Humanity and Nature

Humanity and Nature

Reflection: “Humanity and Nature” syllabus

This syllabus may not immediately appear to be organized in specific sections of thought or subtopics, as it is not arranged in that manner per se. That is, some of the ideas important to the course are presented, then later reappear: in this, the “Humanity and Nature” course was designed to foster a learning style that leans on repetition and review—as well as adopting different perspectives. Moreover, it seems fitting that such a topic not be examined in a fashion where everything is arranged into neat, little boxes, but takes an alternative approach. That being said, the course does progress with different topics in mind: starting with a discussion of Indigenous literature and culture, the schedule then moves into a contemplation of modern (and futuristic) resource extraction (including the topics of land and resource rights). This topic, of course, resurfaces with the final novel of the course—The Water Knife, by Paolo Bacigalupi (featuring water as the resource, rather than ore or oil). A discussion of Indigenous cultural concerns and land and resource rights is also reprised later in the course with first William Sanders’s story about the sea level rise and desertification effects of climate change as contemplated from Indigenous land, and then Bacigalupi’s novel, which centers around the “senior rights” given to the Pima (as afforded by an old document from the Bureau of Indian Affairs). The course is thus bookended by an examination of Indigenous rights in a time when they are increasingly becoming recognizable obstacles to further expansion of resource extraction and energy production projects.

But the course also pauses before returning to this vein of cultural critique, and engages with a critical discussion of how Westernized worldviews often contemplate “nature” and “wilderness” as voids, or as spaces to manipulate in the name of the needs of modern society. A variety of media is brought into this discussion (photography, essay, drama, poetry, film, and novel), thus providing a variety of lenses through which to facilitate classroom discussion and learning. Through this process, ideas from Romanticism (with its concepts of the sublime), to more modern presentations of current anthropogenic effects on the world, to speculations on the future are considered. Before returning to the ultimate bookend of the course, this middle portion finishes by first looking at the “long view” or paleontological view of time (and its mass extinctions), and then the “boundaries” that we may very well need to constantly consider in moving forward with the project of modern society. The two final texts by Sanders and Bacigalupi are then, naturally, set in the near-future.

I think, from student success, classroom discussion, and engagement with the topics, that the peculiar structure of the course was actually quite useful—and this seemed to be true of all three iterations of the course that I have given. The structure models a process of inquiry that presents different perspectives in order to gain a better understanding of the relevant ideas. The repetition itself also seemed well-received, as students sought to demonstrate their previous learning in later exercises, such as with the nature of the Essay 2 assignment in the Fall term, which asked students to reconsider and add to previously written and marked material. Moreover, the enthusiasm of student engagement represents what may be my most successful course focus to date, and I am assuming that this does not only have to do with the relevancy of the topics, but also the pedagogical drivers at play.

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND FILM STUDIES

www.efs.ualberta.ca

ENGL 122 A02: Texts and Contexts

“Humanity and Nature”

Fall 2015

M W F 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

 

Instructor: Conrad Scott                             

_______________________________________________________________________

Course Prerequisite: None

Course outline and objectives

This course introduces students to post-secondary studies in English by focusing on the specific literary theme of humanity and nature—relating this theme to narrative in a select group of related texts from short fiction, poetry, drama, science writing, and novels to film. The course will enable students to explore this particular subject in depth as well as a broad range of materials and to develop a rich sense of contexts or intellectual landscapes that give shape to both literature and culture and our study of it. Please note, materials, themes, topics, and genres vary among instructors even though approaches to texts and the skills necessary to read them maintain some form of consistency. A minimum of 30% of class time will be devoted to writing instruction. This instruction can take many forms, including graded written assignments, informal writing exercises, writing workshops, free-writing exercises, stylistic analysis, peer editing, multiple drafts, and ungraded writing. Students will be required to write two essays, which will be marked and formally graded. During the course students will write at least 3000 words.

 

Required Texts

Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach.

Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake.

Paolo Bacigapuli’s The Water Knife.

Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia.

English 122 A02 Coursepack.

 

Assignments

Essay 1 (750 words)

The first major assignment of the semester, Essay 1 will be a short essay demonstrating a student’s ability thus far to analyze a given piece of literature in terms of a relevant cultural context. A draft of this essay will be handed in for a writing workshop prior to the due date of the essay itself. Students are to submit the draft along with the final copy of the essay.

 

Essay 2 (1000-1250 words)

Besides the final exam, Essay 2 is the most important assignment of the semester, and thus reflects the student’s improvement over the period of the course. Students are expected to have applied learning from comments on their marked Essay 1, Inkshed assignments, and Quizzes towards their development of Essay 2. A draft of this essay will be peer edited and submitted along with the final copy of the essay.

