May/June 2025 Syllabus (Summer Session I)

ENGL 1205.1WW: Introduction to Literature: The Problem of Knowledge

Tuesday/Thursday 1:30AM—4:30PM (online, synchronous)

Three Credit Hours
Professor: Kendall Shields
Email: kendall.shields@smu.ca 
Office Hours: MN 219 by appointment 
Course website: http://smuenglish1205.blogspot.com

From the Academic Calendar: “[ENGL 1205] introduces students to works of literature in English representing a variety of historical and cultural contexts. It develops the student’s ability to interpret written texts and to write about them in an informed and organized manner.”
From the English Department: “Course objectives: to introduce the major genres of fiction, poetry, and drama; to introduce students to basic literary devices and terminology; to develop the tools of argumentation and improve persuasive thinking through written essays; to foster critical thinking; to cover a selection of historical periods and literary traditions.”
Specific to our section: “How do we know the things we know? Can we know anything with certainty? Is it possible to know too much? This class explores these and related epistemological questions by examining works by Sophocles, Shakespeare, Shelley, Eliot, and Beckett, the epic poem Beowulf, the television series Seinfeld, The Wire, and Game of Thrones, and the classic monster movie Frankenstein.”

Evaluation
Essay 1 (May 20)                                       25%
Essay 2 (June 3)                                        25%
Essay 3 (June 16)                                      25%
Final Essay (June 21)                                25%
 
Essays and exams will be assigned a grade using the following scale and criteria (see regulation 5A of the academic calendar):
Grade                Percentage
A+                      90-100
A                        85-89                                                   Excellent
A-                       80-84
B+                      77-79
B                        73-76                                                   Good
B-                       70-72
C+                      67-69
C                        63-66                                                   Satisfactory
C-                       60-62
D                        50-59                                                   Marginal
F                        Failure or withdrawal after deadline    (June 2)

The English Department further notes: “A is reserved for excellence and A+ is awarded in exceptional circumstances; B is the entry level for an honours degree in this university; the B range indicates good to very good work; C is the grade given to average or satisfactory work; D is the grade for passing but not satisfactory work; and F is the grade for failing work.”

Lateness: If you anticipate difficulty with any of our due dates, please let me know ahead of time. I am certain that arrangements can be made. In the absence of other arrangements, essays in excess of seven days late will receive half credit. 

Plagiarism: The Department notes: “Academic regulation 19B gives a definition of plagiarism as ‘the presentation of words, ideas or techniques of another as one's own.’ You should learn to recognise situations where plagiarism is likely to occur, and acquire the techniques of proper citation as soon as possible. Most English handbooks and the Department's A Brief Guide to the Preparation of Essays and Reports by Dr. Perkin explain the standard methods of documentation and citation.” Plagiarized work receives no credit. Plagiarism can constitute grounds for academic penalties up to and including expulsion. Please do not take this unnecessary risk.

Writing Centre: The Writing Centre "provide[s] free academic communication support for students, faculty, staff and alumni," and "offer[s] tutoring for individuals and groups, workshops, in-class presentations, and online support." As noted on their website, "Writing tutoring appointments are available both in-person and online." 

Office Hours/Contact: I respond to all student emails promptly, certainly within no more than twenty-four hours, and often much more quickly than that. You may find email to be the quickest and most straight-forward way to have your questions or concerns addressed. I hold Office Hours by appointment in MN 219 should you prefer to meet in person. I am also available by appointment outside of those times for whatever form of meeting you require, by whatever method you prefer (video, telephone, etc).   

Schedule and Readings: There are no books to purchase for this course; all readings are accessible through the course blog. In addition to the texts listed below, we will also examine a number of short poems, supplemental readings, and videos, all of which will be posted to the course blog as well. Department guidelines suggest that “you should plan to study for approximately three hours for each hour of scheduled class time."  

Week 1 

May 6: Introductory Materials: Why Read?
May 8: Sophocles, Oedipus the King (text here, audio here [1h25min]; 1957 film here [1h28min], 1957 film script here)

Week 2 

May 13: Beowulf (text here, audio in two parts [2h15min])

May 15: Beowulf continued

Week 3

Essay #1 Due Tuesday, May 20th (11:59PM)

May 20: Shakespeare, Hamlet (text here, 1996 film in three parts [4h2min])

May 22: Hamlet continued

Week 4

May 27: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (text here, audiobook here [7h59min])

May 29: Frankenstein continued

Week 5

Essay #2 Due Tuesday, June 3 (11:59PM)

June 3: T. S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (text here, audio here [8min22s])

June 5: Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot (text here, film here [1h53min])

Week 6

June 10: Waiting for Godot continued  

June 12: Review: The Problem of Knowledge

Week 7

Essay #3 Due Monday, June 16 (11:59PM)

Exam Period  

Final Essay Due Saturday, June 21 (11:59PM)