Reading Poetry

Curriculum guideline

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Course
ENGL 1114
Discontinued
No
Course code
ENGL 1114
Descriptive
Reading Poetry
Department
English
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week; Seminar 2 hours/week

or

Hybrid: 2 hours/week in class; 2 hours/week online

or

Fully online

Method(s) of instruction
Hybrid
Online
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

Some or all of the following methods will be used:

  1. Lecture/discussion
  2. Group work
  3. Peer review
  4. Instructor feedback on students’ work
  5. Individual consultation
Course description
In this course students will learn to closely read, interpret and write about poetry. The poems assigned will be various in nature and will cover a range of poets and poetic forms.
Course content

All first-year English literature courses share the following features:

  1. Students are instructed in the writing of analytical essays on literary subjects.
  2. Students are taught to recognize and understand a variety of literary devices and textual elements, such as metaphor, symbolism, distinctions between author and narrator/narrating persona, and issues of language and of structure, as appropriate to the genres and texts studied.
  3. Readings and topics vary among sections of the same course, according to each instructor’s selection; however, all course materials are consistent with the objectives of the course. 

In English 1114, students will focus on detailed analysis of poems.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of any first-year English literature course, the successful student should be able to

  1. read analytically and reflectively with attention to the subtleties of language;
  2. recognize and understand literary devices;
  3. practice writing as a process involving pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing;
  4. write an essay of literary analysis that develops an argumentative thesis supported by appropriate, correctly integrated and cited evidence; and
  5. give and receive constructive criticism on written work.

Upon completion of English 1114, the successful student should also be able to recognize and understand a range of poetic devices and features, including

  1. A poem’s situation and speaker;
  2. Theme;
  3. Poetic forms (open / free verse versus closed or constraint-driven forms, such as the ballad, sonnet or lipogram);
  4. Emotional tone (such as irony);
  5. Figurative language (such as imagery, metaphor and symbolism);
  6. Literary allusions;
  7. Diction (such as formal versus colloquial, and the differences between denotative and connotative meaning);
  8. Syntax and other details of grammar and style (such as enjambment);
  9. Prosody and sound effects (such as alliteration, rhythm and rhyme).
Means of assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

  1. A minimum of two formal academic essays, with a combined value of at least 40% of the course grade.
  2. A minimum of 80% of the course grade will be based on writing assignments such as essays, essay-based exams, journals or paragraphs. A maximum of 20% of the course grade may be based on informal writing such as quizzes or short answer tests, and/or non writing-intensive assignments such as oral reports, presentations, participation or preparation.
Textbook materials

A list of required textbooks and materials will be provided for students at the beginning of the semester.

Sample reading list:

  • Selections from an anthology (such as The Broadview Anthology of Poetry or The Seagull Reader: Poems)
  • A coursepack or online resources with additional readings
  • One or more poetry volumes (such as Adrienne Rich, The Dream of a Common Language or Lee Maracle, Talking to the Diaspora)
Prerequisites

Any College entrance Language Proficiency Requirement with the exceptions of the Douglas College Course Options in ELLA or ENGU and the assessments listed below. These require the specified higher standard for entry into CMNS, CRWR and ENGL courses.
• a minimum grade of C- in ELLA 0460, or a minimum grade of C- in both ELLA 0465 and 0475, OR
• a minimum grade of C- in ENGU 0450 or ENGU 0455 or ENGU 0490, OR
• Mastery in ELLA 0330 and any two of ELLA 0310, 0320, or 0340, OR
• TOEFL overall score of 83 with a minimum of 21 in Writing, OR
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0; for individual bands below 6.0:
       • if in Speaking, ELLA 0210 required
       • if in Reading or Listening, ELLA 0220 required
       • if in Writing, ELLA 0230 and ELLA 0240 required
OR
• CLB score of 8, OR
• CEFR level B2+, OR
• CAEL minimum overall and essay score of 70 (computer or paper based), OR
• recognized equivalent or exemption.

Which prerequisite

In combination with another 1100-level English or CRWR course (as per College calendar requirements), this course may serve as a prerequisite for any 2nd year English course.