ENG 4U1 INDEPENDENT STUDY UNIT: SPRING 2015
1. OBJECTIVES
Reading—to encourage broad and independent reading in an area of special interest
Skills—to develop note-taking skills, research and critical writing skills, and to develop self-discipline
and time-management skills
2. THE TASK
Each student will pursue an area of interest within the study of award-winning American literature.
The choice of topic, organization of the necessary reading, and the completion of the essay are the
responsibility of the student, with some guidance by the teacher.
3. THE PROCESS
A. Text Selection
Choose a literary novel by an award-winning American author. It is imperative that you have not
read this novel before, and that the novel is not being taught in any courses at Centennial. Bring the
novel to your teacher for approval on the date specified.
B. Reading Journal
The reading journal must be completed and evaluated before you can proceed with your
ISU essay.
While you are reading, keep a journal which may include analyses of characters’ personalities
and behaviour; notes on social, political, religious, philosophical, ethical ideas or events;
themes; symbolism; imagery; and any other significant insights regarding the text.
Write down quotations that might be useful in the essay and be sure to note the page number.
By the end of your notes you should have some ideas for a thesis. Please highlight each
possible working thesis as you think of it.
Your journal entries must reflect the scope of the novel and must show evidence of continual,
thoughtful responses to the novel. Do not read the entire novel and then attempt to write your
entries. ABOVE ALL, DO NOT WRITE A SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL AS THIS WILL
RESULT IN A FAILING MARK.
Length: Your notes must be a minimum of 6 pages in length and must be hand-written.
C. Preliminary Analysis
The THREE components of preliminary analysis must be completed and evaluated before
you can proceed with your ISU essay.
i) Choose one significant quotation from the novel and write a 400-500 word analysis. Begin
with a short paragraph explaining the context of the quotation, followed by several paragraphs
in which you explain two points of significance. You might consider what it reveals about
character, how it moves the plot forward, touches on a central theme, establishes a mood,
reveals the writer’s narrative style, uses irony or dramatic irony, etc.
ii) You will be provided with an excerpt of critical theory that examines patterns in
literature. You are to write a 400-500 word response to the excerpt in which you explain to
what extent the theorist’s insights apply to the novel you selected for your ISU.
iii) You must choose one secondary source pertaining to your novel. It might be a book review
or an article written in a scholarly journal. If the novel was published more than a year or
two ago, you might find entire texts relating to your novel. You will find the library at the
University of Guelph very useful for your search. (You may use on-line sources but avoid
simple plot summaries such as those you might find at amazon.com etc.) In 400-500 words,
summarize the source and explain what it adds to your understanding of the novel. You might
also comment on how the view of the novel presented in the review/article/essay differs from
your own view. You must submit a copy of your secondary source with your work.
D. Thesis, Outlines, and Interviews
You will have an opportunity for a brief, in-class interview with the teacher to review your reading
journal and to discuss your essay outline. Following the interview, you will be expected to hand in your
essay outline, which includes the following:
i) A working thesis
ii) A summary of your supporting arguments, in which each argument begins with a
working topic sentence, followed by point-form notes detailing your supporting
evidence. You must also include quotations you intend to use to support each
argument.
E. Rough Draft
You will be asked to bring a typed copy of your rough draft to class, and you will have an opportunity
to have at least two peers edit your work. Your rough draft should show clear evidence of editing.
F. Final Copy
Length to be approximately 1500-2000 words (approximately 6 pages, double-spaced). Essays that are
significantly over or under this word count may be penalized. Quotations do NOT count towards your
word count. Be sure to type your essay according to most recent MLA format.
1. EXPECTATIONS AND EVALUATION
All steps must be handed in on time. If you have a problem meeting deadlines, please discuss it with
the teacher in advance of the deadline; however, keep in mind that your work should not be left until the
night before. Computer problems will not be considered as a legitimate excuse.
You may not proceed to the next stage without completing the prior stage, and you will not receive a
mark unless ALL stages are complete. You must complete the ISU in order to earn the course credit.
COMPONENTS DUE DATES EVALUATION
Novel Selected Tuesday, February 10
Reading Journals Tuesday, March 3 20 Marks (K/U)
Preliminary Analysis Thursday, March 12 40 Marks (T; C)
Student Conferences Week of March 9--13
Thesis and Outline Tuesday, March 24 20 Marks (A)
Rough Draft (Peer Editing) Tuesday, April 7
Final Copy Thursday, April 9 100 Marks (K/U; T; C; A)
