University of Waterloo—Department of English Language and Literature ENGL108A: The Superhero, Section 001 Winter 2020
Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00-2:20, HH 150
Instructor Information
Instructor: David Shakespeare
Office: HH369
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:45-12:45 and 2:30-3:00
e-mail: rdshakespeare@uwaterloo.ca
T.A. Name: T.A. e-mail:
Winter 2020 Course Description
Although we will take the term “superhero” largely as a given, this class will investigate various iterations of the superhero across millennia, though with a focus almost exclusively on figures from the twentieth century. We will consider such questions as the roles and representations of superheroes, their struggles and antagonists, and their genres and media. We will read some prose fiction, but also comic books, and consider other adaptations, such as film and television.
Course Goals and Learning Outcomes
- At the conclusion of the course, successful students should be able to
- identify and describe the role of a hero and superhero in a narrative
- focus on the details of text and image to develop an advanced reading of a superhero text
- understand and use the term genre and the conventions of the superhero genre
- deploy a critical vocabulary through learning and applying literary terminology
- think critically and communicate effectively, especially about superheroes and comics
- develop abilities to write for an academic audience through tests, an exam, and an essay
- engage with your peers through discussion to develop a sophisticated response to literature
Required Texts
- Online—link posted to the course Learn website
- Nietzsche, Friedrich. Thus Spake Zarathustra.
- Eastman, Kevin and Peter Laird.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. Hard Copy—available through the UW bookstore Course Reader—contains readings not available online
- Anon. The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin edition; Sandars translation)
- Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book One (issues #1-4)
- Coogler, Ryan, dir. Black Panther
- Stapledon, Olaf. Odd John (Orbit/Gollancz)
Text on Reserve
At some points in the term, we will make use of Scott McCloud’s indispensable study of comics, Understanding Comics. You are not required to read this book, but you may want to refer to it. It will be on reserve for the winter term at the St. Jerome’s library.
|
Course Requirements and Assessments Assessment |
Date |
Weight |
|---|---|---|
|
Essay 1: Gilgamesh, Zarathustra, Odd John |
February 12 |
20% |
|
Essay 2 : Comic Book Heroes |
March 25 |
30% |
|
Participation |
Ongoing |
15% |
|
Final Examination |
t.b.d. (6 December – 21 December) |
35% |
* Brief descriptions of the assignment follow; full details will be supplied as we approach the deadlines.
Essays – 20% and 30%
The major assessments for the course will be argumentative essays of approximately 1700 and 2000 words, or 5-6 double-spaced, typed pages. You will be asked to develop a topic from a given list and argue your interpretation of the texts in question. You will be required to integrate at least two secondary sources into your argument. We will have a class devoted to writing in the English discipline on 15 January and a peer editing session on 16 March for the second, more substantial of the essays. Essay topics will be distributed prior to their due dates, but if you would like to develop your own topic, you must first have instructor approval.
Essay Submission and Collection
The essay can be submitted to the dropbox on Learn, no more than one hour after class begins, to be counted as on time. If your work is on the due date but late, it will receive a penalty of 1.5%; following that, a penalty of 3% per day will be deducted. See late work policy for details. The essay will be returned to you with grade and commentary, 2 weeks after the submission date.
Final Examination – 35%
An examination to be written during the examination period (8 April – 25 April) will be the final component of the course and will cover all material from the course, with emphasis on the final two units (Black Panther and Ninja Turtles), but also covering material from the course as a whole. Without official, often medical, documentation, there will be no possibility of a deferral or a make-up; you need to take this into consider when making any travel plans.
Participation – 15%
In class, it will be beneficial for you to contribute to class discussions to ensure that your ideas are heard by an appropriate audience; your peers and I have much to learn, and this learning can be done only if you contribute your ideas and questions consistently. The best way to make a significant contribution to the class proceedings is to come to class with the material read and some ideas to offer or questions to ask. On some days, we will engage in small group discussions which will provide reticent students the opportunity to speak to a smaller audience (though not enough to achieve a full score for participation).
Here is how I grade participation marks: at the end of every class, I mark down whether you said one or more significant things in class (i.e. beyond answering “yes” or “no”). If you said one thing, I award you one point; if you say more than one thing, I award you two points. At the end of the term, I add up all of the points for the class. Assuming that there is robust class participation throughout the semester, the person with the most points will be awarded 15 out of 15 for participation. Students with fewer points than that get marked down incrementally by half marks. Note that this is not a competition: I am perfectly willing to award all students in the course 15 out of 15, provided that everyone participates equally. Also note that attendance is not counted, so you will not be able to participate in discussions if you are not here, and there may be some days in which we do group work where everyone present would receive some participation.
Note also that you will be marked on your contributions to the peer editing session by completing an editing form and submitting it to the instructor at the end of the session. Failure to complete this form and submit it will result in a 3% penalty.
Note that you will also receive a 3% penalty in participation for failing to attend a meeting with the T.A. at some point in the semester.
