ENGL 1413 A1
WRITING AND READING CRITICALLY 1

Andrea Schwenke Wyile

Writing is a process that is shaped by our reading. This course is designed to get us to explore various angles on the meaning of life, social responsibility, and the trials of being human as represented in a variety of short stories, poems, plays, and novels. We will examine the ideas these works raise, the themes and patterns they explore, the way they are put together, and your individual responses to them in class discussion and in writing. Our focus will be on the process of reading, reacting, and arriving at an understanding of the works and the connections between them.

The reading and writing components of this course are intrinsically connected through critical thinking and expression. The selection of texts chosen for discussion all centre on the many variations in the nature, foibles, and relationships of humankind, from Greek tragedy to contemporary fiction. A central component of the course is learning how to write a university level (English) essay. In addition to the mandatory drafting process required for the two essays, you will work through a series of online grammar exercises, experiment with a variety of writing practices to generate draft material, and participate in peer editing. This work will help you to hone your critical skills and your ability to express yourself clearly and concisely, and it should increase your trust in your own insights.

Required Texts: TBA