ENGL 101A - Introduction to Literary Studies
Winter 2019, Prof. Winfried Siemerling
Tuesday +Thursday 11:30- 12:50, HH 139
Office Hours: Tues and Thurs 4-5, HH 222
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Course Outline
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RR/DS = Reading Report; DS = Discussion Summary
Main Course Website: https://artsonline.uwaterloo.ca/~wsiemerl/
Week/ Date: Topic/ Texts:
(1) Jan 8 Introduction
(2) Jan 10 Theory: Terry Eagleton “Introduction: What is Literature” 1-17 (CR)
RR/DS (2+2 max):
(3) Jan 15 Theory: Aristotle, from Poetics, in Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism (CR), chapters 1-11 and 13 only
RR/DS:
(4) Jan 17 Genre (Essay): Montaigne, “Of Cannibals” (The Norton Anthology of English Literature)
RR/DS:
(5) Jan 22 Research/ Library workshop in the Dana Porter Library, Room 329 (Computer Lab)
(6) Jan 24 Genre (Tragicomedy): William Shakespeare, The Tempest
RR/DS:
(7) Jan 29 William Shakespeare, The Tempest
(8) Jan 31 Period (Romanticism): Wordsworth, Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1802) (CR)
“We Are Seven” (use search function inside the volume here), “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
RR/DS:
(9) Feb 5 Period and Genre (Confederation Poets; Sonnet): Archibald Lampman, “Outlook”;
Duncan Campbell Scott, “The Onondaga Madonna”
RR/DS:
(10) Feb 7 Literary History: Terry Eagleton, “The Rise of English” (CR)
RR/DS:
(11) Feb 12 Course Review
(12) Feb 14 QUIZ TEST
Mid-Term Study Break (Feb 19-22)
(13) Feb 26 Genre (Short Story): Rohinton Mistry, “Condolence Visit” (Ondaatje, From Ink Lake CR)
RR/DS:
(14) Feb 28 Theory (Russian Formalist): Victor Shklovsky, “Art as Technique” (in Rivkin and Ryan 15-21; CR)
RR/DS:
(15) Mar 5 Essay Writing Workshop with the Writing and Communication Centre
(16) Mar 7 Genre (Short Story): Thomas King, “A Coyote Columbus Story” (1992/93), One Good Story, That One (CR)
RR/DS:
Theory (Native Writing): Thomas King, “Godzilla vs Postcolonial,”
RR/DS:
(17) Mar 12 Workshop: In-class peer review
Due 3 hours before class: Essay Proposal on any of the primary texts discussed in class: 200- 250 words (max). Thesis statement and argument, Works Cited (title and Works Cited not included in the word count)
(18) Mar 14 Due: Revised Essay Proposal PRINTOUT
Theory (Postcolonial): Ashcroft et. al. (CR)
RR/DS:
(19) Mar 19 Literature Major – session with Victoria Lamont
(20) Mar 21 Genre Variations, postmodern writing, metafiction: transgeneric novel or long poem? -
Michael Ondaatje, Coming Through Slaughter
RR/DS:
(21) Mar 26 Michael Ondaatje, Coming Through Slaughter
(22) Mar 28 Projects
(23) Apr 2 Projects
(24) Apr 4 Final Discussion
April 12 - FINAL ESSAY DEADLINE
1) By midnight, LEARN Dropbox
2) Please submit an exactly identical paper copy to the English Department dropbox (on the second floor in Hagey Hall) the latest by 3 p.m. the following Monday, April 15.
Acknowledgment
I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land promised and given to Six Nations, which includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.
1. Goal of the Course
The aim of this course is to introduce students to important principles and terms relevant to the study of literature, including aspects of literary history, theory, criticism, and analysis. We will examine texts belonging to different periods and genres, and explore particular theoretical formations. In addition, library and writing workshops will help to prepare students for the preparation of a brief final essay.
2. Texts
a) Required Texts (available at the bookstore):
William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Michael Ondaatje, Coming Through Slaughter
Other required texts: available via the Course Website or (CR) = Course Reserves.
b) Optional Background Texts (available on Course Reserve at Porter Library or at the bookstore):
Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory (general introduction, subjects include reception theory, structuralism and post-structuralism, psychoanalysis, political criticism)
Several guides to essay writing and the MLA Handbook (Eighth Edition) are available at the Course Reserves Desk at the Dana Porter Library (see (CR) = Course Reserves).
3. Evaluation and Late Penalties:
10 % 1 Reading report (RP). 2 paragraphs, 3-5 sentences each, max. 1 page (12 point, double-spaced). Due 8 p.m the evening before the class on the course website + bring printout to class; 10% penalty for missing the deadline; additional 10% penalty if handed in after beginning of the class.
OR
1 Discussion summary (DS). 2 paragraphs, 3-5 sentences each, max. 1 page (12 point, double-spaced). Due 8 p.m the evening before the FOLLOWING class on the course website + bring printout to class; 10% penalty for missing the deadline; additional 10% penalty if handed in after beginning of the class.
35 % Quiz test
10 % Essay Proposal. 200- 250 words (max). Thesis statement and argument, Works Cited (title and Works Cited not included in the word count). Due 2 hours before the proposal workshop in LEARN dropbox + bring printout to class); revised proposal printout due for the following class 20% penalty for missing the deadline.
30% Term paper (due Friday, April 12 by midnight in LEARN dropbox, approximately 1,200 words/ 4 pages).
15% Active participation in class (5% attendance, 10% quality of contributions in class)
The penalty for late term papers is 2% for each day (including weekends and holidays).
In case of illness, please obtain a “University of Waterloo Verification of Illness” form from Health Services or at http://uwaterloo.ca/health-services/student-medical-clinic/services/verification-illness. The website states: “The student must attend University of Waterloo Health Services or the family physician during the illness so as to receive appropriate medical care and an accurate diagnosis. The University of Waterloo Verification of Illness form must be completed by the physician during the student's medical appointment.”
4. The Writing and Communication Centre
The Writing and Communication Centre works with students as they develop their ideas, draft, and revise. Writing and Communication Specialists offer one-on-one support in planning assignments, synthesizing and citing research, organizing papers and reports, designing presentations and e-portfolios, and revising for clarity and coherence.
You can make multiple appointments throughout the term, or drop in at the Library for quick questions or feedback. To book a 50-minute appointment and to see drop-in hours, visit
www.uwaterloo.ca/writing-and-communication-centre.
See also the writing resources offered at the Centre website:
https://uwaterloo.ca/writing-and-communication-centre/writing-resources
5. Other
Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.
[Check http://www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/ for more information.]
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline,
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/guidelines/penaltyguidelines.htm.
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm. When in doubt please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.
Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm.
Academic Integrity website (Arts): http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/academic_responsibility.html
Academic Integrity Office (UW): http://uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/
Note for students with disabilities: The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term