To pass any English 101 course at Dawson College, students must demonstrate the following abilities:
Reading
Recognizing major literary genres: poetry, drama, fiction and essay
Recognizing rudimentary elements of literature: character, setting, plot, tone and theme
Recognizing basic elements of literary language: connotation vs. denotation, figures of speech
Identifying the thesis of an expository text
Recognizing basic patterns of argument, development in an expository text
Writing
Using a dictionary to find definitions and correct spelling in the context of the preparation of assignments and essays
Using a handbook to clarify questions of grammar and mechanics
Writing sentences free of structural flaws
Constructing coherent paragraphs, using the form of topic sentence, body, transition
Constructing a thesis relevant to a primary literary text
Organizing logical support for a thesis, using outlining, clustering, brainstorming, etc.
Writing an essay that introduces and supports a thesis (i.e. is not just a summary), demonstrates logical development and a tone appropriate to argument and analysis at the college level, integrates quotations from a primary text, and follows MLA rules for format documentation.
Please note that not all the courses listed below are offered every term:
Course Number
Course Name
C - L - H
Hrs
603-101-MQ
Cosmic Pessimism: Thinking Beyond the World-for-Us
2 - 2 - 4
60
Description for Course:
Cosmic pessimism constitutes a way of thinking about the world that embraces some of the more negative feelings we may have about our existence — among these, hopelessness, futility, helplessness, resignation, uncertainty, ambivalence, pain, and suffering. Cosmic pessimism finds inspiration in confronting the stark limitations of the human perspective, and in contemplating — even at times desiring — the bleakest forecast for humanity. The turn to a critical pessimism has informed recent thinking on climate change, for example, considering the planet as an active subject responding, often violently and chaotically, to human invasiveness. This seminar-style paired English and Humanities course looks at works that engage the world pessimistically by important philosophers, theorists, filmmakers, authors, and artists. Among our explorations, we will study pessimistic fiction and creative nonfiction in the form of aphorisms, short stories, essays, novels, moving image works, and poetry.
603-101-MQ
Effective Reading and Writing
2 - 2 - 4
60
Description for Course:
This course is intended to provide an introduction to college-level literary studies. There will be special emphasis on basic textual interpretation and the construction of the literary essay through written and spoken critical responses to specific texts.
603-101-MQ
Introduction to College English
2 - 2 - 4
60
Description for Course:
This course is intended to provide an introduction to college-level literary studies. There will be a strong emphasis on basic textual interpretation and the construction of the literary essay through written and spoken critical responses to specific texts.
603-101-MQ
Introduction to College English: Journeys English
2 - 2 - 4
60
Description for Course:
This course will introduce students to college-level literary studies. We will analyze works of fiction, drama and poetry from various places and periods. We will discuss the essay writing process in detail, including strategies for editing and revision, and students will produce essays and paragraphs of literary analysis on a regular basis.
603-101-MQ
Story of Us
2 - 2 - 4
60
Description for Course:
Long before we had books we had stories, and through legends, myths, plays, songs and nursery rhymes — even jokes and gossip — culture was passed from one generation to another and travelled over long distances and joined distant peoples in symbol and imagination — all by voice, memory, and performance. This is the Oral Tradition, ancient and powerful. The Oral Tradition didn’t die out when writing or the digital age came along. It transformed, yes, but it still lives and works on us and has power in our world today. Think of urban legends and conspiracy theories, memes, trends, and slang. Now culture passes around in story form on digital platforms; online games, social media, chat groups, and forums. What are the connections between ancient Oral Traditions and contemporary Digital Culture? Can we trace a through-line back through the ages to today? If stories are how we learn about ourselves, what are we to think of our own culture based on the stories we tell about “us” right now?
603-101-MQ
Writing English
2 - 2 - 4
60
Description for Course:
Designed for students whose first language is not English and who have been educated in English for less than five years, this course introduces students to the study of literature at the college-level, with special emphasis on vocabulary-building, correct sentence structure, grammar, idiom and critical thinking. Students will learn how read a variety of literary works and how to write short analytical essays about literature.
