Faculty of Liberal Studies
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences 100 McCaul St. 3rd floor, room 315 Tel: 416.977.6000 ext 372 SEMESTER & YEAR: FALL 2012 Course Title: Studies in Canadian Literature Course Number: ENGL 3B06 Course Day & Time: Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Building & Room#: #240, 100 McCaul St. Credit Value: 0.5 Pre-requisites: 7.5 Credits, including 1.0 credit of second-year liberal studies Anti-requisite: Students who have taken ENGL 2B02 may not take this course for further credit. Instructor: Dr. Camille Isaacs Office Location: 314, 100 McCaul St. Email: [email protected] Office hours: Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. Voicemail: 416-977-6000 ext. 4250 COURSE CALENDAR DESCRIPTION Taking a close look at individual texts and traditions, this course considers notions of Canada through literary representations of its people, languages, and landscapes, and through Canada's different models of verbal art (Aboriginal, African, European, and others). Texts studied may range from pre-contact indigenous myths, the diaries of early pioneers, novels of the immigrant condition, to French-Canadian works in translation. Traditions may include folklore, hip hop, the Anglo-American modernist literary tradition, and the contemporary, urban avant-garde. Students can expect to examine several genres in this course, including poetry and fiction. While this is an abbreviated course on Canadian literature, various geographic regions are covered (Atlantic Canada, rural Quebec, the prairies, and the bigger cities of Toronto and Vancouver). Given that this course is only a semester, the topics under review will be limited. Through the literature, we will be examining Canada’s ongoing search for its identity, representations of the landscape (be it big city or the “wild”), how immigration has affected the Canadian space and its inhabitants, Canada as postcolonial space, and gender. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS/COURSE PACKS 1. Sinclair Ross, As for Me and My House. 1941. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2008. 2. Miriam Toews, A Complicated Kindness. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2004. 3. Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 1987. 4. George Elliott Clarke, Whylah Falls. 1990. Kentville, NS: Gaspereau Press, 2010. 5. Eden Robinson, Monkey Beach. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2001. 6. Marie-Claire Blais, A Season in the Life of Emmanuel. 1966. Toronto: Exile Editions, 2007. All these books can be purchased at the OCAD bookstore.
LEARNING OUTCOMES At the conclusion of this course, students can expect to describe and comment on Canadian literature; initiate and undertake critical evaluation about arguments, assumptions, and abstract concepts related to the study of Canadian literature; make critical use of scholarly reviews and primary sources communicate accurately in written essay and oral format. COURSE ORGANIZATION The major part of the course consists of weekly classes, which may consist of a combination of lecture, discussion, and group work or exercises. Students are expected to read the required readings, attend all classes, participate in all activities and contribute to discussion. Plan to accommodate a minimum of 6 hours per week of homework for this course. Absences from class must be supported with official documentation; three unsupported absences may jeopardize your standing in the course. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION SCHEDULE -
Presentation (10 minutes) worth 15% -- ongoing, 5 per class, commencing Sept. 26 Essay #1 (1000 words) worth 25% -- Oct. 10 In-class essay (500 words) worth 20% -- Oct. 31 Essay #2 (2000 words) worth 30% -- Nov. 21 Class participation* 10%
The required form of citation for essays is MLA style, which can be found through the library at http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations.html. *Participation is based on participation in classroom discussions and interactions with individual presentations. POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS Please note that assignments are due in class. They will not be accepted by the Faculty of Liberal Studies office. Note that late assignments will be penalized at a rate of 2% a day and that assignments that are more than 7 days late will not be accepted. Students should submit late assignments (hard copy) to my mailbox (3rd floor, 100 McCaul) or in class. A hard copy must be submitted for marking. In order to verify the date on which you handed in your late assignment, you must submit your paper electronically through Canvas or email, followed by the hard copy within 12 hours. Also note that late presentations will be penalized at a rate of 5% per week.
