An Introduction to Literature 1

Instructor: Dr. Ruzbeh Babaee

Email: rbabaei30@yahoo.ca

Classroom: Online

Meeting Day: Saturday

Office Hours: 11-12:30

Course Description
This course is designed for students who wish to develop a foundational understanding of
literary study, inquiry, and analysis. This course is organized around literary genres, and thus
will introduce students to the fundamentals of fiction, poetry, and drama. This course will
also question the boundaries of genre and of the category "literature" itself. Throughout the
semester, we will reflect on the central questions: "What is Literature" and "Why do we study
it"? After successfully completing this class, students will be equipped with the basic critical
vocabulary and toolset for engaging in literary study. They will be prepared to analyze
literary voice, tone, symbol, motif, theme, character, plot, and point of view among other
literary aspects.

Course Objectives
 To practice and obtain analytical discussion skills.
 To evaluate the literary merit of works read and move beyond making unsupported
value judgments about the readings.
 To formulate a stance on readings and defend it through the text, personal experience,
and/or current and historical events.

Week 1:
Introduction
Definition Of Literature: What Is Literature?

Week 2:
Importance of Literature in English
Genres of Literature

Week 3:
What is Fiction?
Elements of the Story (Fiction)

Week 4:
Reading and Analysing “The Most dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
“A very Short Story” by Ernest Hemingway for discussion board

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Week 5:
Reading and Analysing “Japanese Quince” by John Galsworthy
“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker for discussion board

Week 6:
Reading and Analysing “Miss Brill” Katherine Mansfield
“Misery” by Chekov for discussion board

Week 7:
Reading and Analysing “Kew Gardens” by Virginia Woolf
“Cat in the Rain” by Ernest Hemingway for discussion board

Week 8:
Reading and Analysing “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury for discussion board

Week 9:
“To Build a Fire” by Jack London
“Hunter Gracchus” by Kafka for discussion board

Week 10:
What is Drama?
Elements of Drama

Week 11:
Play analysis

Week 12:
What is Poetry?
Elements of the Poem (Poetry)

Week 13:
Poetry Analysis

Week 14:
Poetry Analysis

Class Format
The format of this class is online. Your skills, motivation, and work ethic are assumed to be
high. We will not have remedial activities, “busy work,” or other activities that do not fully
support our tasks: reading, interpreting, discussing, and writing about literature. The
majority of time you spend related to this course will be outside of class, reading and
responding to literary and critical texts. While reading, you will write responses to the
reading in the online discussion board.
In class, much of our time will focus on discussing issues and ideas raised in the novels.
Every student is expected to participate in discussion activities. Good discussion skills
include regular participation; thoughtful, well-founded contributions (not just talking a lot);
listening attentively; and responding intelligently to others’ ideas.

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Grading
Class Discussion—about 20%
Discussion board—about 30%
Final exam or essay 50%

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the deceptive use of someone else’s words or ideas as if they were your own.
Plagiarism is considered to be theft, lying, and cheating all rolled up into one. In this course,
the consequences for plagiarism include failure and removal from the course.