 

Inksheds

The in-class Inkshed assignments will give students an opportunity to freewrite about a given piece of literature, thus helping to develop their analytic and writing skills in an environment where the focus is less on formal writing rules and more on the development of a short argument.

 

Reading Quizzes

To help evaluate students’ developing analytic skills, as well as prepare students for the final exam, 3 short reading quizzes will be given in class. A student’s overall quiz grade will be determined through an average of the 3 quizzes.

 

Distribution of Grades

Essay 1 (750 words) 25%

Essay 2 (1000-1250 words) 30% 

Inkshed assignments 5%

Reading Quizzes 15%

Essay Drafts for Peer Editing 10% (5 % each)  

Attendance/Participation 15% (Being present and prepared for class by reading and thinking        about texts; discussing texts; listening respectfully to others and responding)

 

The Term Grade will be converted to a grade point value and multiplied by 70% to determine the final weighting of term work for the course as a whole. The Final Examination will comprise the remaining 30% of the final course grade. Term Grade (70%) + Final Exam (30%) = 100%. Your final grade will combine the course work and the final exam.

 

 

Class Schedule of Readings and Assignments

(please note that the schedule may be subject to minor change as the class requires)

 

Week 1

 

Wed. Sept. 2   Introduction

 

Fri. Sept. 4      Eden Robinson’s “Terminal Avenue” (Coursepack) 

               

Week 2

 

Wed. Sept. 9   Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach: pre-read Part I

 

                                    Writing Workshop: Essays, MLA format

 

Fri. Sept. 11    Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach: pre-read Part II

 

Week 3:

 

Mon. Sept. 14 Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach: pre-read Part III

 

Wed. Sept. 16 Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach: pre-read Part IV

 

Fri. Sept. 18    Quiz 1, in-class

 

Week 4:

 

Mon. Sept. 21 Richard Van Camp’s “On the Wings of this Prayer” (Coursepack)

 

Wed. Sept. 23 excerpt from E. Richard Atleo’s Principles of Tsawalk: An Indigenous Approach to Global Crisis (Coursepack)

                               

Fri. Sept. 25    watch Warren Cariou and Neil McArthur’s Land of Oil and Water (2009) (45 mins) in class

 

Week 5:

           

Mon. Sept. 28 Paolo Bacigalupi’s “The People of Sand and Slag” (Coursepack)

                                                   

Wed. Sept. 30 Edward Burtynsky’s photographs (eClass)

 

Fri. Oct. 2        Peer Editing Workshop. Draft of Essay 1 due in class.

 

Week 6

 

Mon. Oct. 5     William Cronon’s “The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature” (Coursepack)

 

                        A printed copy of Essay 1 is due at the beginning of class. Please include your Draft.

                           

Wed. Oct. 7    Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia

                       

Fri. Oct. 9        Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia (continued)

 

Week 7

 

Wed. Oct. 14  Rita Wong’s “canola queasy”  (Coursepack)

                                               

                        Rita Wong’s “sort by day, burn by night” (Coursepack)

 

Fri. Oct. 16      Quiz 2, in-class

 

                        watch Roland Emmerich’s The Day After Tomorrow in class

 

Week 8

 

Mon. Oct. 19   watch Roland Emmerich’s The Day After Tomorrow in class (continued)

 

Wed. Oct. 21  watch Roland Emmerich’s The Day After Tomorrow in class (continued)

                           

Fri. Oct. 23      Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake: pre-read Parts 1-4

 

Week 9

 

Mon. Oct. 26   Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake: pre-read Parts 5-6

 

Wed. Oct. 28  Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake: pre-read Parts 7-10

                           

Fri. Oct. 30      Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake: pre-read Parts 11-15

 

                        watch George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road in class (assuming availability)

 

Week 10

 

Mon. Nov. 2    watch George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road in class (continued)

 

Wed. Nov. 4   watch George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road in class (continued)

                           

Fri. Nov. 6       Peer Editing Workshop. Draft of Essay 2 due in class.

 

Week 11

 

Mon. Nov. 9    no class (Fall Reading Week)

 

Wed. Nov. 11 no class (Fall Reading Week)

                           

Fri. Nov. 13     no class (Fall Reading Week)

 

Week 12

 

Mon. Nov. 16  Quiz 3, in class

                       

                        A printed copy of Essay 2 is due at the beginning of class. Include your Draft.

