ENGL 101A W23 El Mekkawi

ENGL 101A 

General Information: 

  • Hours:  Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 pm-3:50 pm
  • Location: HH 334
  • Term: Winter 2023
  • Instructor: Lara El Mekkawi
  • Office: PAS 2216
  • Email: lelmekka@uwaterloo.ca
  • Office Hours: Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., or by appointment online

I. Course Description: 

An introduction to the study of literature, covering such areas of enquiry as literary history, genre, criticism, analysis, and theory.

  • Detailed Description:

This course assumes that the study of literature is vital because it is through literature that we train our imaginations and emotions, become agile critical thinkers, and gain facility with interpreting language. Ideally, our study of literature in this course will be part joyful, part challenging, a little gut-wrenching, hopefully a bit exasperating, and with any luck, inspiring, even transformative.

Our course is designed to let you engage with an eclectic mix of texts so that you can see that the study of literature offers a diverse range of possibilities. Our literary texts, which include poetry, short stories, and one novel, are predominantly contemporary ones (with a few notable exceptions). Ideally, you’ll find that our texts allow you to challenge yourself to reconsider our social world and the role literature and language plays in it.

As well, our mix of texts will let us ask questions like, “how does language/literature both empower and disempower?”; “how does language/literature both reflect and participate in various systems of power?”; and “how do reading practices differ according to the kind of text we’re reading?”.

As we address these questions and more, you will develop your abilities to analyse language and literature and to communicate your interpretations effectively. In order to enhance your close reading skills, you will be gaining skills in using literary terms and applying the tools of narrative theory. You will, as well, gain experience in using literary criticism to enhance your own interpretations of texts. You will thereby also develop skills in using sources ethically and documenting them exactly. As you will see, your key goal throughout the term will be to flex your own intellectual and creative muscles so as to gain the confidence and skill to form your own insights about what we’re reading, but part of the way you can do this is by considering what others say and subsequently finding a place for your own voice in the conversation.

Our aim in this course will be to develop a community of learning, so be prepared to read and think actively and to communicate your ideas with me and your colleagues.

  • Managing Our Uncertain Times

We’re, of course, going to hope that conditions remain such that we’ll make it through the term without a disruption to our in-person classes. Nevertheless, we’re best to be prepared for whatever might come.

Firstly, it will be the responsibility of us all to stay up-to-date regarding Health and Safety protocols and to ensure that we’re complying with requirements: On-campus Health and Safety Requirements

Secondly, we will best keep each other safe if we listen to our bodies and stay home if we are ill and/or suspect we are ill and/or if we have been advised to self-isolate/quarantine. You are expected to stay home from class if you find yourself in one of these situations; and of course, as long as you are well and free from quarantine, you are expected to attend class.

As you will see, creating notes that capture our in-person meetings will be a responsibility that everyone will share throughout the term (see “Academic Citizenship – Group Notetaking” below), so if you face an extenuating circumstance, you will have a means of accessing what we discussed in class.

Remember that the university is a professional place, so demonstrating your professionalism is essential, and that means many things in our uncertain times, including but not limited to the following:

  • Showing your commitment to the class and missing class only when you must due to an extenuating circumstance like illness or suspected illness (Please remember that providing you access to the narrated lecture slides is added work for me, so do not abuse the opportunity that you have, but also remember that it’s totally okay for you to ask to access the recorded content if you’re facing an extenuating circumstance.)
  • Taking responsibility for any necessary absence by requesting access to available recorded content and by consulting class notes so as to ensure you are achieving the learning outcomes of the course
  • Ensuring that you understand university expectations and course policies (see below) regarding the pursuit of accommodations and how to self-declare an illness or isolation appropriately
  • Following health and safety protocols with exactness and consistency and thereby doing your part to prevent the spread of illness

And one final note: Of course, I too may be impacted by illness, suspected illness, or self-isolation/quarantine. Depending upon what’s most appropriate to the situation, we would be able to catch-up on any missed lecture material in a later in-person class, meet synchronously on-line, or be able to put to use recorded narrated slide presentations.

The moral of this long story is, yes, we will still be living amidst uncertainty, but we will have means of ensuring that we can continue forth and achieve the goals of this course even if our circumstances do not remain ideal.

Information about Assessment and Vaccination on campus.

II. Course Goals and/or Learning Outcomes

  • Gain skills in literary interpretation by studying (and hopefully enjoying) interesting and challenging texts that let us explore the value of literature and literary studies in our contemporary world
  • Develop the skills of close critical reading by gaining an introductory understanding of discourse analysis, the use of literary terms, and the tools of narrative theory
  • Become knowledgeable about the socio-historical context of assigned texts, including aspects of literary history
  • Build skills in written communication, including essay writing skills such as effective argumentation, structure, and grammar
  • Gain an introductory understanding of using critical material, including developing an understanding of effective research skills.
  • Achieve understanding and respect for matters of academic integrity, including the skills of ethical use of sources
  • Participate in a community of learners wherein you can engage in conversation (both written and oral) effectively, demonstrate understanding of how to communicate clearly, attract interest in your ideas, establish your credibility, and demonstrate respect for the ideas of others

III. Required Texts

The majority of our required readings are to be found via Course Reserves. Otherwise, there are two required texts that are available for purchase through the UW bookstore. Having an alternate edition is completely acceptable, but be aware that you might find it difficult to follow lectures if your page numbers are different from the edition assigned.

  • Hage, Rawi. DeNiro’s Game
  • Simpson, Leanne Betasamosake. The Accident of Being Lost.  

Digital versions of both texts can be purchased here: https://uwaterloo-store.vitalsource.com/

Note: You should be marking up your texts substantially – noting important themes or word choices, asking questions, etc. If you can do that kind of active reading with e-versions, then that’s great, but if you’re doubtful that you’d be an active reader while reading on a screen, I’d recommend using hard copies of the two required texts and printing your course reserves, conserving on paper as you are able, of course. I’d recommend gathering all your readings at the start of term and making yourself a e-folder or hard copy binder so that you have all your course materials together and ready to go.

Grammar Handbook: Any person who does a lot of writing (or even just a little) should have access to a grammar handbook. I would suggest the following:

The Little, Brown Handbook or The Little, Brown Compact Handbook

A Canadian Writer’s Reference

Essay Writing Handbook: As well, if you think you need a refresher on your essay writing skills and/or want to know more about writing in a literary studies context, I’d highly recommend the following:

Acheson, Katherine O. Writing Essays about Literature: A Brief Guide for University and College Students. (ISBN: 9781554815517)

IV. Course Policies & Related Information

  • Contacting Me

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss your writing, to seek assistance or clarification, or to raise questions/concerns pertaining to coursework.  I am readily available via email at lelmekka@uwaterloo.ca.  Although I will be checking the discussion boards and my email often, I do require 24 hours to respond.  If you would like to arrange a virtual meeting, please send me an email and we’ll arrange a time and date.

  • LEARN and MS Teams

We will have a MS Teams channel set up for the course for easy communication. We will use LEARN for assignment submission and content. In the event that we will need to have a virtual class, we will use MS Teams. Please make sure to have access to these two platforms.

  • General Assignment Guidelines

MLA will be our citation format. MLA conventions for citations changed substantially in 2016 with the publishing of the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook, so be wary of older handbooks as sources for learning MLA formatting. The current edition of the MLA Handbook is the 9th.

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab is an excellent, up-to-date guide for many citation formats, including MLA: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_style_introduction.html

Please utilize 12-point Times New Roman font and double space your work. 

  • Submission of Assignments

Unless otherwise stated on individual assignment sheets, all written work for this class must be submitted online via Learn and inserted into their corresponding dropboxes in PDF or DOC.

  • Extensions and Late Submissions
  • Points associated with homework assignments/in-class activities may not be made-up after the fact. Please contact your instructor if unforeseen circumstances arise that affect your ability to attend class and/or upload your homework assignments.
  • Deadlines for group assignments and presentations will not be rescheduled unless exceptional circumstances arise. Please contact your instructor as soon as possible if you anticipate requiring accommodations for a group assignment.
  • For the course’s individually authored “Written Submission” assignments, each student may take up to three calendar-day extensions TOTAL at their own discretion (i.e. you could turn in three assignments one day late, OR one assignment three days late, OR a combination that adds up to three days overall). You are not required to ask permission for these extensions, but you must remember to (a) upload the completed assignment to the appropriate LEARN dropbox.

V. Assignments and Assessment

  • Academic Citizenship and Group Notetaking

Due: on the Monday after your group’s assigned week

Value: 5%

For most weeks of the course, a group will be assigned to produce class notes. The notes will represent the class meetings from your assigned week. What your group produces will be posted as a resource for the class.

