ENGL 1025 | Fall, 2023
Literature: Why it Matters
Lecture: Tuesdays 8:35 – 9:55 am | Lecture/Tutorial: Thursdays 8:35 – 9:55 am
Kenneth C Rowe Management Building, Room 1020
Instructor: Billy Johnson | billyjohnson@dal.ca
Lecture: Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:35 – 9:55 am
Tutorials: Thursdays, 8:35 – 9:55 am
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 10:15 am – 12:00 pm, McCain 2129
Course Description
This course explores how literature in English has responded to our world in poetry, prose, and drama. It
will introduce students to a variety of forms, genres, and styles through which writers have imagined,
asserted, and questioned the social role of literature across time. Particular attention will be paid to the
concept of literature itself and to the relationship between literature and society. Emphases will include
literature’s reasons for being, its formal qualities, its historical context, its relation to other media, and its
relevance to our moment.
ENGL 1025 is a writing requirement course. In addition to providing students with an introduction to
literary forms and genres, this course will help students develop the analytical skills necessary to discuss,
study, and write about literature at the university level.
Course Delivery
This is a lecture course that will be taught in-person twice a week in 80-minute lectures and eight 80minute tutorials. Lectures are held every Tuesday and tutorials are held on Thursdays. Three additional
lectures will take place on Thursdays in lieu of tutorials. Lectures will provide general perspectives and key
ideas on the purpose and study of literature, as well as detailed critical readings of selected texts. The
lectures will involve discussion, but the tutorials will provide you with greater opportunity to engage in a
critical dialogue with your TA and peers, as well as opportunities to develop your writing skills. Attendance
and participation in both lectures and tutorials are crucial to your success in this course.
Course Texts
Available at the Bookstore
Shakespeare, Othello
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
Chariandy, Soucouyant
Anthony Veasna So, Afterparties
Posted on Brightspace
Rebecca Thomas, “Not Perfect”
Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”
Terry Eagleton, from How to Read Literature (excerpt)
Ellen Carillo, “What is Mindful Reading?” (excerpt)
Brian Maracle, “First words” (story)
Thomas King, “A Coyote Columbus Story” (story)
Emily Dickenson (poems)
T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (poem)
Langston Hughes (poems)
Alice Munro “Boys and Girls” (story)
Alistair MacLeod “The Boat”(story)
Eden Robinson, “Terminal Avenue” (story)
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Fall 2023 | 2
Schedule
Date | Class
Sept. 5
What is Literature?
Sept. 7
What is Literature cont’d.
Sept. 12
Beyond the Printed Page
Sept. 14
Tutorial Introductions
Lecture |Readings | Tutorials
Assignments |
Deadlines
Lecture
Introduction, Syllabus
Thomas, “Not Perfect”
Lecture
Introduction cont’d.
Frost, “The Road Not Taken”
Carillo, “What is Mindful Reading?”
Eagleton, from How to Read Literature
Lecture
Maracle, “First Words”; King, “A Coyote
Columbus Story
Tutorial
Introductions | Paragraphing
Sept. 19
What Good is Shakespeare
Today?
Lecture
Shakespeare, Othello
Sept. 21
Lecture
Shakespeare, Othello
Sept. 26
Shakespeare cont’d
Lecture
Shakespeare, Othello
Sept. 28
Tutorial
Shakespeare
Oct. 3
Lecture
Dickinson, Poems
Oct. 5
Tutorial
Dickinson & Close Reading
Oct. 10
Literature and Truth
Lecture
Douglass, Narrative
Oct. 12
Tutorial
Douglass
Oct. 17
Forbidden Reading
Lecture
Douglass, Narrative
Oct. 19
Tutorial
In-Class Close Reading
Sept. 19: last day to change
or add classes
Perfect Paragraph
Assignment Due Sept.
26th
Oct. 4: last day to drop fall
courses without a “W”
Close Reading Oct. 19
(in tutorial)
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Oct. 24
Literature in a Wasteland
Lecture
Eliot, “Prufrock”; Hughes, Poems
Oct. 26
Lecture
Practice Exam (Optional)
Oct. 31
Short Fiction and Identity
Lecture
Munro, “Boys and Girls”; MacLeod, “The
Boat”
Nov. 2
Tutorial
Thesis and Essay Workshop
Nov. 7
Literature Across Borders
Lecture
Chariandy, Soucouyant
Nov. 9
Tutorial
Chariandy, Soucouyant
Nov. 14
Reading Week
Reading Week
Nov. 16
Reading Week
Reading Week
Nov. 21
Literature and the Limits of
Identity
Nov. 23
Lecture
So, Afterparties
Nov. 28
Imagining Alternative Worlds
Lecture
Robinson, “Terminal Avenue”
Nov. 30
Lecture
Robinson |Exam Review
After End of Classes
Fall 2023 | 3
Practice Exam
(Optional; Online,
handwritten)
Introduction Paragraph
and Thesis Due Nov. 9
Tutorial
So, Afterparties
Final Essay due Dec. 5th
Final Exam TBD*
* Please wait until the exam date has been posted to arrange any travel plans, as the university does not
accept travel as a legitimate reason for arranging a make-up exam.
