English 3101A - Department of Advanced Education and Skills

Unit 2Novel and Related WritingNotes for Teaching and LearningSelecting a Novel1. Within the recommended list of novels,students should be encouraged to select a novelbased on personal interest. The instructor willneed to ensure that students are aware of theways in which they might find out whether anovel is of interest to them. Students shouldbe aware of the kinds of information that maybe presented in or on the book itself (apromotional “blurb”; introduction; preface,chapter headings). Students should also beaware of the usefulness of book reviews andthe possible sources for these (Internet,newspapers, magazines). Finally, studentsshould be encouraged to seek the views ofothers who have already read one or more ofthe novels or of somebody who has read anovel they are particularly interested in.List of Recommended Novels2. Instructors should note that the list of novelsis a list of recommendations. The list is notprovided to the student in the English 3101AStudy Guide, but must be presented to thestudent by the instructor. Instructors may addother novels to the list for students to choosefrom, but should use the following guidelinesin selecting other novels to add:–It must be a novel (not a non-fiction book).–It must have literary merit.–The reading level should be appropriate forthe course.(Continued on following page)Suggestions for AssessmentContent and Comprehension QuestionsInstructors will need to develop questions oneach of the novels. These questions shouldassess as many of the Outcomes for Readingand Viewing Fiction (Novel) as possible.Students should not be given questions on thenovel until they have read it completely atleast once. They should be guided to re-readsections, as needed, to answer the content andcomprehension questions.Note: Instructors should be aware that most ofthe recommended novels appear on one ormore Internet web sites. Some publishers’web sites provide substantial backgroundinformation as well as teaching and learningmaterial. These may be very helpful, not onlyin providing additional learning material forstudents, but also in the development ofassessment material.Literary EssayStudents should be required to write at leasttwo rough drafts of the literary essay revisingfor meaning and clarity and discussingchanges with the instructor as they do this.They should also be required to edit andproofread the literary essay to correct anyerrors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.The essay should be assessed on the basis ofthe guidelines for literary analysis provided inReference Points 11/12, pages 75-76.English 3101A Curriculum Guide Page 17