Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - ENGL 112W D100

Literature Now (3)

Class Number: 3320

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to contemporary works of literature in English and/or contemporary approaches to interpreting literature. May focus on one or multiple genres. Includes attention to writing skills. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

GameLit: When Play Gets Serious

Young animals, humans included, play to practice skills they're going to need as adults. In most human cultures, people have considered play to be childish behaviour, given up with maturity. But lately, with respect and value given to professional sports, reality competition shows, and computer gaming, play now blurs into purpose and earning a living.

This course focuses on works of literature in English that question the boundaries between child and adult, between playful and serious, between novel and game. We will read, discuss, and write about GameLit targeting Young Adult and New Adult readers. We begin with the seminal "white gamer boy saves the world" trope: Ender Wiggins in the original 1977 novella version of Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" (available in Canvas, or in pdf online from http://hatrack.com/osc/stories/enders-game.shtml, but it has typos; this is not the 1985 novel or the film or the graphic novel!) and his less competent antitype Johnny Maxwell in Terry Pratchett's 1992 novel Only You Can Save Mankind. From there, we expand in diversity and possibility with Cory Doctorow & Jen Wang's In Real Life (graphic novel 2018), Marie Lu's Warcross (novel 2017) and several short selections in Canvas including excerpts from Wab Kiniew's Walking in Two Worlds (novel 2021), Brittney Morris's Slay (novel 2019), and Chainmail Bikini (graphic stories by various creators, 2015).

Students in this writing-intensive course will complete two projects during the term, handing in each for feedback and then revising it for a grade. The first is a close reading using contextual research (an abbreviated essay), in which students will find reputable academic sources on a particular socio-historical context relevant to a short passage from a course text, apply that information to their interpretation of that passage, and finish by writing a thesis statement for what would be a complete essay on the topic. Students will get feedback and advice on their sources and outline from their tutorial leader and, later, feedback on their drafts from their tutorial leader and their peers. The second project is a short original work of GameLit, in which students will demonstrate their familiarity with the narrative strategies and techniques we have examined in our course texts through writing a story. Students will work on their stories with their peers as well as get feedback and advice on their drafts from their tutorial leaders. There will also be a two-hour final exam in a three-hour timeslot, with an essay comparing different course texts and an analysis of an excerpt from a work of GameLit you haven't read before. Finally, there will be a participation grade based largely on tutorial activities, often hands-on work related to written assessments.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course will help you learn to 
1/ interpret stories, gathering and evaluating evidence from texts of various kinds,
2/ analyse text using research-based evidence, 
3/ write clearly and concisely, 
4/ revise and proofread your writing, and 
5/ give feedback to your peers in concise, specific, and helpful ways.

Grading

  • participation 10%
  • final exam 25%
  • getting drafts in on time 5%
  • close reading based on research, approximately 1000 words (sources+outline and draft must each be submitted and receive feedback before completed close reading can be graded) 35%
  • short story, approximately 1000-1500 words (draft must be submitted and receive feedback before completed story can be graded) 25%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Note: in addition to the three full texts listed here, required reading also includes the novella version of "Ender's Game," short excerpts from several other GameLit texts, and some secondary readings, all available in Canvas

REQUIRED READING:

Only You Can Save Mankind, Terry Pratchett (Corgi; other editions acceptable)
ISBN: 978-0552551038

In Real Life, Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang (Square Fish)
ISBN: 978-1250144287

Warcross, Marie Lu (Penguin, other editions acceptable)
ISBN: 978-0241321447

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.