  • Group Presentations: Critical Text Summary and Response (20-25 minutes)

Due: By assignment

Value: 15%

Groups of 3-4 will create a 20–35-minute presentation that requires you to summarize  and respond to an assigned text or excerpt of a text.

Your goal will be twofold: 1. Demonstrate your ability to synthesize the most important aspects of your text and communicate this synthesis effectively/ethically; and 2. Offer a thoughtful response to the text’s ideas, showing how the text befits its designated genre. You will be required to refer to a scholarly article to bolster your argument. This will allow you to practice and build skills regarding the effective use of scholarly articles (namely, quoting/paraphrasing, synthesizing, and applying).You will be graded on content, presentation, and delivery. A more comprehensive rubric will be available on LEARN.

  • Close Reading Essay (3-4 pages, double-space, MLA style)

Due: February. 13

Value: 10%

  • This assignment requires that you conduct a close critical reading of an assigned excerpt of the Rawi Hage’s novel, DeNiro’s Game. By focussing your attention on the features of a text (so, for example, significant repetitions or word choices, significant uses of figurative language, significant aspects of narrative point of view), you will be able to offer a detailed interpretation of the work’s significance. As such, this assignment will allow you to develop your interpretation skills and ensure that you are capable of forming in-depth analyses of literature. Full guidelines are available on LEARN.
  • Literary Analysis Essay (6-7 pages, double-spaced, MLA style)

Date: March 20, 22, 27

Value: 20%

  • 2.5 % Proposal/Outline Final Essay (2 pages, double spaced) (March 20th )

This assignment will require that you indicate your proposed thesis, explain the main ideas that will structure your paper’s argument, and identify possible critical sources. It allows you to try out your ideas and get feedback on them before you work them up into your final essay itself.

  • 2.5% Editorial Board Submission (March 22nd)

you will take part in an Editorial Board discussion regarding your plans for your essay (to facilitate this work, we will not meet as a class that week). Groups of approximately 4-5 people will be our aim (we’ll likely use our Group Notetaking groups). Submissions of this assignment will be individual, but each individual assignment does require a contribution from the other group members. Through group discussion (virtual or in-person dependant upon the needs of your group), you will accomplish two tasks: 1. An assessment of the qualities of a sample excerpts from published essays (3 paragraphs: one an intro, one a body paragraph, one a conclusion); 2. Discussion of each person’s plans for their essay. Your responses to approximately 8 questions are expected to be in point form.

  • 15% Final Essay (March 27th )

This assignment requires that you write a well-argued essay responding to assigned topics/ questions. This essay will form its argument so that two course texts are discussed. At least 1 secondary source must be used; this source should represent your ability to conduct effective academic research. This assignment will help you solidify the critical thinking and analysis skills that you have been developing in the course. Full guidelines and rubric will be available on Learn.

  • Author Q& A and Discussion Reflection

Due: February 27

Value: 10%

Two authors, Rawi Hage and Zeina Hachem Beck, will be virtually visiting our classroom to discuss their work, which you will be engaging with.Rawi Hage’s discussion will count towards your close reading essay, while Zeina Hachem Beck’s will be assessed individually. So, this assignment is related exclusively to Zeina Hachem Beck’s class visit. You will prepare questions for the poet with your groups, and you will write a reflection following Hachem Beck’s visit. 

  • Active Participation and Professionalism

Due: Throughout the term

Value: 10% (5% In-class Activities; 5% Quality of Contributions/Professionalism)

This part of your grade evaluates the effectiveness of your contributions to our course and your ability to demonstrate professionalism throughout the term. Half of the grade is determined by in-class assignments and half by the quality of your individual contributions and professionalism throughout the term.

The in-class assignments will most often take the form of small-group discussion. You, individually or as a group (depending on the activity), will be required to submit notes from your work, which be evaluated based on the following scale:

    • 0/2 = Not Completed or Completed but Unacceptable
    • 1/2 = Complete but inadequate
    • 1.25/2 = Complete and adequate
    • 1.5/2 = Complete and well-done
    • 1.75/2 = Complete and better than many, but not quite exceptional
    • 2/2 = Complete and exceptional

I’ve noted what weeks there should be an in-class assignment, but remember our schedule may have to be adjusted depending on how quickly we get through our material. You must be present in class to complete the assignment, except in extraordinary circumstances.

