Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2019 - WL 101W D100

Writing in World Literature (3)

Class Number: 1342

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 9, 2019
    Mon, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores literary texts from diverse linguistic and cultural origins while introducing students to the fundamentals of comparative literary analysis and critical writing. May examine cross-cultural interactions, or compare texts thematically. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:



 

Short prose fiction in the form of anecdotes, myths, parables, embedded stories and fairy tales have been a part of human cultural heritage for probably as long as language itself. The short story as we know it today has a much briefer history, barely more than 200 years. This course will explore a range of modern stories from three continents with emphasis on its most remarkable half-century in the United States from about 1920 to 1970. The aim of the course will be to provide students with a good background in the short story as a literary form in its own right. Our approach will be to “close read” a range of short stories on themes such as: crime, love, mortality, and the preternatural. Critical texts will be few in number and commensurate with the norms of 100-level courses.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students should be able to

·      Read a literary text through the lens of critical analysis
·      Formulate an argument based on a literary text
·      Produce an organized literary essay
·      Gain an understanding of the short story as a literary form
·      Understand principal literary techniques used to explore themes in short fiction

Grading

  • Essay 1 (5 pages) 15%
  • Essay 2 (8 pages) + rewrite 15 + 15%
  • Oral Report on Essay 2 10%
  • Midterm Exam 15%
  • Participation / Group Work 10%
  • Final Exam 20%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

The Art of the Short Story. Editors: Dana Gioia and R. S. Gwynn. New York: Pearson, 1st edition (2005).
ISBN: 978-0321363633

Select texts provided by the instructors

Registrar Notes:

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

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS