Welcome to English V01B
What do I need to know to succeed in
this class?
Students in past classes have told me…
• “Do all of the reading journals. Even if they’re only
five points, it starts to accumulate.”
• “Don’t miss class.”
• “Really pay attention to the theories.”
• Don’t procrastinate on the essays. ASK QUESTIONS
and come to the instructor for help on a draft.
• Check the website for what you missed.
• “You’re going to have to flex your brain.”
How do we define literature?
• Before I show you the definition, I want you to
take two minutes and make a list of as many
works (novels, poems, plays, essays, etc) that you
consider to be literature as you can think of.
• Next, I want you to make a list of some written
pieces (these might be entire books, even) that
you do not think are literature.
• What do the books on your first list have in
common? What do the books on your second list
have in common?
Dictionary Definition of Literature
The Oxford American College Dictionary defines
“literature” as:
“written works, especially those
considered of superior or lasting artistic
merit.”
What exactly do you think is meant by “artistic
merit”? Who decides this?
In-Class Writing #1
What do people generally mean when they
call a piece of writing “literature”? What
characteristics does “literature” have that sets
it apart from other writing? Think about a
favorite piece of writing (novel, non-fiction
book, poem, play, etc) of yours. Would it be
considered “literature” by most people? Do
you think it should be considered literature?