Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - ENGL 315 J100

Studies in Seventeenth Century Non-Dramatic Literature (4)

Class Number: 4686

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Wed, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Two 100 division English courses, and two 200 division English courses.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Selected works of seventeenth-century poetry and/or prose, situated in their cultural context. May include some writing from North America. Students with credit for ENGL 314 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

The years from around 1640 to 1660 marked the most intense period of political turbulence in British history, as religious antagonisms and differing conceptions of royal power led to warfare, regicide, and repeated shakings of the constitutional kaleidoscope. A wistful poetics of defeat, looking back to an idealized past, emerged; new ideological frontiers, foreshadowing the democratic values of modernity, opened up.

Students in ENGL 407W will look at this period through the literature it produced. Our readings will focus on a small number of canonical favourites by literary stars such as Anne Bradstreet, Margaret Cavendish, Andrew Marvell, and John Milton. Students' research will consider the background to such works that can be found in the exploding, largely anonymous and ephemeral, print culture of the time. Each text that we discuss will be approached as a living part of its culture (how did it circulate? who was its audience?) as we try to understand how literature could serve as a force for effecting or resisting political change, not just a means of commenting on it.

Our work will involve both: (a) synchronous video-conferences (not recorded) during most of the Wednesday time slots; and (b) asynchronous lectures and discussion threads that can be viewed or added to in students' own time.

Grading

  • Reading quizzes 30%
  • Video-conference participation 5%
  • Two-part midterm (combining take-home and synchronous elements) 30%
  • Research project (paper or narrated PowerPoint) 30%
  • Research proposal 5%

NOTES:

N.B. The grading breakdown outlined here is subject to revision.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

All readings will be made available online by the Instructor.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.

For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).