ENGLISH 270 - Section 01
CANADIAN LITERATURE
Instructor Laurie Elmquist
Office/Hours Paul Building Rm. 332: Tues and Thurs. 12 noon
Phone 370-3355
E-mail elmquist@camosun.bc.ca
Course Time Mon./Wed.
Workload: 3 hrs. in class; 6 hrs. out of class per week
Prerequisites: English 150 and 160
Texts: Required
· “book club” novel (see attached page called Book Club Info)
· Bennett and Brown, A New Anthology of Canadian Literature, 2002.
· Course Pack of
· Joan MacLeod Home Child
playing at the Belfry Theatre from Sept. 18 – Oct. 15
Tickets are on sale now, so buy yours a.s.a.p. as they sell fast:
Approx. $15 for a Sunday or Wednesday matinee; $30 for a Fri. or Sat. performance.
Essay due: Wed. Oct. 17
Course Description:
Through a study of various authors, this course investigates Canadian literature from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Readings, which may include the short story, poetry, drama, the essay, and the novel, are presented in a variety of contexts, including historical and geographical. Critical essays and a final examination are required. Finished assignments total approximately 5000 words and range from 500 to 2500 words.
Outcomes
When reading Canadian literature, students will be encouraged to make connections, evaluate works based on established critical criteria, and recognize both the general characteristics of Canadian literature as well as those of individual authors.
Students will
· Analyze Canadian literature from the nineteenth century to the present, with an emphasis on post 1950 literature and the rich diversity of authors and their works.
· Evaluate a variety of genres, which may include poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, and essays, according to critical precepts appropriate to the specific genre.
· Compare works such as those from E.J. Pratt, Earle Birney, Dorothy Livesey, P.K. Page, Al Purdy, Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, Timothy Findley, Thomas King, and Rohinton Mistry while applying concepts that demonstrate the development of Canadian literature. Individual instructors may choose from this list and add to it.
When discussing Canadian literature, students will be encouraged to develop their own interpretations of the works using a variety of critical methods and resources.
Students will
· Identify the socio-historical context of the works and relate the works to others as part of a literary continuum.
· Identify and account for recurring themes in Canadian Literature.
· Compare and contrast various works, authors, and styles within the context of the overall development of Canadian literature.
· Distinguish between the subjective and objective aspects of works in order to formulate informed judgments about the works being discussed.
· Identify the influence of dominant critical theories or movements in the contexts of the literature studied.
When writing about the literature, students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of the above issues and to explain, support, and illustrate their interpretations of literature in essays and a final examination.
Students will
· support their work with relevant textual evidence.
· Document sources using MLA conventions.
Evaluation
Each assignment will be preceded by detailed instructions:
1. Participation (“Ten-minute papers) 15
2. In-class essay on the short story 15
3. Author Reading 5
4. Essay on the Belfry drama 15
5. Essay on the novel 20
6. 10-min. oral presentation 10
7. Final exam 20
_______
100
New Grading System:
A+ = 90-100% B- = 70-72%
A = 85-89% C+ = 65-69%
A- = 80-84% C = 60-64%
B+ = 77-79% D = 50-59%
B = 73-76% F = Below 50%
Students’ Responsibilities
1. Attend class regularly (phoning or relaying a message if unable to be present). Attendance will be recorded each class.
2. Contribute to class discussion; request assistance; and encourage and assist other students.
3. Read closely and critically all assigned readings from the text before class.
4. Complete all assignments before class (as they are due at the beginning of each class).
5. All assignments must be completed for credit in this course. Failure to complete even one assignment will result in a failing grade in the course.
6. Hand work in on time (at the beginning of class on the due date). Late submissions must be negotiated and will be penalized 5% per day, counting weekends, up to a maximum of 5 week days, after which they will not be accepted.
7. In order to earn participation marks, students must be in class the day of the assignment.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of MLA documentation. Plagiarism is a violation of academic ethics which results in serious penalties; therefore, it is vital to give credit where credit is due. Use research/reference materials to support your ideas, not replace them, and make sure your documentation is accurate. For College policies regarding plagiarism, see Student Conduct Policy, “Academic Misconduct,” in the Camosun Student Calendar.
Instructor’s Responsibilities
The instructor will adapt the course appropriately, function as a senior learner, share her own ideas and writing, stimulate and support the learning of others, give every opportunity for success, provide knowledge as needed, facilitate cooperation and community, provide clear instructions and examples for assignments, comment helpfully, return work promptly, and treat students with respect, fairness, and honesty.
