Studies in Canadian Literature

Overview

Course description

This course introduces students to works by Canadian authors, primarily contemporary, within the contexts of Canadian culture and identity. Students will read works from at least two major literary genres.

Course content

All first-year English literature courses share the following features:

Students are instructed in the writing of critical essays on literary subjects.
Students are taught to recognize and understand a variety of literary devices and textual elements, such as metaphor, symbolism, distinctions between author and narrator/narrating persona, and issues of language and of structure, as appropriate to the genres and texts studied.
Readings and topics vary among sections of the same course, according to each instructor’s selection; however, all course materials are consistent with the objectives/outcomes for this course.

In English 1101, students will examine works in at least two of the following genres:

Fiction (novels and/or short stories)
Non-fiction (personal essays, memoir, journals/diaries, travel literature)
Drama
Poetry

Learning activities

Some or all of the following methods will be used:

Lecture/discussion
Group work
Peer editing
Instructor feedback on students’ work
Individual consultation

Means of assessment

A minimum of two formal academic essays, with a combined value of at least 40% of the course grade.
A minimum of 80% of the course grade will be based on writing assignments (essays, essay-based exams, journals, paragraphs). A maximum of 20% of the course grade may be based on informal writing (quizzes, short answer tests); oral reports/presentations; participation/preparation grades; and/or other non writing-intensive assignments.
A minimum of 15% of the course grade will be based on in-class writing (essay or exam).

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of any first-year English literature course, the successful student should be able to

read receptively and reflectively, with sensitivity to the subtleties of language;
recognize and understand literary devices;
practice writing as a process involving pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing;
write an essay of literary analysis that develops an interpretive thesis supported by appropriate and correctly cited evidence; and
give and receive constructive criticism about written work.

Upon completion of English 1101, the successful student should also be able to understand

some of the wide variety of themes and focuses in Canadian writing, such as immigrant experiences, ethnic heterogeneity, post colonialism, regional diversity, and relationships with the natural environment;
the shifting nature of Canadian identity and of the Canadian literary canon; and
the positioning of Canadian literary culture(s) in global contexts.

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Sample reading list:

Atwood, Oryx and Crake
Choy, The Jade Peony
Highway, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing
Selvadurai, Funny Boy
Coursepack, including personal essays and travel literature, short stories, and poetry

Requisites

Prerequisites

A minimum score on the Douglas College writing assessment, or equivalent, as per the College calendar.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

May 2009 (Current)