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CLASS CONDUCT AND EXPECTATIONS 1) You must ensure you are properly registered for the course. If you have any concerns about your registration status, you may confirm on-line, confirm with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences Office, or contact the Registrar. Please first check your registration and read the codes carefully (the codes are clearly explained in the Course Calendar which is available online at www.ocad.ca). 2) You are expected to conduct yourself in a manner respectful of your instructor and your fellow students. This includes, at a minimum: Arriving on time Turning off your cell phone upon arrival If late, entering the classroom with the least disruption Not interrupting or speaking when someone else has the floor Using your laptop appropriately (i.e. not for email) ABSENCES AND MAKE UP TESTS
Only under very special circumstances may students hand in late assignments or be absent from classes or tests/exams. If a student is sick, it is incumbent upon the student to notify the Instructor (and the Faculty Office, in the case of missed tests, mid-term exams or final exams) with proper documentation as soon as possible. All exams carry an administrative charge of $70. Students with special needs must contact the office for Students with Disabilities, ext. 339 at least two weeks prior to the test or assignment, if free and confidential resources are to be provided. ABSENCE FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES
A student who foresees a conflict between a religious obligation and any scheduled class assignments, including the final examination, must notify his/her instructor in writing and in the case of final examinations must make a written request to the appropriate Faculty Office within three weeks of the first class. Late requests for an exam deferral are subject to a fee of $70. PLAGIARISM AND REFERENCING YOUR RESEARCH SOURCES
Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else's ideas, opinions, writings, etc. and representing them as one's own. You plagiarize whenever you borrow another scholar's ideas or quote directly from a work without giving credit through proper citation or acknowledgement. Plagiarism is a serious offense at OCADU (please see OCADU's Policy in the OCADU Academic Calendar). Any assignment in which the ideas of another author are intentionally represented without acknowledgement and/or presented as the student's own work will receive a grade of zero. Please see http://www.ocad.ca/students/academic_integrity.htm#plagiarism for more information.
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The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Writing and Learning Centre at OCADU have developed a set of „OCADU Writing Style Guidelines‟ for students to consult with regard to proper research citation. Copies of the Writing Style Guidelines are available at the Writing and Learning Centre and online. You can also consult the MLA, APA, or Chicago style guides online through the library website. Please see http://www.ocad.ca/library/how_do_i/find_style_guides.htm for more information. ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Each student has final responsibility for her or his conduct. Students are expected to be aware of and abide by the regulations as they have been established in OCADU‟s academic and nonacademic policies, which can be found on the OCADU website at http://www.ocad.ca/students.htm under “Student Policies”. These policies outline the responsibility of students to “conduct themselves appropriately and reflect the highest standards of integrity in non-academic as well as academic behaviour”. All allegations of misconduct will be reported and investigated as per the current policies.
WEEKLY READINGS & CLASS SCHEDULE Sept.12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28
First day of class – Introduction to course and its themes Ross, As for Me and My House Ross, As for Me and My House (Presentations Begin) Toews, A Complicated Kindness Toews, A Complicated Kindness (Essay #1 Due) Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion/ Clarke, Whylah Falls Clarke, Whylah Falls (In-Class Essay) (No Presentations) Robinson, Monkey Beach Robinson, Monkey Beach Blais, A Season in the Life of Emmanuel (Essay #2 Due) Blais, A Season in the Life of Emmanuel, Course Wrap-Up (Presentations End)
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES: WRITING AND LEARNING CENTRE: Resources specific to this course, for students requiring assistance with the material and with writing or reading comprehension, and for those for whom English is a second language, are provided through the Writing and Learning Centre, room 1501, 113 McCaul, 5th floor (ext. 229); e-mail: [email protected] One-on-one tutoring is available and confidential. The Writing and Learning Centre (WLC) provides free services for all students including writing, critical thinking, critical reading, and study skills, through one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring, writing and academic skills workshops, resource materials, and ESL assistance. 4
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Formal and informal student-centred supports, such as counselling, academic accommodations, and specialized services are available year-round to students registered with the Centre for Students with Disabilities. Students who think they may have learning or physical disabilities should contact Services for Students with Disabilities (ext. 339), 51 McCaul St. 2nd level, as soon as possible. Students must be registered with the CSD to receive accommodations and related support. It is important to register early in the semester to ensure the accommodations can be scheduled by the start of the semester. DOROTHY HOOVER LIBRARY OCADU Library, 113 McCaul, 2nd Floor , Room 1215 General Reference Desk: ex. 334 Art and Design Reference, Robert Fabbro: ex. 343 Art and Liberal Arts & Sciences Reference, Daniel Payne: ex. 217 STUDENT SERVICE WEBSITE URLS
