Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - WL 101W D100

Writing in World Literature (3)

Class Number: 6861

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 6, 2025
    Sat, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Kenneth Seigneurie
    kseigneu@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-8846
    Office: AQ 5120

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:

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WL 101W – Writing in World Literature: The Short Story

From drawings on cave walls to “The double life of a billionaire heiress” on TikTok, stories in the form of anecdotes, myths, parables, yarns, and tales have accounted for much of human cultural heritage. The short story as we know it today has a much shorter history, barely more than 200 years, but it has become a crucial source of insight into psychological and social life. This course will explore a range of brilliant short stories from around the world. We shall see how short fictions are not only enjoyable but are also a means for understanding who we are as human beings. Students will learn the ropes of literary analysis in order to discern the wisdom embedded in the short story as an art form. Our approach will be to “close read” a range of short stories on themes like crime, love, the preternatural, social justice, and then build on these insights to write university-level persuasive essays with cross-over relevance to any field or discipline. Critical texts will be few and commensurate with the norms of a 100-level course.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:


  • Becoming alert to the beauty – yes, beauty – of the short story
  • Analyzing literary texts by attending to formal and semantic cues (close reading)
  • Formulating critical essays based on close reading
  • Expressing ideas and arguments orally

Grading

  • In-class essay (five paragraphs, 5%) + revision (1250 words, 10%) 15%
  • Essay 2 (2500 words, 15%) + rewrite (20%) 35%
  • Oral Report on Essay 2 10%
  • Final Exam 30%
  • Participation / Group work 10%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Selected texts provided by the instructor


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.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


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.