Second-Year Courses 2025-26

Fall 2025

Spring 2026

Fall 2025 – Course Descriptions

ENGL 204: Business and Technical Writing

Multiple Sections

An introduction to business and technical communication skills with a focus on documents (such as letters and reports) and presentations. Topics may include planning, outlining, summarizing, presenting data, handling references, and editing. The course comprises several practical assignments, including a formal report and an oral presentation. ENGL 204 was formerly called ENGL 225; credit will not be granted for both courses.

ENGL 208: Introduction to Public Speaking

Multiple Sections

An introduction to public speaking that focuses on the creation, organization, and delivery of speeches for non-dramatic purposes. It provides the rhetorical principles of effective and ethical public speaking, offers opportunities to become familiar with different speaking situations, and attempts to instill a sense of the importance of public speech. ENGL 208 was formerly called THEA 203; credit will not be granted for both courses.

ENGL 220: Canadian Literature in Context

Professor Amelia Horsburgh

A topical introduction to Canadian literature in a broader cultural context. The course explores distinctive elements of Canadian literature as well as characteristics shared with other cultures, historical and modern.

ENGL 231: Speculative Literature

Professor Bryn Skibo

An exploration of speculative literature, such as science fiction, fantasy, or utopian or dystopian writing, with some historical background. The course might explore a single speculative mode or differences and crossovers between modes.

ENGL 240: Ways of Reading (online asynchronous)

ENGL 273: Ancients and Moderns

Professor Farah Moosa

An examination of the power of the past in the literary present. The course may focus on the shaping influence of ancient traditions on contemporary literature, on the origins of literature in religious traditions and the continuing power of myth, or on the shift from oral to written culture.

Spring 2026 – Course Descriptions

ENGL 204: Business and Technical Writing

Multiple Sections

An introduction to business and technical communication skills with a focus on documents (such as letters and reports) and presentations. Topics may include planning, outlining, summarizing, presenting data, handling references, and editing. The course comprises several practical assignments, including a formal report and an oral presentation. ENGL 204 was formerly called ENGL 225; credit will not be granted for both courses.

ENGL 208: Introduction to Public Speaking

Multiple Sections

An introduction to public speaking that focuses on the creation, organization, and delivery of speeches for non-dramatic purposes. It provides the rhetorical principles of effective and ethical public speaking, offers opportunities to become familiar with different speaking situations, and attempts to instil a sense of the importance of public speech. ENGL 208 was formerly called THEA 203; credit will not be granted for both courses.

ENGL 221: North American Indigenous Literatures

Professor Bryn Skibo

An exploration of indigenous literatures that may range from oral traditions to contemporary writings and may focus on such topics as indigenous knowledge, relationship to the land, family and community, or decolonization.

ENGL 230: Literature and Popular Culture

Professor Sandra Hagan

An examination of intersections between literature and popular culture, this course will focus on examples of popular literary works such as sensation and detective fiction, graphic narrative, and the Gothic. The course will explore representative works with some historical background.

ENGL 232: Children's Literature

Professor Nicole Klan

A topical or chronological examination of children's literature that may range from its roots in mythology, folk tale, and fable to contemporary issues such as censorship and didacticism. May cover novels, picture-books, and poetry.

ENGL 274: Literary Traditions

Professor Neil Surkan

With some attention to pre-1900 literature, the course will focus on a literary tradition, examining its historical roots, how it is recreated or changes over time, and its connections to social and cultural developments.