Library and online databases - http://www.ocad.ca/library.htm Centre for Students with Disabilities - http://www.ocad.ca/students/disability_services.htm Health and Wellness Centre - http://www.ocad.ca/students/health_wellness.htm Writing and Learning Centre - http://www.ocad.ca/students/wlc.htm Academic Integrity - http://www.ocad.ca/students/academic_integrity.htm Academic Advising - http://www.ocad.ca/students/academic_advising.htm
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LEARNING OUTCOMES At the conclusion of this course, students can expect to describe and comment on Canadian literature; initiate and undertake critical evaluation about arguments, assumptions, and abstract concepts related to the study of Canadian literature; make critical use of scholarly reviews and primary sources communicate accurately in written essay and oral format. COURSE ORGANIZATION The major part of the course consists of weekly classes, which may consist of a combination of lecture, discussion, and group work or exercises. Students are expected to read the required readings, attend all classes, participate in all activities and contribute to discussion. Plan to accommodate a minimum of 6 hours per week of homework for this course. Absences from class must be supported with official documentation; three unsupported absences may jeopardize your standing in the course. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION SCHEDULE -
Presentation (10 minutes) worth 15% -- ongoing, 5 per class, commencing Sept. 26 Essay #1 (1000 words) worth 25% -- Oct. 10 In-class essay (500 words) worth 20% -- Oct. 31 Essay #2 (2000 words) worth 30% -- Nov. 21 Class participation* 10%
The required form of citation for essays is MLA style, which can be found through the library at http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations.html. *Participation is based on participation in classroom discussions and interactions with individual presentations. POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS Please note that assignments are due in class. They will not be accepted by the Faculty of Liberal Studies office. Note that late assignments will be penalized at a rate of 2% a day and that assignments that are more than 7 days late will not be accepted. Students should submit late assignments (hard copy) to my mailbox (3rd floor, 100 McCaul) or in class. A hard copy must be submitted for marking. In order to verify the date on which you handed in your late assignment, you must submit your paper electronically through Canvas or email, followed by the hard copy within 12 hours. Also note that late presentations will be penalized at a rate of 5% per week.
2
CLASS CONDUCT AND EXPECTATIONS 1) You must ensure you are properly registered for the course. If you have any concerns about your registration status, you may confirm on-line, confirm with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences Office, or contact the Registrar. Please first check your registration and read the codes carefully (the codes are clearly explained in the Course Calendar which is available online at www.ocad.ca). 2) You are expected to conduct yourself in a manner respectful of your instructor and your fellow students. This includes, at a minimum: Arriving on time Turning off your cell phone upon arrival If late, entering the classroom with the least disruption Not interrupting or speaking when someone else has the floor Using your laptop appropriately (i.e. not for email) ABSENCES AND MAKE UP TESTS
Only under very special circumstances may students hand in late assignments or be absent from classes or tests/exams. If a student is sick, it is incumbent upon the student to notify the Instructor (and the Faculty Office, in the case of missed tests, mid-term exams or final exams) with proper documentation as soon as possible. All exams carry an administrative charge of $70. Students with special needs must contact the office for Students with Disabilities, ext. 339 at least two weeks prior to the test or assignment, if free and confidential resources are to be provided. ABSENCE FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES
A student who foresees a conflict between a religious obligation and any scheduled class assignments, including the final examination, must notify his/her instructor in writing and in the case of final examinations must make a written request to the appropriate Faculty Office within three weeks of the first class. Late requests for an exam deferral are subject to a fee of $70. PLAGIARISM AND REFERENCING YOUR RESEARCH SOURCES
Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else's ideas, opinions, writings, etc. and representing them as one's own. You plagiarize whenever you borrow another scholar's ideas or quote directly from a work without giving credit through proper citation or acknowledgement. Plagiarism is a serious offense at OCADU (please see OCADU's Policy in the OCADU Academic Calendar). Any assignment in which the ideas of another author are intentionally represented without acknowledgement and/or presented as the student's own work will receive a grade of zero. Please see http://www.ocad.ca/students/academic_integrity.htm#plagiarism for more information.
