Introduction to Issues in Literature and Culture Essay

Course Description and Objectives This course critically examines various literary themes in twentieth and early twenty first century novels, plays and poetry. These texts are fictionalized representations of circumstances in which fear, ignorance, and misunderstanding have shaped our sense of modern history and contemporary culture. They give voice and offer claims of identity to those in society who have traditionally remained socially and often economically marginalized, mostly women, the poor, and people of colour. You also will learn the methods of developing an effective thesis and supporting evidence for a literary analysis essay. Required Texts Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Choy, Wayson. The Jade Peony Headrick, Paul. A Method for Writing Essays about Literature Yousafzai, Malala. I Am Malala. Douglas, Frederick. Narrative of the Life Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men Course Notes for ENGL 101 Important: Notes about the course literature and class weekly reading questions will be posted on the Weekly Outline section of Moodle on FIC’s website, http://learning.fraseric.ca. This material must be reviewed before coming to class. You must log in using your FIC username and password. Assessment 15% Reading Quizzes 10%Proposal and First Draft of Literary Analysis Essay (1250-1500 words) 20% Revised Draft of Literary Analysis Essay 20%Mid-Term Exam 25%Final Exam 10%Attendance and Participation Grading Scale// A+ = 95-100% A = 90-94% A- = 85-89% B+ = 80-84% B = 75-79% B- = 70-74% C+ = 65-69% C = 60-64% C- = 55-59% D = 50-54% F = 0-49% Reading Quizzes Completing all assigned reading is essential to being successful in the course. There will be a short reading quiz after the completion of certain works of literature. These quizzes will be straightforward for students who have completed the reading assignments and have participated in class activities and discussions. Missed quizzes cannot be made up. Essay Proposals and Outlines An essay proposal outline must be submitted before essays are due. These proposals, about one page in length, should summarize the stance of your essay, and present a detailed outline of the essay’s structure (details TBA). Feedback will be offered to help ensure successful completion of the essays. Essays Much of your grade depends on the successful completion of your literary analysis papers, which should be original scholarly interpretations of the assigned literature. All essays must be typed, using correct English grammar and MLA format. E-mail submissions of essays will not be accepted unless they are prearranged with the instructor, and a printed copy also must be submitted at the next class meeting. Late essays may be marked down by at least one letter grade. Essays more than one week late may not be accepted. You will be given extensive comments on your first draft of your essays and essay proposals, and you are expected to incorporate the instructor’s feedback into your final drafts. Exams The mid-term and final exams for this course will be administered in class and will consist of short questions, passage analyses, and short essays. You will be given more information about these exams throughout the semester. Attendance and Participation You are expected to attend all class meetings. You will spend a great deal of the class in response groups or work teams with peers, and the absence of one member can make progress on projects difficult. A number of activities conducted in response groups must be submitted as homework. Attendance records will be kept; students are required to maintain at least an 80% attendance rate. If you fail to attend class in the first week of the semester, this will count as a double absence on your participation grade. Plagiarism and Academic Honesty The ideas put into your written assignments must be your own. The ideas of others must be documented in MLA style. Plagiarized work will be failed and can even result in an F for the entire course. Issue of plagiarism and academic honesty as well as methods of MLA documentation will be covered during the early weeks of the semester. Academic Advising FIC provides academic advising to all students, free of charge. FIC runs study skills tutorials and peer review to help students become more effective writers, from planning and organizing a paper, to writing and proofreading it. These tutorials and reviews are a valuable resource for any student, and you are encouraged to attend these sessions. Scheduling for academic advice and weekly peer tutoring will be posted on the FIC student portal during the first two weeks of the semester. Class Schedule (subject to change) Week One: Tues, May 6/ Thurs, May 8 Course Introduction Read: Begin Jade Peony Read: Method For, Chapt.1 Week Two: Tues, May 13/ Thurs, May 15 Read: Continue Jade Peony Read: Method For Writing, Chapt. 2 Week Three: Tues, May 20/ Thurs, May 22 Read: Complete Jade Peony Read: Begin The Narrative (Douglas) Read: Method For Writing, Chapt. 3 (pp. 27-33 and 40-43) Sample Essay #1 (p.98-100) Week Four: Tues, May 27/ Thurs, May 29 Read: Continue The Narrative Read: Method For Writing, Chapt. 4 Sample Essay #2 (pp.106.109) Week Five: Tues, June 3/ Thurs, June 5 Read: Complete The Narrative Week Six: Tues, June 10 / Thurs, June 12 Read: Begin I Am Malala Plan for Literary Analysis Essay due Week Seven: Tues, June 17 Thurs, June 19 Read: Continue I Am Malala Mid-Term Exam Week Eight: Tues, June 24/ Thurs, June 26 Read: Complete I Am Malala First draft of Literary Analysis Essay due Week Nine: Tues, July 1 / Thurs, July 3 Read: Begin Of Mice Week Ten: Tues, July 8/ Thurs, July 10 Read: Complete Of Mice Week Eleven: Tues, July 15/ Thurs, July 17 Read: Things Fall Apart Week Twelve: Tues, July 22/ Thurs, July 24 Read: Continue Things Fall Apart Revised draft of Literary Analysis Essay due Week Thirteen: Tues, July 29 /Thurs, July 31 Read: Complete Things Fall Apart Course Review Final Exam (date TBA)