Course

Reading Plays

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
English
Course code
ENGL 1115
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Hybrid
Online
Lecture
Seminar
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
Fall
Summer
Winter

Overview

Course description
In this course students will read, interpret and write about plays as literature, including elements of stagecraft and performance. Plays assigned may emphasize a variety of genres (such as tragedy, comedy, the one-act play, the dramatic monologue) and may reflect significant developments in the history of theatre, from its beginnings to the present.
Course content

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

  1. Students are instructed in the writing of analytical essays on literary subjects.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 of the course. 

In English 1115, course content will be governed by the following general principles:

  1. This course will introduce students to a variety of plays and playwrights. Assigned plays will include a sampling of modern and/or contemporary drama, and may also include works from pre-modern periods (such as classical Greek, medieval or Elizabethan plays).
  2. Students may be required to attend a live theatrical performance, on or off campus, and to write an analytical review of the production.
  3. Students may view film adaptations or productions of plays read in class.
Learning activities

Some or all of the following methods will be used:

  1. Lecture/discussion
  2. Reading aloud from assigned texts
  3. Group work
  4. Peer review
  5. Students’ attendance at a play
  6. Instructor feedback on students’ written work
  7. Individual consultation
Means of assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

  1. A minimum of two formal academic essays, with a combined value of at least 40% of the course grade.
  2. A minimum of 80% of the course grade will be based on writing assignments such as essays, essay-based exams, journals or paragraphs. A maximum of 20% of the course grade may be based on informal writing such as quizzes or short answer tests, and/or non writing-intensive assignments such as oral reports, presentations, participation or preparation.
Learning outcomes

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

  1. read analytically and reflectively with attention to the subtleties of language;
  2. recognize and understand literary devices;
  3. practice writing as a process involving pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing;
  4. write an essay of literary analysis that develops an argumentative thesis supported by appropriate, correctly integrated and cited evidence; and
  5. give and receive constructive criticism on written work.

Upon completion of English 1115, the successful student should also be able to identify and discuss the following elements of drama:

  1. components of structure, for example plot and sub-plot, exposition and conflict;
  2. character;
  3. dialogue, monologue and soliloquy;
  4. stagecraft;
  5. performance; and
  6. the influence of an audience on a performance.
Textbook materials

A list of required textbooks and materials will be provided for students at the beginning of the semester.

Sample Reading List:

  • Shakespeare, Othello
  • Ibsen, An Enemy of the People
  • MacDonald, Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet
  • Wertenbaker, Our Country's Good
  • Sears, Harlem Duet
  • Kanagawa, Indian Arm

Requisites

Prerequisites

Any College entrance Language Proficiency Requirement with the exceptions of the Douglas College Course Options in ELLA or ENGU and the assessments listed below. These require the specified higher standard for entry into CMNS, CRWR and ENGL courses.
• a minimum grade of C- in ELLA 0460, or a minimum grade of C- in both ELLA 0465 and 0475, OR
• a minimum grade of C- in ENGU 0450 or ENGU 0455 or ENGU 0490, OR
• Mastery in ELLA 0330 and any two of ELLA 0310, 0320, or 0340, OR
• TOEFL overall score of 83 with a minimum of 21 in Writing, OR
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0; for individual bands below 6.0:
       • if in Speaking, ELLA 0210 required
       • if in Reading or Listening, ELLA 0220 required
       • if in Writing, ELLA 0230 and ELLA 0240 required
OR
• CLB score of 8, OR
• CEFR level B2+, OR
• CAEL minimum overall and essay score of 70 (computer or paper based), OR
• recognized equivalent or exemption.

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.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for ENGL 1115
Athabasca University (AU) DOUG ENGL 1114 (3) & DOUG ENGL 1115 (3) = AU ENGL 212 (3) & AU ENGL 2XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU ENGL 1XX (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN ENGL 102 (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR ENGL 1XX (3)
Columbia College (COLU) COLU ENGL 131 (3)
Emily Carr University of Art & Design (EC) EC ENGL 100 lev (3)
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) FDU ENWR 1102 (3)
Fraser International College (FIC) FIC ENGL 113 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ENGL 1202 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG ENGL 1XXX (3)
North Island College (NIC) NIC ENG 1XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU ENGL 113 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU ENGL 1140 (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW ENGL 1XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO ENGL_O 1st (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV ENGL_V 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC ENGL 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ENGL 170 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC ATWP 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU ENGL 1st (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
35
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
6
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1670
Times:
Start Time
18:30
-
End Time
21:20