Waiyee Loh
Associate Professor of World Literature
Introductory Seminar in World Literature
(AY 2024/2025, Semester 2)
Download course syllabus here: Intro Seminar in World Lit syllabus (revised).pdf
Week 1. Introduction
Overview of the academic essay-writing process
Lecture slides: W1. Introduction.pptx
Week 2. Text
Reading: Extracts from Aw, Five Star Billionaire
Lecture slides: W2. Text.pptx
W2. Map of South and East China Seas.jpg
PDF of Five Star Billionaire extracts: Tash Aw. Five Star Billionaire extracts.pdf
Week 3. Context and Criticism
Reading: Lim, “National and Diasporic Identity in Shirley Geok-lin Lim’s Among the White Moon Faces and Tash Aw’s Five Star Billionaire”
Lecture slides: W3. Context and criticism (for students).pptx
PDF of article: Lim. National and Diasporic Identity in Lim and Aw.pdf
Interview with Tash Aw: Interview with Tash Aw. The Post-Colonial Novel.pdf
Week 4. Brainstorming
Designing a research question
Lecture slides:
Research question due
Week 5. Drafting
Beginning to answer your research question
Identifying areas for research
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Week 6. Doing research
Looking for appropriate sources
Lecture slides:
Library research skills workshop:
Bibliography due
Week 7. Doing research
Taking notes
Lecture slides:
Template:
Annotated bibliography due
Week 8. Writing the first draft
The structure of the essay
Lecture slides:
Essay formatting instructions: Essay formatting instructions.pdf
First draft due
Week 9. Revising the first draft
Students peer-review each other's work
Identifying areas for further research
Lecture slides:
Template:
Peer-review worksheet due
Week 10. Writing the second draft
Doing further research
Lecture slides:
Template:
Second draft due
Week 11. Revising the second draft
My feedback on the second draft
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Week 12. Writing the third draft
Student consultations
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Third draft due
Week 13. Editing
In-text citations and the list of works cited
Lecture slides:
Proof-reading the third draft: students peer-review each other's work
Week 14. Conclusion
Lecture slides:
Submit final essay (fourth version)