D E PA R T M E N T OF ENGLISH

SUMMER 2011 (1114)

ENGLISH 104W Harbour Centre NOW
Instructor: GAVIN PAUL

INTRODUCTION TO PROSE GENRES

Writing the Truth

COURSE DESCRIPTION
What does it mean to pursue “the truth” in different prose genres? How do implicit and explicit claims of accuracy
and validity vary across different forms of writing, and how does our understanding of a text’s proximity to “the
truth” influence our interpretive strategies? For instance, do we apply different interpretive standards to embedded
war-reporters when their work is presented in a monograph (The Forever War), as opposed to a collection of
comics journalism (Safe Area Goražde)? Can “the truth” of a life ever be attained in the genre of the obituary, or
do we read an obituary knowing that it sentimentalizes, distorts, even lies?
These questions will frame our engagement with a diverse selection of prose, which, in addition to the genres
mentioned above, include: the personal essay, the memoir, the travel narrative, and the scientific treatise. Among
the many things we will consider are: the inevitability of forgetting and the limitations of memory; matters of
audience and intention; and the deployment of “facts” and quantifiable data. Our primary goal throughout is to
hone critical reading and writing skills.

Prerequisites: None.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Dexter Filkins, The Forever War, (Random House-Vintage, 2008) ISBN: 9780307279446
Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, (Anchor Books, 1999) ISBN: 0385494785
Joe Sacco, Safe Area Goražde: The War in Eastern Bosnia, 1992-1995, (Fantagraphics, 2002) ISBN: 1560974702
The Norton Reader, Shorter 12th Edition (Norton, 2008) ISBN: 9780393931730
Selected Obituaries from The Economist

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Participation (attendance, discussion) 10%
Short Response Papers (5 x 6%) 30%
Students will compose short, critical responses (2-3 pages) throughout the semester. These responses might
involve close reading, identifying key issues raised by the text, drawing connections between texts, or some
combination thereof. One of these mini-essays must be selected for revision, with students rethinking their
claims, refining their argument(s), and responding to the instructor’s comments.
Term Paper 30%
Final Exam 30%

To receive credit for this course, students must complete all requirements.

TUTORIALS WILL BE HELD THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES

www.english.sfu.ca/undergrad/courses/outlines