108P: Popular Potter (002)
Dear Student,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into English 108P, Popular Potter. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and requirements. Now that we are no longer concerned with nurturing iconoclastic heroes, capable of defeating You-Know-Who but incapable of passing their N.E.W.T.s, the Ministry has mandated students must develop their critical reading and writing skills. As a class we will engage in a variety of exercises designed to familiarize students with critical reading strategies and various approaches to literature through J. K. Rowling’s seven volume study of Harry Potter and his role in the Second Wizarding War.
Possible questions to be addressed include: What constitutes a literary reading of a text? What is a close reading? How might a theoretical approach open up a text? What makes a Muggle-born author’s version of events so compelling? How has knowledge of the wizarding world shaped Muggle culture, and—bless them—how have they responded?
Students will be evaluated through a combination of O.W.L.s and practical experience (which should not require trips to the infirmary, unlike the pedagogical practices in some other classes). Written assignments will require students to engage with various literary forms and devices. In particular, students will engage with history (which Muggles call mythology, folklore, and fairy tales), theory, and genre. Students of various houses are expected to collaborate peacefully to produce strong and focused writing.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor J. Harris
Hagey Hall 147a
Contact by owl or email: jennifer.harris@uwaterloo.ca
Office hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 2:30-3:30pm, or by appointment or chance
All students should have a copy of each of the following
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
*Any editions excepting those published by Edwardus Lima, which should be bound and apparatedimmediately to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Objects
Ministry Approved Requirements
Apparition (25 3/4 %)
Apparition has three important components, determination, deliberation, and destination. Ideally you will master all three. There is little point in getting somewhere if you are missing your head--isn’t that right Mr. Goyle?
Determination (9 3/4 %)
Attendance. You will show up to class. Every class. If you miss more than three classes and fewer than five, you will receive a Troll grade for attendance. If you miss half or more classes, you will receive a Troll grade for the course as a whole. Peeves cannot be used as an excuse more than once.
Deliberation (8 %)
You will be prepared for class; will participate in large and small group discussions, will stay on task during group work, and will contribute to the work of your House. You will be awake and alert in class and interested and invested in your own learning as well as the learning of your classmates. This means you, Malfoy.
Destination (8 %)
You will read the novels. If you have already read them, you will read them again for this class. You will not imagine, nor will you behave as if watching the movies could possibly substitute for reading the bloody books. This means you, Ronald Weasley.
House Membership (10 %)
Each student will be assigned to a house. As a member of that house, each student will contribute to the work of the house and earn points for their house by contributing to the individual and collective success
of their fellows. This especially includes online discussions, wonderful for those who are less comfortable speaking in class. Periodically, as per our timetable, you will shift houses. The houses are as follows:
- Nomenclature: responsible for tracing the etymology of names and spells.
- Divination: bears responsibility for tracing foreshadowing within and across the novels.
- Magical Creatures and Spirit Guides: bears responsibility for tracing the mythological forebears of all magical creatures and spirit guides in the novels.
- Archetypes: responsible for identifying archetypal characters in the novels and relating appearances of these archetypes to their appearances in prior mythological and literary works.
Each House will bring its ongoing research, deliberations, and contributions to the full class during each class meeting. Houses will earn points by the quality of individual contributions to discussion by their members, as well as by the quality of the collective contribution of the House to our understanding of each novel through the quality of research the House provides. Houses will lose points for a dearth of research and/or preparation and/or participation. At the close of the course, a House Cup will be awarded. Members of the House receiving the Cup will be bountifully rewarded.
Essay (25 %)
You are responsible for one original assignment composed entirely by yourself in formal academic writing. Should you be unsure what constitutes formal academic writing, assume Professor McGonagall is judging you. The essay includes a proposal and annotated bibliography, as well as an in-class peer review component. More details are on Learn.
O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) (15 %)
The Ministry of Magic regrets that student reliance on spell-check charmed quills has led to the mistranscriptions of spells resulting in several lamentable incidents. To this end, there will be at least one in-class writing topic or activity per week using Muggle writing utensils. These will consist either of writing whatever you can in a few minutes about a given topic or taking part in another activity related to writing. Our desire is to get you writing, or thinking and generating ideas about writing, as well as to provide an opportunity for feedback. Accordingly, parchments will be marked as much for your effort and attempt than for producing a specific outcome. If you have any concerns about your ability to participate in these in-class assignments and activities, please see me to discuss options for helping you take part. As these quickwrites build into your work in the class, they must be done and handed in when assigned; there are no makeups for missed assignments. The best ten quickwrites will count towards your final grade.
N.E.W.T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test, 25%)
Otherwise known as a final exam, usually held in a large recreational hall on campus. It tests your knowledge of the key concepts, literary terms, and contextual materials presented during lectures, as well as your ability to make connections between them and the novels. If you should require special accommodations, please contact AccessAbility Services sufficiently in advance.
Spoiler Alert
Jan 6 - Syllabus - Sorting, the first
Jan 8-13 - Sorcerer’s Stone
Jan 15-20 - Chamber of Secrets Sorting, the second
Jan 22-27 - Prisoner of Azkaban
Jan 29-Feb 5 - Goblet of Fire Sorting, the third
Feb 10 - “Writing a Research Paper”
Feb 12 - Order of the Phoenix
Feb 17-12 - Reading Week
Feb 24 - no class
Mar 2 - Order of the Phoenix Proposal/Bibliography Due
Mar 4 - Order of the Phoenix
Mar 9-16 - Half-Blood Prince Sorting, the final
Mar 18-25 - Deathly Hallows
Mar 30 - Peer review Printed draft due in class
Apr 1 - Final essay due; exam review; House Cup awarded
Sortings to occur: Jan 6th, Jan 20th, Feb 5th, Mar 11th
Rules and Regulations
Late Work
Late assignments will be docked 5% the first day and 2% every subsequent day. After one week late assignments will not be accepted.
Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Electronic Devices
- Laptops and comparable technologies to assist note-taking are permitted in class. You are expected to close any other programs except those which facilitate note-taking. Please do not record classroom lectures or activities without permission. Institutional-required statements for undergraduate course outlines approved by Senate Undergraduate Council, April 14, 2009
Decree for Academic Integrity
In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. See the UWaterloo Academic Integrity webpage and the Arts Academic Integrity webpage for more information. Cordially refrain from asking Hermione Granger for help with your homework.
Decree of Discipline
A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. 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. (Please note Argus Filch is not authorized to make such decisions.) 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.
Regulations on Grievances
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.
Ministry Policy on 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.
Ministry Liaison Office for Students with Disabilities
The AccessAbility Services office, located on the first floor of the Needles Hall extension (NH 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 AS office at the beginning of each academic term rather than wait for the Room of Requirements to appear.
Mesdames Bermingham and Ashdown, Purveyors of Aids to Conscientious Students, are proud to present the Writing and Communication Centre
The Writing and Communication Centre works across all faculties to help students clarify their ideas, develop their voices, and write in the style appropriate to their disciplines. Centre staff offer one-on-one support in planning assignments and presentations, using and documenting research, organizing and structuring papers, and revising for clarity and coherence. You can make multiple appointments throughout the term, or drop in at the Library for quick questions or feedback. To book a 50-minute appointment and to see drop-in hours, visit their page. Group appointments for team-based projects, presentations, and papers are also available. Please note that writing specialists guide you to see your work as readers would. They can teach you revising skills and strategies, but will not proof-read or edit for you. Please bring hard copies of your assignment instructions and any notes or drafts to your appointment. Despite popular perception, it is not unplottable.