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Fall 2023 | 4
Tutorials
Thursdays 8:30 – 9:55 am
The purpose of the tutorials is to provide you with the opportunity to engage in focused discussion about
the course material and develop your writing skills. Particular tutorial sessions will also focus on writing,
assignments, and exam review. Regular attendance and informed participation are crucial to the success of
the tutorials and to your success in the course.
Tutorial
T01
T02
T03
TA
Contact
Billy Johson
billyjohnson@dal.ca
Location
McCain Arts & SS 2116
Sir James Dunn
302
McCain Arts & SS 2176
Evaluation
Perfect Paragraph (250-300 words)
10%
Sept. 26
Close Reading (350-500 words)
15%
Oct. 19
Introduction Paragraph and Thesis (~1 pp)
10%
Nov. 9
Final Argumentative Essay (1500-1750 words)
35%
Dec. 5
Exam
20%
TBD*
Participation
10%
-* Please note: the university does not accept travel as a legitimate reason for arranging a make-up exam.
Perfect Paragraph: For this assignment you are asked to compose a single 250-300-word paragraph in
support of a thesis (which will be provided) about a pre-selected poem. The paragraph must contain a
topic sentence, evidence, and analysis. The purpose of the perfect paragraph assignment is to develop your
composition skills by composing a coherent, cohesive, and polished paragraph that persuasively argues a
single point—as close to “perfect” as you can get it.
Close Reading: This in-class writing assignment asks you to compose a short close reading of one of
three pre-selected passages. The close reading will be completed during tutorials on Oct. 19th, and you will
be given the full 80 minutes to compose a well-formed close reading about the meaning and significance
of the selected passage.
Introduction Paragraph and Thesis Statement: For this assignment, you are asked to compose a
polished draft of the introductory paragraph for your final paper (see below). The introductory paragraph
should be not more than one page double-spaced, and not less than half a page double-spaced.
Final Argumentative Essay: For the final argumentative essay, you are asked to write an essay of 15001750 words on one of the texts we studied this semester. You will be provided with a list of prompts and a
rubric by October 17th. The final paper should demonstrate that you have considered and incorporated the
feedback you received on the introductory paragraph and thesis statement assignment. Form and content
will be weighted equally in the assessment of the final essay.
Exam: The exam will be an in-person, written exam. It will cover all material from lectures and assigned
readings. The exam will consist of three written parts: (1) definitions, (2) passage identification and
analysis, and (3) essay question. More information on the final exam will be provided in the middle of
term, and a short practice exam will be held online.
Fall 2023 | 5
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Participation: The assessment of participation is based on both attendance and informed, active
participation in lecture and tutorial discussions. Informed and active participation involves both (1)
completing and contributing to individual and group writing exercises and workshops, and (2)
contributions to class discussions that demonstrate both a strong familiarity with texts and course
materials and consideration of those texts—in short, we want to be sure that you’ve read the texts and
given them some thought.
*Further instructions for each of the course assignments will be posted to Brightspace
Grading Scale
NOTE: You will receive percentage grades for your work in ENGL1025.
Grade
% Value
Definition
Rubric (from University Calendar)
A+
A
A-
Grade
Point
Value
4.30
4.00
3.70
90-100
85-89
80-84
Excellent
B+
B
B-
3.30
3.00
2.70
77-79
73-76
70-72
Good
C+
C
CD
2.30
2.00
1.70
1.00
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
Satisfactory
F
0.00
0-49
Failure
Considerable evidence of original thinking;
demonstrated outstanding capacity to
analyze and synthesize; outstanding grasp of
subject matter; evidence of extensive
knowledge base.
Evidence of grasp of subject matter, some
evidence of critical capacity and analytical
ability; reasonable understanding of relevant
issues; evidence of familiarity with the
literature.
Evidence of some understanding of the
subject matter; ability to develop solutions
to simple problems
Evidence of minimally acceptable familiarity
with subject matter, critical and analytical
skills
Insufficient evidence of understanding of
the subject matter; weakness in critical and
analytical skills; limited or irrelevant use of
the literature.