 

Wed. Nov. 18 Don McKay’s “Loss Creek” (Coursepack)

               

Fri. Nov. 20     David Quammen’s “Planet of Weeds” (Coursepack)

 

Week 13

 

Mon. Nov. 23  Nine Planetary Boundaries (eClass)

                               

Wed. Nov. 25 William Sanders’ “When the World is All on Fire”

                           

Fri. Nov. 27     Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife: pre-read Chapters 1-6

 

Week 14

 

Mon. Nov. 30  Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife: pre-read Chapters 7-15

 

Wed. Dec. 2    Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife: pre-read Chapters 16-27

                           

Fri. Dec. 4       Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife: pre-read Chapters 28-47

 

Week 15

 

Mon. Dec. 7    Exam Review

 

Fri. Dec. 18     FINAL EXAM           9:00-11:00 AM (HC 1-7)

 

 

ESSAY 1

Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta

English 122 A02

Instructor: Conrad Scott

Essay 1 due Oct. 5, 2015

25% of Term Grade

 

A draft of Essay 1 is due in class on Oct. 2, 2015 (5% of Term Grade).

Please hand the edited copy of your draft in with the final copy of your essay on Oct. 5.

 

Develop an essay of approximately 750 words on one of the following topics. Develop your own thesis in relation to your chosen question. The essay should be in MLA format:

 

a) One of the tensions in Eden Robinson’s novel Monkey Beach is between “civilized” reality and what might be waiting out in the natural world. In this essay, provide a close-reading / analysis of how the novel utilizes the figure of the B’gwus to complicate preconceived notions of humanity’s place in the world. 

 

b) Eden Robinson’s novel Monkey Beach contains clear critiques of how humanity has soiled its relationship with the natural world. In this essay, provide an ecocritical close-reading / analysis of how the novel portrays this fraught relationship after the advance of the modern age.

 

c) In Richard Van Camp’s “On the Wings of this Prayer,” the world has become a nightmare because of the Tar Sands. In this essay, provide an ecocritical close-reading / analysis of how the short story portrays the problems that the natural world faces, and humanity’s role in it.

 

______________________________________________________________________________

With your chosen topic in mind, focus your essay on making a specific argument that incorporates analysis of the texts. Develop a clear thesis and support it with cited evidence as your argue your points. You do not have much room to make your argument and support it, so write clearly and concisely. Grades will be awarded for content as well as attention to grammar, language, syntax, etc.

 

You are not required to cite or consult secondary sources; this is not a research essay and your argument should be developed and made on your own. You must adhere to MLA guidelines. This essay assignment must be your original work: see the guidelines on Plagiarism for further information.

 

 

ESSAY 2

Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta

English 122 A02

Instructor: Conrad Scott

Essay 2 due Nov. 16, 2015

30% of Term Grade

 

A draft of Essay 2 is due in class on Nov. 6, 2015 (5% of Term Grade).

Please hand the edited copy of your draft in with the final copy of your essay on Nov. 16th.

 

Develop an essay of approximately 1000-1250 words on one of the following topics. Develop your own thesis in relation to your chosen question. The essay should be in MLA format:

 

Essay 2 is both a chance to revise your content of Essay 1, and a chance to add another text to your discussion. In short, the Essay 2 assignment requires you to discuss one of the following topics (with the associated texts) by bringing something new into your previous Essay 1. Some adjustment and rewriting may be necessary, depending on your approaches and arguments in both essays.

 

a) In Essay 1, you will have written about the tension in Eden Robinson’s novel Monkey Beach between “civilized” reality and what might be waiting out in the natural world, and how the novel utilizes the figure of the B’gwus to complicate preconceived notions of humanity’s place in the world. In Essay 2, provide a close-reading / analysis of Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake alongside your examination of Robinson’s B’gwus.

 

b) In Essay 1, you will have written about how Eden Robinson’s novel Monkey Beach contains clear critiques of how humanity has soiled its relationship with the natural world, and how the novel portrays this fraught relationship after the advance of the modern age. In Essay 2, provide an ecocritical close-reading / analysis of Rita Wong’s poems “canola queasy” and “sort by day, burn by night” alongside your examination of Robinson’s critical stance.

 

c) In Essay 1, you will have written about how, in Richard Van Camp’s “On the Wings of this Prayer,” the world has become a nightmare because of the Tar Sands. You will have analyzed how the short story portrays the problems that the natural world faces, and humanity’s role in it. In Essay 2, provide an ecocritical close-reading / analysis of Paolo Bacigalupi’s short story “The People of Sand and Slag” alongside your examination of Van Camp’s critical stance.

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Focus your essay on making a specific argument that incorporates analysis of the texts. Develop a clear thesis and support it with cited evidence as your argue your points. You do not have much room to make your argument and support it, so write clearly and concisely. Grades will be awarded for content as well as attention to grammar, language, syntax, etc.

This is not a research essay: your argument should be developed and made on your own. You must adhere to MLA guidelines. This essay assignment must be your original work: see the guidelines on Plagiarism for further information.

