English
Courses in the English Department encourage students to become observant and reflective readers and writers, thinkers and researchers. We teach core skills for a comprehensive college education.
Educating students to respond with a breadth of knowledge and a disciplined imagination to the ideas of others is part of the English Department’s larger commitment to a liberal arts education, the aim of which, we like to say, is the creation of thoughtful and engaged citizens.
English courses are offered in the Fall, Winter and Summer terms at both the New Westminster and David Lam campuses. Instructors use a variety of teaching methods, ranging from small-group discussion and interactive writing workshops to formal lectures.
For calendar descriptions of all available English courses, see English Courses.
For a listing of courses on offer currently, see the English Course Guide.
For an overview of courses, faculty listing, and English Department events and awards, see the departmental website.
For English course requirements in career or diploma programs, please refer to the relevant section of the calendar for each program.
For English course requirements in the Associate Degrees in Arts and Science, please refer to the relevant section of the calendar for credential details.
For transfer information, please see the BC Transfer Guide (www.bccat.bc.ca) or a Douglas College Academic Advisor.
Admission to English Courses
For general College admission, please see General Admission Requirements and Application Deadlines.
Before enrolling in their first writing or literature course at Douglas College, students must demonstrate entry-level English-language reading and writing skills, including paragraph and sentence construction, grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Students can demonstrate this proficiency by submitting current proof that they meet any of the entry-standard measures listed here:
http://www.douglascollege.ca/calendar/programs/pfllpa.html
Students who do not meet any of these entry-level standards should register to write the Douglas College writing assessment well in advance of their course registration date to avoid being deregistered from courses requiring pre-requisites.
To book an assessment, go to http://www.douglas.bc.ca/registrar/assessment.html
or call 604-527-5478.
Choosing Your Courses
First Year Courses
Writing Skills Review
Students who demonstrate the minimum requirements for reading and writing proficiency but who struggle with basic writing concepts at the sentence and paragraph levels, or who have been away from formal education for a number of years and want a refresher course in basic writing skills, are advised to complete ENGL 1099 prior to attempting any university-transfer English courses.
English 1099, which has no university transfer credits, is not a pre-requisite for any other course.
Academic Writing
English 1130: Academic Writing introduces students to the process of writing academic argument essays and includes writing strategies, assignments and exercises which develop their abilities as readers, thinkers and writers. Students advised or required by their program to complete ENGL 1130 should complete the course early in their program, wherever possible.
ENGL 1200: Advanced Composition offers students further practice in academic writing, the development of strong editing and revision skills and a distinct style or voice.
Literature
First-year literature courses provide students the skill and information necessary to read literary works independently, with understanding and enjoyment. Courses vary in content, depending on the instructor and on text selection, but all offer students instruction in writing literary essays as well as development of close reading and literary analysis skills. Some sections are devoted to specific themes or topics. Students are advised to review reading lists for current offerings (go to the English Course Guide) before choosing their sections.
First-year writing and literature courses may be taken in any sequence or combination.
Second-year literature courses focus on analysis of literary works and advanced reading skills. They also present the circumstances in which literary works are written and read. Historical, cultural, biographical and specific literary circumstances may be studied.
Pre-Requisites
For admission to second-year courses, students must have a Grade Point Average of 1.67 in the following:
- any TWO university-transfer first-year English literature courses OR
- ONE university-transfer first-year English literature course and ONE university-transfer first-year Creative Writing* or academic writing** course.
*To use CRWR as one of the prerequisites, see Department for prerequisite waiver.
**ENGL 1130 or 1200.
Third Year Literature
The English Department is pleased to launch its third-year literature courses.
In January 2010, the Department is offering ENGL 3112: The Plays of Shakespeare, and ENGL 3180: Representations of Health Issues in Literature. Additional upper-division courses are currently under development for Summer and Fall 2010.
Third-year literature courses are suitable to students looking for a focussed, in-depth study of a particular era, genre or writer, whether these students are completing diplomas, Associate of Arts degrees or Bachelor’s degrees. Courses are open to all students who meet the prerequisites, whether potential English majors or students in other disciplines requiring upper-division general arts electives.
For more information about completing upper-level English courses at Douglas, please email the Chair of the English department, Meg Stainsby, call 604-527-5290, or visit the general office of English, in the Language, Literature and Performing Arts area, Room 3300, New Westminster Campus.
Pre-Requisites
For admission to third-year courses, students must meet the pre-requisites for second-year English courses (see above) AND have completed at least 45 credits overall. Prerequisite waivers may be granted by course instructors only; requests are considered on an individual basis. To discuss a prerequisite waiver, students should contact the instructor of the course(s) in which they wish to register.