edition. Toronto: Nelson Thomson, 2006.

Assignments and Evaluation:

Students are expected to attend class, to participate in class discussions, to keep up with assigned readings, and to read all assigned material carefully and critically. Please note that the last day to drop first term courses without academic penalty is October 30. Your final grade will be based on the following partial grades:

10%: Poetry Analysis (600 words minimum) Due Sept 25.

15%: Essay #1: (1200 words/ 4 pages minimum) Due Oct. 16

15%: Essay #2: In-Class Essay Written Nov. 2

20%: Essay #3: (1500 words/ 5 pages minimum) Due Nov. 27

10%: Attendance, Participation, Quizzes, Group Work.

Sub-Total: 70%

+30%: Final Exam

Total: 100%

  • The essay assignments will be word-processed, double-spaced, and make use of a 12-point font. Each essay should be written in a clear, concise and formal manner and will consist of a central thesis supported by a well-structured argument. Topics will be provided for the essay assignments through ACORN (except for the in-class essay) in the first few weeks of the course. Essays will be evaluated for both content and style. Please use the MLA format for documentation in your papers, making use of MLA citation style and including a Works Cited page. Strategies and formatting guides can be found: in the required text, The Broadview Guide to Writing, in the “Files” section of our ACORN coursepage and at:
  • Except for the in-class essay, all essay assignments should be submitted to me electronically via ACORN.
  • The In-Class Essay will be handwritten during class time on the scheduled date and will be closed book (no textbooks, notes, computers or other material allowed).
  • Final Exam: There will be a mandatory final examination scheduled during the Decemberexamination period. The final exam will be worth 30% of your final grade.
  • If you are a student with a documented disability who anticipates needing accommodations in this course, please inform me after you meet with Jill or Suzanne in Disability/Access Services, in the Student Resource Centre, lower floor of the old 585-1127 or 585-1913.

Penalties:

  1. Late Assignments: Papers are due before the beginning of class on the specified due date. After or during class is considered late. It is your responsibility to contact me as soon as possible regarding late or missed assignments. Late assignments are subject to a penalty of 1/3 letter grade per day (including weekends) unless you are granted an extension due to documented medical or compassionate circumstances (i.e a “B” paper that is handed in two days late would receive a mark of “C+”). As well, late assignments will be graded, but will include no written commentary. Late essays not submitted electronically MUST be date stamped and submitted to me via the English Department Office (Room 415, BAC). I do not accept papers submitted under my office door.
  1. Plagiarism:Please refer to the section entitled "Academic Integrity" in the 2009-2010 Calendar for Acadia University's policies regarding plagiarism. Note that penalties for plagiarism include rewriting work, receiving a failing grade for a particular assignment, failing the course or being dismissed from the university. Please be aware that faculty members reserve the right to utilise software or websites to test student assignments for the presence of plagiarised material. Although some class time will be spent learning how to avoid the pitfalls of plagiarism, when in doubt, ask me for advice or go to
  1. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. More than 3 unexcused absences during the term will result in a significant deduction from your participation mark.

Please note that I will not accept assignments submitted or completed after the last day of lectures.

(Friday, December 4, 2009)

Course Outline

  1. Poetry
  1. Form: The Sonnet
  2. Content: a. Speaker, Tone, and Irony

b. Figurative Language, Imagery and Symbol

  1. Context: Canadian First Nations Poetry
  1. Drama
  1. William Shakespeare. The Tempest
  1. Prose
  1. Short Fiction
  2. Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass

English 1413 D1: Tentative Reading Schedule

(Readings may be supplemented or modified as the term progresses)

Sept. / 9 / Introduction
11, 14 / Introduction to poetry
16, 18, 21 / Poetic Form: The Sonnet
  • Edmund Spenser “One day I wrote her name upon the strand” (29-30)
  • Michael Drayton “Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part” (31)
  • John Donne “Holy Sonnet XIV” (44)

23, 25, 28 / Poetry Analysis Due September 25 (Electronic submission)
Poetic Content I: Speaker, Tone and Irony
  • Robert Browning, “My Last Duchess”” (164-5)
  • Margaret Atwood “A Women’s Issue” (336-337) (Group Work)

October / 30
2, 5 / Poetic Content II: Figurative Language, Images and Symbols
  • Wallace Stevens “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”
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  • Tom Dawe “The Bear” (339-342)

7, 9, 14 / (No class Oct 12 – Thanksgiving)
Poetic Context: Canadian First Nations Poetry
  • Louise Halfe “My Ledders” (376-377)
  • Marilyn Dumont “The Devil’s Language” (380-381)

16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30 / Essay #1 Due October 16
Drama:
  • William Shakespeare: The Tempest(404-463)

November / 2 / In-Class Essay
4, 6, 9, 13, 16 / Prose: Short Stories
  • Herman Melville ‘Bartleby the Scrivener” (856-882)
  • Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour” (967-969)
  • Thomas King “Borders” (1087-1095)

18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 / Essay #3 Due November 27(Electronic Submission)
Prose: Novel
  • Lewis Carroll,Through the Looking Glass

December / 2, 4 / Discussion and Review