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The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Writing and Learning Centre at OCADU have developed a set of „OCADU Writing Style Guidelines‟ for students to consult with regard to proper research citation. Copies of the Writing Style Guidelines are available at the Writing and Learning Centre and online. You can also consult the MLA, APA, or Chicago style guides online through the library website. Please see http://www.ocad.ca/library/how_do_i/find_style_guides.htm for more information. ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Each student has final responsibility for her or his conduct. Students are expected to be aware of and abide by the regulations as they have been established in OCADU‟s academic and nonacademic policies, which can be found on the OCADU website at http://www.ocad.ca/students.htm under “Student Policies”. These policies outline the responsibility of students to “conduct themselves appropriately and reflect the highest standards of integrity in non-academic as well as academic behaviour”. All allegations of misconduct will be reported and investigated as per the current policies.
WEEKLY READINGS & CLASS SCHEDULE Sept.12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28
First day of class – Introduction to course and its themes Ross, As for Me and My House Ross, As for Me and My House (Presentations Begin) Toews, A Complicated Kindness Toews, A Complicated Kindness (Essay #1 Due) Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion/ Clarke, Whylah Falls Clarke, Whylah Falls (In-Class Essay) (No Presentations) Robinson, Monkey Beach Robinson, Monkey Beach Blais, A Season in the Life of Emmanuel (Essay #2 Due) Blais, A Season in the Life of Emmanuel, Course Wrap-Up (Presentations End)
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES: WRITING AND LEARNING CENTRE: Resources specific to this course, for students requiring assistance with the material and with writing or reading comprehension, and for those for whom English is a second language, are provided through the Writing and Learning Centre, room 1501, 113 McCaul, 5th floor (ext. 229); e-mail: [email protected] One-on-one tutoring is available and confidential. The Writing and Learning Centre (WLC) provides free services for all students including writing, critical thinking, critical reading, and study skills, through one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring, writing and academic skills workshops, resource materials, and ESL assistance. 4
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Formal and informal student-centred supports, such as counselling, academic accommodations, and specialized services are available year-round to students registered with the Centre for Students with Disabilities. Students who think they may have learning or physical disabilities should contact Services for Students with Disabilities (ext. 339), 51 McCaul St. 2nd level, as soon as possible. Students must be registered with the CSD to receive accommodations and related support. It is important to register early in the semester to ensure the accommodations can be scheduled by the start of the semester. DOROTHY HOOVER LIBRARY OCADU Library, 113 McCaul, 2nd Floor , Room 1215 General Reference Desk: ex. 334 Art and Design Reference, Robert Fabbro: ex. 343 Art and Liberal Arts & Sciences Reference, Daniel Payne: ex. 217 STUDENT SERVICE WEBSITE URLS
Library and online databases - http://www.ocad.ca/library.htm Centre for Students with Disabilities - http://www.ocad.ca/students/disability_services.htm Health and Wellness Centre - http://www.ocad.ca/students/health_wellness.htm Writing and Learning Centre - http://www.ocad.ca/students/wlc.htm Academic Integrity - http://www.ocad.ca/students/academic_integrity.htm Academic Advising - http://www.ocad.ca/students/academic_advising.htm
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