This is the course blog for English 280, Survey of British Literature, Part 1.
Instructor: Debbie Gascoyne
Office: Paul 320, Lansdowne Campus, Camosun College
Hours: T, Th 1:30 – 2:30, W 10:30 – 12:30
Assignments:
Journal 30%
Midterm 25
Essay 20
Final Exam 25
Hi there Debbie,
I was just wondering about the overall tone and style of the homework assignment. I understand that there are supposed to be a few well developed paragraphs, however I’m not sure whether or not I am to use an “academic tone” or just write it more or less as a true journal? Should I be avoiding the “I”, or is it alright to use a more casual tone and write it as an honest response to what I have just read?
Thanks for your time! (Great site by the way, very helpful!)
Jesse, English 280
Hi Jesse
I think overall err on the side of the formal. Having said that, I have no objection to a judicious use of “I” and I hope your response will be “honest” whether in more academic or informal language
Hello to anyone who’s reading this!
I thought I’d share with everyone a very helpful site that will make your school life and research based assignments easier! If you haven’t already heard of it, http://www.schoolr.com is a compilation of convenient searches to assist with research. I encourage anyone and everyone to check it out. (I’ve set it as my homepage because I find myself using it daily)
Cheers,
Jesse
Thanks, Jesse! That does look like a very helpful site. One tip, though – if you want more people to read your comments, post them on the “main” page, not on this one!
Hi Debbie,
I was just wondering, for the midterm short answer questions, that sheet you handed out, are those questions the exact ones that will be on the midterm or just a good study guide? I’m sure you probably told the class already but I wanted to double check since I wasn’t there the day you handed it out.
Also, I am having trouble with a few of the questions on the sheet. When you ask the name of Hrothgar’s hall there is a question that follows it and I’m not sure what you are asking.
As well as that, I can’t find the technical literary term for the long description of Gawain’s shield or the technical mythical term for the episode at the round table, do you think you could give me a hint on how to find the answers for these questions?
That would be wonderful!
Oh and I looked around on the main page for where to post comments but I’m not sure where you mean.
Hi Stacey
Okay – first question: all the questions in parts one and two of the midterm will be based on the questions on the study guide. So, the midterm questions won’t necessarily look the same, but the content will, one way or another. For example, the answer to one of the study guide questions might be a question in part two (identify and comment on single words or phrases). See what I mean? If you know the answer, presumably you’ll know the question…. hope that makes sense
Hrothgrar’s Hall is ______ Those three words together illustrate what characteristic of Anglo Saxon verse?
The technical literary term for Gawain’s shield is on the discussion questions sheet for Gawain. If you don’t have that, you could try googling Gawain’s shield, or Achilles’ shield in the Iliad, and see what you get. You’ll find the technical myth terms in the diagram linked from the Monomyth post on the main page of this blog.
And you can comment on the main page by putting a comment on any post – probably the most recent post would be the one more people would see. But this works too
I feel like a light just came on in my head! Haha, thank you! I really appreciate it! I was stuck there on some of those questions.