INC
W
0.00
Neutral
and no
credit
obtained
Neutral
and no
credit
obtained
ILL
Marginal Pass
Incomplete
Withdrew
after deadline
Compassionat
e reasons,
illness
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Fall 2023 | 6
Communication & Office Hours
Please feel free to email me or your TAs with questions, comments, and/or concerns. I will respond within 48
hours, excepting weekends.
I encourage you to visit during my office hours after lecture on Tuesdays (10:15-12:00). If that timeslot does
not work for you, please email me and we will try to arrange an alternate time. You do not have to prepare
anything to visit office hours—you can just come by to chat about the course, texts, or assignments. But if you
would like me to provide feedback and comments on a specific piece of writing (thesis statement, paragraph,
outline, etc.), you should email it to me ahead of time.
Late Policy
Late assignments will be subject to a 2% deduction, per day. Extensions due to illness or extenuating
circumstances may be granted at the discretion of your TA, but they will not be granted after the due date has
passed. If you believe you will require an extension, please contact your TA ASAP. No term work will be
accepted after the date of the final exam.
Academic Integrity and AI Language Models
At Dalhousie University, we are guided in all of our work by the values of academic integrity: honesty, trust,
fairness, responsibility and respect. As a student, you are required to demonstrate these values in all of the
work you do. The University provides policies and procedures that every member of the university community
is required to follow to ensure academic integrity.
Because learning to develop and articulate your own ideas in your own words is a key objective in all English and
Writing Requirement courses, students must be able to analyze, assess, and produce written work on their own.
Work produced through human or machine collaboration (including artificial intelligence language models,
online assignment help tools, and online translation programs) is not permitted. The submission of work
produced using these tools constitutes a serious academic offense.
Territorial Acknowledgement
Dalhousie University is located in K’jipuktuk, within Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the
Mi’kmaq People. The Mi'kmaq People signed Peace and Friendship Treaties with the Crown, and section 35 of
the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and Treaty rights. As teachers and students in
Mi’kma’ki, we have a responsibility to consider what it means to live and work on unceded Indigenous land,
and to bring that awareness to bear on the texts, concepts and methodologies we read, practice, and study.
That is a variation of Dalhousie University’s official Territorial Acknowledgement. When formulaic territorial
acknowledgements are ritually repeated, they can become token gestures rather than meaningful practice. But
such acknowledgements need not be formulaic, and ritual repetition is not necessarily a bad thing. As Metis
scholar Chelsea Vowel writes, “If we think of territorial acknowledgments as sites of potential disruption, they
can be transformative acts that to some extent undo Indigenous erasure. I believe this is true as long as these
acknowledgments discomfit both those speaking and hearing the words” (Beyond Territorial Acknowledgements).
More than a mere “acknowledgement,” then, our recognition of our situatedness on Mi’kmaq territory will
preface our broader investigation into the history, legacy, and ongoing consequences of colonialism over the
course of this semester. We will explore how Indigenous writers—as well as Black writers and other writers of
colour—grapple with and/or critique structures of racism and colonialism in their writing. We will also
consider how settler writers have (or have not) perpetuated, critiqued, or attempted to reckon with colonialism
in their writing. Above all, we’ll aim to critically investigate and challenge our own biases, assumptions, and
beliefs in our encounter with diverse texts.
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Fall 2023 | 7
Dalhousie University Policies and Resources
Student Absence Policy
Short-term Absence
Students experiencing short-term absences of three (3) consecutive days or fewer resulting in missed or late
academic requirements must:
• Contact their instructor by prior to the academic requirement deadline or scheduled time and;
• Complete a Student Declaration of Absence form or provide alternate verification of the absence
to their instructor or their TA, on-line through Brightspace, or via instructor/TA e-mail within
three (3) calendar days following the last day of absence.
A student may submit a maximum of two (2) separate Student Declaration of Absence forms per course
during a term. Faculty, College, School, instructor or course-specific guidelines may set a lower maximum.
Students who have recurring short-term absences and who exceed two (2) submissions per course during a
term are strongly encouraged to meet with a Faculty or Declared Major Advisor, or Faculty Program
Coordinator. In cases of recurring short-term absences, instructors may request documentation to demonstrate
a student has met with an Advisor or Coordinator and arrived at a course of action to manage the recurring
absences before considering alternate academic requirement arrangements.
Long-term Absence
For long-term absences greater than three (3) consecutive days, students should contact their course
instructor(s) or the instructor’s designate within five (5) calendar days following the last day of absence.