 

 

ESSAY 2 (ALTERNATIVE)

Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta

English 122 A4

Instructor: Conrad Scott

Essay 2 due Jun. 7, 2016

30% of Term Grade

 

A draft of Essay 2 is due in class on Jun. 2, 2016 (5% of Term Grade).

Please hand the edited copy of your draft in with the final copy of your essay on Jun. 7th.

 

Develop an essay of approximately 1500 words on one of the following topics. Develop your own thesis in relation to your chosen question. The essay should be in MLA format:

 

a) In both Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake and Paolo Bacigalupi’s short story “The People of Sand and Slag,” science and technology have affected humanity’s future. In this essay, provide a close-reading / analysis of the post-human in both texts.

 

b) In both Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake and Eden Robinson’s short story “Terminal Avenue,” society is policed by powerful forces in the forms of the CorpSeCorps and the Peace Officers, respectively. In this essay, provide a close-reading / analysis of how the control of society affects the characters’ relationships with the natural world.

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Focus your essay on making a specific argument that incorporates analysis of the texts. Develop a clear thesis and support it with cited evidence as your argue your points. You do not have much room to make your argument and support it, so write clearly and concisely. Grades will be awarded for content as well as attention to grammar, language, syntax, etc.

This is not a research essay: your argument should be developed and made on your own. You must adhere to MLA guidelines. This essay assignment must be your original work: see the guidelines on Plagiarism for further information.

 

 

Inkshed #2: Analyzing the Photography of Edward Burtynsky

 

In the Inkshed #2 forum, you will each post a short paragraph analyzing some element of Edward Burtynsky’s photography -- making specific reference to particular images and / or image series. Your peers will be able to read these, so in some sense this Inkshed is practice writing a formal commentary in a public place. As with all Inksheds, your grade is determined merely by completion (in this case, the act of posting your paragraph), but you have the opportunity to inflect your small bit of writing here with aspects such as critique of perspective, discussions of industrial practices, ecocritical approaches, cultural commentary, and photography criticism, to name a few.

 

Please post your paragraph by the beginning of class on Friday, Oct. 9th, 2015.

 

 

Inkshed #4: Science and Literature: Navigating “Planet of Weeds”

 

For Inkshed #4, I would like you to write a paragraph relating David Quammen’s essay “Planet of Weeds” to at least two works of literature from our course, then post your paragraph to this eClass forum. This Inkshed is somewhat different from the Burtynsky one; instead, you are practicing your skills with literary analysis, and using a secondary source to support your points. Here, Quammen’s essay is not the primary text, but actually the secondary one. With this in mind, your paragraph should focus on the literary works you choose, and bring in Quammen’s as a resource. No specific topic is required -- instead, I would like you to form your own connections.

 

I will also point out that I have made this a forum, so others will be able to read your work. While this seemingly puts more pressure on you to perform, it will also allow you to interact through the reading of (and if you wish, replying to) your peers’ paragraphs.

 

We will allot time to work on Inkshed #4 during class, so your post is due by midnight today, Friday, Nov. 20th.

 

 

Inkshed #1: Land of Oil and Water

 

Write and submit a paragraph of at least 250 words about your thoughts and analysis of Warren Cariou and Neil McArthur’s film Land of Oil and Water. This is a paragraph based on listening in class, and thinking and analyzing after: you will need to make an argument of your own, based on your viewing of the film, and support your argument with evidence.

 

As with any Inkshed, this paragraph will only be graded for completion, not content, but in this case I will provide you with feedback on grammar, writing style, argumentation, and other relevant aspects of writing a critical paragraph.

 

Your Inkshed #1 paragraph is due by midnight today, Tuesday, May 10th, 2016.

 

 

Inkshed #3: The Nine Planetary Boundaries

 

In the Inkshed #3 forum, you will each post a short paragraph (~300 words) analyzing some element of the Nine Planetary Boundaries -- making specific reference to particular short stories, novels, or films that we have already studied in this course. As with any paragraph, you must make an argument and provide evidence, so you may want to focus on one text or film as you analyze it through some element of the Nine Planetary Boundaries. 

 

Your peers will be able to read these, so in some sense this Inkshed is practice writing a formal commentary in a public place. As with all Inksheds, your grade is determined merely by completion (in this case, the act of posting your paragraph), but you have the opportunity to inflect your small bit of writing here with what you have already learned coupled with your own analysis, and in conversation with your peers.

 

For full marks, your post must constitute an actual paragraph; this paragraph must also be your own work, and represent your own ideas.

 

Please post your paragraph by midnight on Friday, Jun. 10th, 2016.

 

 

Conrad Scott, University of Alberta

Wednesday, 07/27/2016 - 20:07

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