Course Schedule
Note that while the assignment deadlines are firm, we might alter the schedule to ensure that we cover the material; and we might have to adjust the schedule due to winter weather; check the Learn site often for announcements.
|
Date |
Class |
Readings and Assignments |
|---|---|---|
|
January 6 |
Introduction |
|
|
January 8 |
The Earliest Superhero? |
The Epic of Gilgamesh, pp. 61-96 |
|
January 13 |
The Earliest Superhero? |
The Epic of Gilgamesh, pp. 97-119 |
|
January 15 |
Essay Writing in the English Discipline |
|
|
January 20 |
Writing and Communication Centre Presentation The Ubermensch “The First Superman” |
Thus Spake Zarathustra – see link on Learn Odd John, pp. 1-55 |
|
January 22 |
“The First Superman” |
Odd John, pp. 56-111 (ch. X is optional) |
|
January 27 |
“The First Superman” |
Odd John, pp. 112-165 |
|
January 29 |
“The First Superman” |
Odd John, pp. 165-208 |
|
February 3 |
Library Visit Superman Begins |
Course Reader: Superman #1 |
|
February 5 |
Superman and Supervillain |
Course Reader: Superman pp. 110-22 |
|
February 10 |
Superman and Supergirl |
Course Reader: Superman pp. 123-31 |
|
February 12 |
* Class Cancelled * |
Submit 1st essay to course dropbox |
|
February 17, 19 |
Winter Reading Week: No Classes Scheduled |
|
|
February 24 |
Super Woman |
Course Reader: Wonder Woman pp. 12-40 |
|
February 26 |
Super Woman |
Course Reader: Wonder Woman pp. 74-86 |
|
March 4 |
Super Woman |
Course Reader: Wonder Woman pp. 97-106 |
|
March 9 |
Super African Man |
Black Panther #1 & #2 |
|
March 11 |
Super African Man |
Black Panther #3 & #4 |
|
March 16 |
Peer Editing: Essays |
bring in 2 copies of your final essays |
|
March 18 |
Super African Man |
Film Screening: Black Panther |
|
March 23 |
Super African Man |
Film Screening: Black Panther; Black Panther’s First Appearance (see end of Coates/Stelfreeze) |
|
March 25 |
Super Mutant Team |
Course Reader, online link: Ninja Turtles Submit 2nd essay to course dropbox |
|
March 30 |
Super Mutant Team |
Course Reader, online link: Ninja Turtles |
|
April 1 |
Conclusion |
Course Policies
Late Work
All assignments are to be submitted on the due date by no later than one hour after the class begins. Late essays will be penalized at a rate of 3% per day, including weekends. No assignments will be accepted seven (7) days after the deadline. To avoid penalties, prepare your work well in advance. If you have legitimate (often medical) documentation to provide the instructor, you will be exempt from the late penalty, and a new deadline will be set for you if it is a medical emergency. Otherwise, you must notify the instructor in advance; no extensions will be granted after the deadline. If you are granted an extension for legitimate reasons, you and the instructor will decide on a new deadline.
Electronic Device Policy
Your attention and involvement in class discussions and lectures is crucial to your success in the course. Should you require a device (e.g. a laptop) to take notes during lectures, you may do so; however, if you are distracting students around you, the instructor will ask you to use an alternative note-taking method. Students should keep all other electronic devices in bags or pockets for the duration of the class. Students found using these will be asked to put them away or to leave the class if they are caught using them.
Attendance Policy
Your participation in class discussions will be essential to the development of your own ideas and those of your peers. This can only be accomplished if you are on time to and present at all classes and contribute to the class in a significant way.
University Policies
Cross-listed course
Please note that a cross-listed course will count in all respective averages no matter under which rubric it has been taken. For example, a PHIL/PSCI cross-list will count in a Philosophy major average, even if the course was taken under the Political Science rubric.
Academic Integrity
In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. See the UWaterloo Academic Integrity webpage for more information.
Discipline:
A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. Check the Office of Academic Integrity for more information. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties.
Grievances and Appeals Grievance:
A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4. When in doubt, please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.
Appeals:
A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 - Student Appeals.
Accomodation for people with disabilities
Note for students with disabilities:
The AccessAbility Services office, located on the first floor of the Needles Hall extension (room 1401), collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the AccessAbility Services office at the beginning of each academic term.
Other Notices
Mental Health Services
On-Campus
- Counselling Services: counselling.services@uwaterloo.ca / 519-888-4567 ext. 32655
- MATES: one-to-one peer support program offered by Federation of Students (FEDS) and Counselling Services
- Health Services Emergency service: located across the creek from Student Life Centre
Off-campus, 24/7
- Good2Talk: Free confidential help line for post-secondary students. Phone: 1-866-925-5454
- Grand River Hospital: Emergency care for mental health crisis. Phone: 519-749-433 ext. 6880
- Here 24/7: Mental Health and Crisis Service Team. Phone: 1-844-437-3247
- OK2BME: set of support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning teens in Waterloo. Phone: 519-884-0000 extension 213
Full details can be found online at the Faculty of ARTS website. Download UWaterloo and regional mental health resources (PDF). Download the WatSafe app to your phone to quickly access mental health support information.
Territorial Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are living and working on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (also known as Neutral), Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometres on each side of the Grand River.