Winter 2024 Course Syllabus

Course delivery: Online

Course time: asynchronous (no set class time; there will be an optional “book club”)

The College of the Rockies is located in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa First Nation. It is our responsibility to honour the stewards of this land by educating ourselves about the histories and contemporary realities of First Peoples, and by contributing to the important work of reconciliation and decolonization.

Welcome to English 102. In this course, you will learn to read fiction with an understanding of genre, technique, and form; to apply various critical strategies to literary texts; and to develop analytical writing skills appropriate to essays at the university level. Above all, you will develop the ability to read with increased understanding of the art of literature and therefore with more enjoyment and a better grasp of fiction’s contribution to your understanding of the moral, social, and political forces that shape modern life.

TEXTBOOKS:  Please note that these texts are different from those listed on the course outline. Any additional readings will be posted on COTROnline.

Garrett-Petts, W.F. Writing about Literature: A Guide for the Student Critic. 2^nd ed. Broadview press, 2013.

Buzzard, Laura and Majory Mather. The Broadview Anthology of Short Fiction. 4^th ed. Broadview press, 2020.

Robinson, Eden. Monkey Beach. Vintage Canada, 2000.

Chariandy, David. Brother. McClelland & Stewart, 2017.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Reading and Analysis:

• Perform a formal and coherent close reading of a literary text in an academic essay format;
• Discuss literature as part of a multicultural canon, demonstrating an awareness of the cultural diversity represented through literary texts;
• Recognize fundamental literary devices, modes and genres, and explain how such formal features structure and work to create meaning in literary texts;
• Demonstrate a working vocabulary of literary and critical terminology;
• Recognize the relevance of context to literary interpretation (e.g. cultural, historical, global);
• Compare and contrast issues and formal elements in assigned texts;
• Engage respectfully with different interpretations;
• Assess validity of a given interpretation; and
• Express ideas orally in small-group settings.

Writing About Literature:

• Write scholarly essays that analyze the formal features and historical contexts of literary works;
• Produce a substantial body of successful writing under time and exam restrictions as well as out of class;
• Select and integrate primary textual evidence that effectively supports the argument;
• Make appropriate use of secondary sources where applicable;
• Format essays using a recognized style guide, such as MLA;
• Use inclusive language.
• Develop an argument with a thesis or controlling idea, using appropriate language and rhetorical patterns and accurate, relevant, specific, and sufficient supporting material for its audience and purpose;
• Write unified, coherent paragraphs, including effective introductions and conclusions, and transitions between and within paragraphs; and
• Write correct, clear, cohesive, and effective English

 During the week, I will do my best to respond to emails and TEAMS messages within 24 hours between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm (MST) Monday-Thursday. Emails received on Fridays or over the weekend will receive a response on Monday. Please check your COTR email and COTROnline page for questions about due dates, course readings, etc. before e-mailing me. I can only reply to emails sent from a College of the Rockies email account.

Email and TEAMS correspondence is an excellent way to practice your communication skills, so please use the language and structure appropriate for this writing situation when you email me.

Outside of class, my scheduled office hours are the best time to see me in person or over TEAMS. However, if you cannot make it during those hours, you may e-mail me to schedule an appointment. Please keep in mind that I may not be available to meet immediately or even during the next working day. Please note that you are responsible for the content covered in class lectures and in your readings. Also, please remember that I am not able to pre-grade or read full drafts of your assignments before you submit them, and I cannot allow you to re-submit assignments after they have been graded. Please ensure that you have regular attendance and use the supports available to you at the college.

My schedule for Winter 2023 is:

A NOTE ON PLAGIARISM

If you use someone else’s work without clearly acknowledging the source—this is plagiarism.

• This includes paraphrasing or directly quoting any work, published or unpublished, that another person wrote without clearly acknowledging that person as the source. If you allow someone else to do your work for you and claim that work as your own, you will have committed collusion, which is a form of plagiarism.
• The use of generative AI (Chat GPT, etc.) to complete or assist the completion of course work is considered a breach of academic integrity according to the College’s 2.4.4 Student Conduct Policy unless permission is received from the instructor in advance.  Please consult with me any time you would like to use AI.

If I find any evidence of academic misconduct in your assignments, you could receive a failing grade (possibly a zero) on the assignment and receive an academic misconduct report. For further information on the academic policies of COTR (including plagiarism). Please pay particular attention to the student conduct policy. If you submit an assignment and then, afterwards, have doubts about your citation- please email me immediately. I will allow you 48 hours to fix (and highlight) your citations without penalty.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

A NOTE ON GRADES

• All grades are earned by academic merit. Please do not ask me to assign you a grade that you have not earned. Please ensure that you understand the assignment guidelines and evaluation criteria (come see me to clarify any and all questions) throughout the process of composing your assignments to ensure that you earn a grade that reflects you abilities.
• I am always willing to provide further feedback on assignments. Please wait 48 hours before emailing me to set up a meeting to discuss. 
• If, for any reason, you cannot submit an assignment on the due date, you must contact me as soon as possible to discuss an extension/ accommodation. Assignments submitted late without an extension will not be accepted 5 business days after the due date (and may be deducted marks). I cannot authorize a request to change exam dates.