This course is intended to provide a broad introductory overview of a number of issues that are important for a basic understanding of Canadian culture. The goal of this class is to provide students with a better knowledge of the nation, its people, and its regions. The topics will include the physical, historical, political, social, and cultural aspects of Canada. More specifically, the course will focus on both the unique regional aspects of the Canadian experience and the broad themes and questions that touch the lives of all Canadians. - Only students who are prepared to participate actively and to commit themselves to oral and written assignments should sign up for this class. Prospective participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves in advance with the general aspects of the subject. Study material will be made available by the beginning of term.

This course is designed to introduce students of literature in English to major critical-interpretive perspectives. It will describe and demonstrate the critical tools needed for perceptive literary analysis. The class will address the effects of different social and cultural contexts on the nature of language and meaning, and the effects of cultural norms and assumptions on judgement. A major goal is to develop an understanding for the fact that literary interpretations will depend significantly upon the concept chosen to approach a given text. Moreover, the class hopes to demolish what seems to be a predominant assumption about studying literature, namely that literary texts can be fully understood by looking at an author's biography. Within this framework, the class will introduce students to a basic critical vocabulary, including appropriate terminology, for the analysis of literary texts. – Prospective participants are expected to buy their own copy of the textbook that is the basis of this class: Wilfred L. Guerin, Earle G. Labor, Lee Morgan, Jeanne C. Reesman, John R. Willingham, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, 4th edition, New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

When Stephen Crane died at the age of twenty-eight he left behind a surprisingly large body of literary work: A voluminous war reportage, over a hundred short stories, two books of poems, and six novels provide the basis for his reputation as one of the most gifted and influential writers of the late 19th century. This class will examine Crane's literary achievement by taking a closer look at a selection of what literary critics consider to be his best work. - Students wanting to sign up for this class should be familiar with the basic techniques of textual analysis. Moreover, they should be prepared to commit themselves to a number of reading and writing assignments. – Please note: To be admitted to this class, prospective participants must have read Maggie, The Red Badge of Courage, and "The Open Boat" by the beginning of term. You will only be admitted to this class if you pass the in-class reading quiz which has been designed to determine if you have a sufficient knowledge of the texts. It will be administered in the second week of classes.