The Student Declaration of Absence form will not be accepted for long-term absences. Where long-term
absences are due to major or chronic physical or mental health conditions, documentation must be provided by
on-campus or off-campus primary care health professionals. Documentation should indicate the dates and
duration of the condition (confidential health information of the exact condition is not required), when
possible should describe its impact on the student’s ability to fulfill academic requirements, and include any
other information a primary care health professional considers relevant and appropriate. For extenuating
circumstances resulting in long-term student absences, instructors may request appropriate documentation
depending on the situation.
Students experiencing recurring long-term absences are strongly encouraged to meet with a Faculty or
Declared Major Advisor, or Faculty Program Coordinator and refer to the University’s Student
Accommodation Policy. In such a case, instructors may request documentation to demonstrate a student has
met with an Advisor or Coordinator and arrived at a course of action to manage the recurring absences before
considering alternate academic requirement arrangements.
Internationalization
At Dalhousie, “thinking and acting globally” enhances the quality and impact of education, supporting learning
that is “interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, global in reach, and orientated toward solving problems that extend
across national borders.”
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Fall 2023 | 8
Accessibility
The Student Accessibility Centre is Dalhousie's centre of expertise for matters related to student accessibility
and accommodation.
If there are aspects of the design, instruction, and/or experiences within this course (online or in-person) that
result in barriers to your inclusion please contact the Student Accessibility Centre.
Your classrooms may contain accessible furniture and equipment. It is important that these items remain in
place, undisturbed, so that students who require their use will be able to fully participate.
Conduct in the Classroom
Substantial and constructive dialogue on challenging issues is an important part of academic inquiry and
exchange. It requires willingness to listen and tolerance of opposing points of view. Consideration of
individual differences and alternative viewpoints is required of all class members, towards each other, towards
instructors, and towards guest speakers. While expressions of differing perspectives are welcome and
encouraged, the words and language used should remain within acceptable bounds of civility and respect.
Diversity and Inclusion
Every person at Dalhousie has a right to be respected and safe. We believe inclusiveness is fundamental to
education. We stand for equality. Dalhousie is strengthened in our diversity. We are a respectful and inclusive
community. We are committed to being a place where everyone feels welcome and supported, which is why
our Strategic Direction prioritizes fostering a culture of diversity and inclusiveness (Strategic Priority 5.2).
Code of Student Conduct
Everyone at Dalhousie is expected to treat others with dignity and respect. The Code of Student Conduct
allows Dalhousie to take disciplinary action if students don’t follow this community expectation. When
appropriate, violations of the code can be resolved in a reasonable and informal manner—perhaps through a
restorative justice process. If an informal resolution can’t be reached, or would be inappropriate, procedures
exist for formal dispute resolution.
Fair Dealing policy
The Dalhousie University Fair Dealing Policy provides guidance for the limited use of copyright protected
material without the risk of infringement and without having to seek the permission of copyright owners. It is
intended to provide a balance between the rights of creators and the rights of users at Dalhousie.
Student Use of Course Materials
These course materials are designed for use as part of the Course Code at Dalhousie University and are the
property of the instructor unless otherwise stated. Third party copyrighted materials (such as books, journal
articles, music, videos, etc.) have either been licensed for use in this course or fall under an exception or
limitation in Canadian Copyright law. Copying this course material for distribution (e.g. uploading to a
commercial third-party website) may lead to a violation of Copyright law.
ENGL 1025 LITERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS
Fall 2023 | 9
UNIVERSITY POLICIES, GUIDELINES, AND RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT
Dalhousie courses are governed by the academic rules and regulations set forth in the Academic Calendar and
the Senate.
Important student information, services and resources are available as follows:
University Policies and Programs
• Important Dates in the Academic Year (including add/drop dates)
• Classroom Recording Protocol
• Dalhousie Grading Practices Policy
• Grade Appeal Process
• Sexualized Violence Policy
• Scent-Free Program
Learning and Support Resources
• Academic Support - Advising Halifax
• Student Health & Wellness Centre
• On Track (helps you transition into university, and supports you through your first year at Dalhousie
and beyond)
• Indigenous Student Centre. See also: Indigenous Connection.
• Elders-in-Residence: The Elders in Residence program provides students with access to First Nations
elders for guidance, counsel and support. Visit the office in the Indigenous Student Centre or contact
the program at elders@dal.ca or 902-494-6803.
• Black Student Advising Centre
• International Centre
• South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre
• LGBTQ2SIA+ Collaborative
• Dalhousie Libraries
• Copyright Office
• Dalhousie Student Advocacy Service (DSAS)
• Dalhousie Ombudsperson
• Human Rights & Equity Services
• Writing Centre
• Study Skills/Tutoring
• Department of English Undergraduate Advisor – Dr. Trevor Ross, tross@dal.ca