General course information

Required Texts

• Hardy, Thomas. Under the Greenwood Tree. Penguin, 1998.
• Plamondon, Marc, comp. and ed. ENGL 1006: Course Reader. Nipissing University, 2016.
• Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. Ed. Frances E. Dolan. New York: Penguin, 2000.
• Weisman, Alan. “Earth without People.” Discover 26.2 (February 2005): 60-65. <http://discovermagazine.com/2005/feb/earth-without-people/>

Full reading list

• The Bible: Genesis 1-3, John 19-21, and Revelation 21-22.
• Browning, Elizabeth Barrett. Sonnet XXIX.
• Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Nature” (first section).
• Frost, Robert. “Birches.”
• Hardy, Thomas. Under the Greenwood Tree.
• Hardy, Thomas. “A Tragedy of Two Ambitions.”
• Hopkins, Gerard Manley. “Spring and Fall.”
• Kilmer, Joyce. “Trees.”
• Layton, Irving. “The Birth of Tragedy.”
• “Lord Randal.” Child ballad 12A.
• Mansfield, Katherine. “Bliss.”
• Page, P. K. “Deaf-Mute in the Pear Tree.”
• R. E. M. “Everybody Hurts” (video).
• “Robin Hood and Little John.” Child ballad 125.
• Shakespeare. As You Like It.
• “Thomas Rhymer.” Child ballad 37C.
• Weisman, Alan. “Earth without People.”
• World of Warcraft.

For World of Warcraft, choose Normal realm style and Night Elf as your race. Your class and sex should not matter: choose what you would like. You should start at Teldrassil. Play until you are at least level 10, ideally you will get to go to Darnassus.

Recommended Texts

• A good writing guide for (Canadian) students.

Course Expectations or Outputs

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. identify the defining features of major literary forms.
2. identify and use key literary and critical terms in the process of analysis.
3. apply basic critical and theoretical methodologies to close, critical readings of a wide variety of texts.
4. discuss texts and ideas comfortably and respectfully in class.
5. construct and sustain analytical arguments in clear, coherent prose and proper essay format.

Course Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate:

1. an introductory knowledge of some key concepts and methodologies of English Studies.
2. a promising ability to comprehend primary texts and offer analytical commentary.
3. a promising ability to analyze texts and propose persuasive answers to interpretive questions.
4. a promising ability to communicate in clear, correct prose.

In-class quizzes

There will be seven scheduled quizzes. Students are expected to write all seven quizzes, but only the best five quiz scores of each student will count towards the final grade. There will be no opportunity to make-up a missed quiz (except, perhaps, in extraordinary situations). All quizzes will take place at the very beginning of the class for which it is scheduled.

In-class analysis exercises

Three times, about twenty minutes of class time, at the end of class, will be reserved for an in-class analysis exercise. Students may choose to write two or three of these exercises. The best two grades of the three will count towards the final grade. There will be no opportunity to make-up a missed in-class writing exercise (except, perhaps, in extraordinary situations).

Participation and attendance

You are expected to participate in class in an informed manner. At the very least, you are expected to come to class regularly, having read all assigned reading. You are expected to participate in class discussions. Keep in mind that participating in class is usually a highly rewarding experience, greatly enhancing your ability to understand the course material and helping ensure your success in the course. Everyone is expected to be courteous and professional at all times in class. The course will occasionally involve in-class exercises: you might be asked to write a paragraph or two and to read and comment on a classmate’s writing. Not participating in these exercises (for whatever reason) will have an impact upon your participation grade.

Lateness

Assignments are due in class, on the date indicated by the assignment. A 2% penalty will be applied to the graded assignment for every day the assignment is late. This will include weekend days and public holidays. Extensions may be granted for exceptional circumstances, especially for serious medical reasons: in such cases, you should talk to the instructor as soon as possible and be prepared to submit medical documentation about the problem (that should include a statement about the beginning and duration of the issue).