English 2225--Canadian Literature Section 1 Instructor: Debra Scott e Phone: 604.323.5366 debscott@langara.bc.ca Term 201030 Texts Moss, Laura & Cynthia Sugars, Editors. Canadian Literature in English: Texts and Contexts. Volume II. Toronto: Pearson Longman, 2009. Drama/Theatre: Studio 58 s The Park (by Elliott, Lipovetsky, & Johnson) and/or The Stanley Theatre s Tear the Curtain (by Young and Kerr); more information & discussion the first week of classes. Boyden, Joseph. Three Day Road. Toronto: Penguin, 2006. Davies, Robertson. Fifth Business. Markham, Ontario: Penguin, 1970. Mootoo, Shani. Cereus Blooms at Night. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1998 (note: first published by Press Gang Publishers in 1996). Course Overview English 2225 provides you with an opportunity to study a range of writings by Canadian authors, charting the evolution of poetry and fiction while tracing recurrent themes in Canada's literature. For the first part of the course, we will study a selection of prose works, short fiction and poetry, looking at the development of Canada's literary expression from its beginnings to the present. We will focus briefly on drama in the latter part of September, and then, over the last half of the term, study will concentrate on the novel, represented here by three works, which, although very different from each other in certain respects, also share some important and at times surprising similarities. Selecting texts for an introductory course in a national literature is inevitably difficult and problematic; although many voices remain unrepresented here (very regrettably), the selection of readings for this course does reflect important motifs that will provide a frame of reference for further study. Through this course, you will also be able to develop your writing skills and essay style. You must be completely familiar with the conventions for quoting and citing sources in the accepted academic fashion. Refer to the College Style Sheet to ensure that you follow the proper guidelines for quoting and documenting sources. Please see me with any questions you have about your work or the course. over
Assignments Secondary assignments: in-class essay, quizzes & reader responses, an assignment on drama 30% Mid-term assignment /test 20% Major paper focus on Fifth Business or Cereus... 25% Final exam (focus on novels) 25% Note: missed assignments receive a zero. 100 total Office Hours Office A302a Phone 604.323.5366 Tuesday 9:30 10:20 Thursday 9:30 10:20 If these times don't fit your schedule, please make an appointment to see me, OR see me in the Writing Centre (schedule t.b.a.). Attendance and Participation Regular attendance and class participation are expected and will influence your enjoyment of the course and understanding of the material. If you must miss three or more classes in a row, notify me by phone (604.323.5366 24/7 voice mail) or e-mail (debscott@langara.bc.ca), or by seeing me personally. If you miss more than a week of classes and wish to continue the course, note that documentation is required. Late Assignments: These will receive a deduction of 10% when first overdue, with additional deductions after the due date. If you wish to avoid deductions and anxiety, please follow my guidelines for extensions: submit to me a written request for an extension at least one week before the deadline. Please note that I do NOT accept assignments via e-mail. Note: if you need to get a message to me before class, please do so by voice mail NOT e-mail; in the busier parts of the term, I sometimes do not check my e-mail till late in the day or till the following day. And finally... see me if you have any questions or concerns. English 2225/1: Schedule of Readings and Major Assignments 201030 September to mid-october
Early Voices & Lasting Influences Colonialism and the Immigrant Experience page references are from Canadian Literature in English: Texts and Contexts, Vol. 11 p. 596 Jeannette Armstrong; handouts: Glacier & "History Lesson (poems) handout Paul Yee s Rider Chan and the Night River. Background on early literary efforts, notably Frances Brooke s 18 th Century novel The History of Emily Montague and 19 th Century writers: Susanna Moodie, & Catharine Parr Traill (also Anna Jameson), as well as the Confederation Poets (handouts): Isabella Valancy Crawford The Dark Stag Charles G.D. Roberts "Tantramar Revisited Archibald Lampman "Heat, "The City of the End of Things D C Scott "The Forsaken Pauline Johnson "A Cry from an Indian Wife Modernist Voices Poetry p. 1 ff Modernism p. 51 Pratt background on poet &"From Stone to Steel & Erosion handout), plus brief selected passages from Towards the Last Spike p. 82 F R Scott "The Canadian Authors Meet, W.L.M.K. (handout) "All the Spikes But the Last (re: Pratt's Towards... ), Laurentian Shield p. 94 A. J. M. Smith "The Lonely Land, "The Wisdom of Old Jelly Roll p. 152 Klein "Heirloom p. 112 Birney Anglosaxon Street, Bushed, i accuse us p. 161 Livesay "Bartok and the Geranium, The Three Emily s small take-home assignment (details given in class) due on September 24 (F); length 1 2 pages (250 500 words); personal narrative & family/individual background In-class essay (on a poem or short story): October 5 (F) over The Later Twentieth Century to Present: Modern & Postmodern Works
p. 272 Purdy Grosse Isle p. 433 Atwood poems from The Journals of Susanna Moodie: *** Disembarking at Quebec, "Further Arrivals. The Planters (handout), The Wereman (handout), "Departure from the Bush, Death of a Young Son by Drowning, (handout), Dream 2: Brian the Still-Hunter, "Thoughts from Underground" see also Birney's "Bushed, p. 117 p. 213 Contemporary Period, 1960 1985 p. 298 Laurence A Bird in the House (short story) p. 334 Munro Meneseteung (short story) p. 517 Contemporary Çanada, 1985 Present p. 371 Cohen Everybody Knows (CD), Suzanne Takes You Down p. 493 Ondaatje Letters & Other Worlds, The Cinnamon Peeler p. 610 Mistry, Squatter (short story) p. 694 Thien Simple Recipes (fiction) Note: the above list may change (at least slightly) according to the use of class time; some of the readings will be covered in group discussions, some will be discussed in detail, and some will be touched on only briefly. October & November / early December Mid-term on Thursday, October 14 focus: material from the Anthology readings & handouts details will be given in class Week of October 18: study of novels starts with Davies' Fifth Business, then Mootoo's Cereus Blooms at Night, and then, Boyden s Three Day Road Major Paper due on Friday, November 19 th *** Last day of classes: Monday, December 6 Final exams: December 9 17
Letter Grade and Percentage Scale A+ 95% and above Excellent work in all areas style, content A 90 94.5% (thesis & analysis), & use of sources/quot ns. A- 85 89.5% B+ 80 84.5 % Strong work in most areas; good work overall, B 75 79.5 % with improvements needed in one or more key B- 70 74.5 % areas. C+ 65 69.5% Basic competence in most areas; improvements C 60 64.5% needed in several key areas, including focus/. C- 55 59.5% thesis, quality of analysis, & level of expression D 50-54% Below 50 % is a failing grade Note: For questions regarding transfer credits and articulation for English 2225, please go to the BC-TRANSFERGUIDE, <http://bctransferguide.ca/>.