English 270 Fall Schedule (2007) Canadian Literature
|
Date |
|
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Wed. Sept. 5 |
Introduction to the course: English 270 · Cross-Canada Tour of Authors · Drama Assignment/Presentations/D2L |
|
Mon. Sept. 10 |
Unit I: Short Fiction · Book club novels: give me your top 3 choices · “Survival” by Margaret Atwood (course pack) · More About Grosse Ile (course pack) · Susanna Moodie 93 - 122 · Margaret Atwood 783 – 784 |
|
Wed. Sept. 12 |
· Excerpt from A Passion for Narrative by Jack Hodgins about Point of View (course pack) · Sinclair Ross 397 – 408 · excerpt from The Canadian Short Story by Michelle Gadpaille (course pack) · Alice Munro 661 - 679 |
|
Mon. Sept. 17 |
· Time for Everything by Elizabeth Simpson (course pack). · Feminist Criticism (course pack) · Carol Shields 742 -756 (film) |
|
Wed. Sept. 19 |
· Interview by Linda Hutcheon (course pack) · Michael Ondaatje 899 - 912 |
|
Mon. Sept. 24 |
· Student Presentations: Short Story |
|
Wed. Sept. 26 |
· Interview with Alistair MacLeod by Stott, Jones and Bowers (course pack) · Alistair MacLeod 756 – 762 · |
|
Mon. Oct. 1 |
· Excerpt from The Truth About Stories by Thomas King (course pack) · Thomas King 914-917 |
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Date |
|
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Wed. Oct. 3 |
Exam: In-class essay · Guy Vanderhaeghe 1057 – 1072 · Rohinton Mistry 1074 - 1089 |
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Mon. Oct. 8 |
|
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Wed. Oct. 10 |
Student Presentations on Belfry Essay |
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Mon. Oct. 15 |
Unit II: Novel · Book Clubs meet and discuss first impressions, ideas, discussion questions. |
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Wed. Oct. 17 |
Due: Belfry Essay · Library Assignment Meet in the library classroom. · Research articles written about the novels. · MLA documentation: (in-text citations and Works Cited page) |
|
Mon. Oct. 22 |
· Book Club · Discussion Questions continued |
|
Wed. Oct. 24 |
· Writing the essay on the novel: framing the thesis, creating a balanced essay of research and original commentary, and integrating quotes from the novel and secondary documents (reviews, criticism, interviews). |
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Mon. Oct. 29 |
Student Presentations on Novel |
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Wed. Oct. 31 |
· Due at the beginning of class: Research Essay on novel for peer review |
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Mon. Nov. 5 |
Unit IV: Poetry E. Pauline Johnson (167 - 177) (film) · The Song My Paddle Sings 171 · His Majesty the West Wind 172 · The Lost Island 175 |
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Wed. Nov. 7 |
· Preface to an Uncollected Anthology by Northrop Frye (course pack) · Lampman: A Confederation Poet (course pack) Archibald Lampman · Heat 179 · Winter Evening 186 · In November (course pack) |
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Mon. Nov. 12 |
Remembrance Day Observed (College closed) |
|
Wed. Nov. 14 |
· Music In Words (course pack) Earl Birney · · Bushed 385 (film) |
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Mon. Nov. 19 |
Al Purdy (546-567) (film) · Say the Names 567 · Critique by Susan Musgrave (course pack) · Concerning Ms. Atwood (course pack) · Elegy for a Grandfather [1986] 559 · Grosse Isle 565 |
|
Wed. Nov. 21 |
Author Reading: Lorna Crozier |
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Mon. Nov. 26 |
Bronwen Wallace (936 - 946) · Interview with Janice Williamson (course pack) · The Woman in this Poem 937 · Testimonies 943 · The Watermelon Incident 945 |
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Wed. Nov. 28 |
George Elliott Clarke (1146 -1152) · An Impoverished Style: The Poetry of George Elliott Clarke by The Adoration of Shelley, Whylah Falls is a poem novel and consists of many poems. I’d like you to read seven (7) beginning with The Argument (1147) and ending with Each Moment is Magnificent (1152). |
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Mon. Dec. 3 |
Student Presentations on Poetry |
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Wed. Dec. 5 |
Discussion about the final exam. |
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Exam Period (See exam schedule for date and location) |
Final Exam |