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ENGL 1021
Composition and Indigenous Literature in Canada I

3.0 Credits

Description

ENGL 1021 (previously ENGL 102) is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the grammar, writing mechanics, composition, literary analysis and essay writing skills required in traditional first year university English courses. However, this course also gives you an opportunity to study a wide range of Canadian Indigenous literature and orature, including auto-biographies, speeches, essays, short stories, legends, myths, and oral storytelling in both traditional and contemporary forms. The literary selections emphasize works from the twentieth-century to the present day, by authors who come from many diverse communities across Canada.

As well as gaining a solid grounding in writing personal narrative, expository persuasive amd research essays, students will have options of telling an oral story of their own and carrying out primary interview research in assignments. For students who wish to continue their study of Indigenous literature after completing this course, the ENGL 1031 course, also three credits, presents Native novels, drama, and poetry.

Delivery Method

Delivery is self-paced, allowing you the flexibility to proceed through the course according to your own schedule. You have the option of taking this course in either a print or web version. TRU-Open Learning has no admission requirements and you can register for this course at any time throughout the year.

Prerequisites

English 12 or equivalent

Exclusions

This course satisfies the first half of the introductory English literature and composition requirement of TRU-Open Learning degrees. Students with credit for ENGL 1001, ENGL 1019 or SFU's ENGL101 may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for ENGL 1021 may not take ENGL 1061 or SFU's ENGL199 for further credit in some programs..

Objectives

This course will acquaint you with the range and power of written English, from the core components of its sentence structure to the beauty, subtlety and strength it commands when used by skilful Indigenous writers. By the time you have completed this course you should be able to:

  • Describe stylistic writing devices, such as imagery, metaphor, simile, and irony.
  • Write a personal narrative developed around a limited, focused theme..
  • Describe recurrent characteristics and themes in Indigenous oral and written literature, in both fiction and non-fiction genres..
  • Evaluate various tones and levels of language in literature.
  • Distinguish between literature and orature in Indigenous works.
  • Analyze in essay form the role of narrative elements in short stories, such as point of view, theme, plot, characterization, and setting.
  • Apply elements of orature, such as tone, theme, humour and voice, in a personal oral story.
  • Write a persuasive essay that makes a convincing argument.
  • Write a research essay that meets academic disciplinary standards, including the MLA citation style.
  • Apply the essentials of grammar and composition skills effectively in various forms of essay writing.

Course Outline

  • Unit 1: Personal Narrative
  • Unit 2: Exposition and Persuasion
  • Unit 3: Short Stories-Realism
  • Unit 4: Oral Tradition
  • Unit 5: Short Stories II-Legends and Myths
  • Unit 6: Writing a Research Paper

Maximum Completion

30 weeks

Required Text and Materials

Students will receive all course materials including the textbook in their course package.

  1. Daniel David Moses and Terry Goldie, eds. An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English. 3rd Edition. Toronto: Oxford UP, 2005.
    Type: Textbook ISBN: 9780195420784 / 0195420780
  1. Sarah Norton & Brian Green. The Bare Essentials. 7th ed. Toronto: Nelson Education Ltd, 2011.
    Type: Textbook ISBN: 9780176503260 / 0176503269

Additional Requirements

Access to a DVD player and viewer

Access to a CD player

Open Learning Faculty Member Information

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Primary communication is by phone if you are taking the print version of the course. You will receive a welcome letter from the Open Learning Faculty Member providing contact information when you start the course.

Assessment

ENGL 1021 includes a mandatory written final exam, which will test your knowledge of the writing mechanics, composition and literary analysis skills that have been addressed throughout the course. To successfully complete the course, you must achieve at least 50% overall in the course, and at least 50% on the mandatory final exam. The table below shows how your final grade will be determined for this course.

Assignment 1: Personal Narrative 10%
Assignment 2: Literary Analysis 10%
Assignment 3: Oral Story 5%
Assignment 4: Persuasive Essay 20%
Assignment 5: Research Paper 15%
Final Exam (mandatory) 40%
Total 100%

Please refer to the Student Handbook for a list of permitted exam sessions and locations, the exam application form, and detailed information on how to select and schedule a final written exam session.



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