Introduction to Literature: Planning and Teaching a First-Year Course

There is a difference between a streamlined approach to an introduction to literature course and dumbing down the material. Practical considerations are important when developing any course, even more so in an introductory course. Instructors may need to deal with diverse, inexperienced students in short blocks of class time, possibly within the context of high departmental expectations, while trying to preserve personal well being and balance the daily demands of course delivery and marking. The instructor must select topics and works carefully, and then to pack their presentation with rich and important elements relevant and interesting to a variety of students.