Discussions will take place in each class meeting, so you have opportunities throughout the term to contribute effectively. Your ideal is to challenge yourself to speak up in class, but for weeks when you think you’ve been too quiet, a “Continuing the Conversation” discussion board has been created on our LEARN site. Please consult the discussion board itself for guidelines on contributing (including the time-limits for contributing each week).

  • Final Exam

Date: TBD

Value: 30%

A final exam will be scheduled for this course; the final exam will test your comprehension on the topics covered throughout the term. Your analytical skills will also be assessed.
 

VI. Resources for Students

  • Accommodations

We will all need some accommodations in this class because we all learn differently. If you need specific accommodations, let me know. Your success in this course is important to me, and I will work with you to ensure that you have the means of accessing class information, ways to take part in class activities, and avenues for fair assessment of your coursework.  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.

  • Mental Health

Your mental health is extremely important, and we all experience varying degrees of mental health concerns at some point in our lives.  University is a very stressful environment, and if you are feeling unwell, please know that you are not alone. I am not, by any means, an expert, but if you approach me with a mental health concern, you can be sure that I will take your issue very seriously and will point you in the direction of help.  The following is a list of resources available for students experiencing mental health difficulties:

On Campus

  • Counselling Services:  counselling.services@uwaterloo.ca / 519-888-4567 ext. 32655
  • MATES:  one-to-one peer support program offered by the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) and Counselling Services

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: 519-749-4300 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 on 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.

  • Chosen/Preferred First Name

Do you want professors and interviewers to call you by a different first name? Take a minute now to verify or tell us your chosen/preferred first name by logging into WatIAM.

Why? Starting in winter 2020, your chosen/preferred first name listed in WatIAM will be used broadly across campus (e.g., LEARN, Quest, WaterlooWorks, WatCard, etc). Note: Your legal first name will always be used on certain official documents. For more details, visit Updating Personal Information.

  • Important notes for name changes:
  • If you included a preferred name on your OUAC application, it will be used as your chosen/preferred name unless you make a change now.
  • If you don’t provide a chosen/preferred name, your legal first name will continue to be used.
  • Writing and Communication Centre

The Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) works with students as they develop their ideas, draft, and revise. Writing and Communication specialists offer one-on-one support in planning assignments, synthesizing and citing research, organizing papers and reports, designing presentations and e-portfolios, and revising for clarity and coherence. Please note that communication specialists guide you to see your work as readers would. They can teach you revising skills and strategies but will not change or correct your work for you. To book an appointment, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca/wcc.

  • Student Success Office

The Student Success Office provides academic and personal development services, resources for international students, as well as study abroad and exchange support. They aim to create a vibrant student experience and help students achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please visit https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/student-success-office-sign, or reach them by phone at 519-888-4567 ext. 84410.

VII. University Policies

  • Course Concerns

If you are experiencing problems with the course or with the marking, you should contact the course instructor via email.

  • Intellectual Property

Students should be aware that this course contains the intellectual property of their instructor, and/or the University of Waterloo. Intellectual property includes items such as:

  • Lecture content, spoken and written (and any audio/video recording thereof);
  • Lecture handouts, presentations, and other materials prepared for the course (e.g., PowerPoint slides);
  • Questions or solution sets from various types of assessments (e.g., assignments, quizzes, tests, final exams); and
  • Work protected by copyright (e.g., any work authored by the instructor or used by the instructor or TA with permission of the copyright owner).

Course materials and the intellectual property contained therein are used to enhance a student’s educational experience. However, sharing this intellectual property without the intellectual property owner’s permission is a violation of intellectual property rights. For this reason, it is necessary to ask the instructor and/or the University of Waterloo for permission before uploading and sharing the intellectual property of others online (e.g., to an online repository).

Permission from an instructor, or the University is also necessary before sharing the intellectual property of others from completed courses with students taking the same/similar courses in subsequent terms/years. In many cases, instructors might be happy to allow distribution of certain materials. However, doing so without expressed permission is considered a violation of intellectual property rights.

Please alert the instructor if you become aware of intellectual property belonging to others (past or present) circulating, either through the student body or online. The intellectual property rights owner deserves to know (and may have already given their consent).

  • 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 Integritity webpage (https://uwaterloo.ca/academic-integrity/) and the Arts Academic Integrity webpage (https://uwaterloo.ca/arts/current-undergraduates/student-support/ethical-behaviour) 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. 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 (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/guidelines/guidelines-assessment-penalties).

  • 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 (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-70). 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 (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/policies-procedures-guidelines/policy-72).