This year's shared first-year question — explored through seminars, roundtables, a few big lectures, and field trips, for this Wed & Fri section (James Magnus-Johnston).
WK1 runs as roughly eight sections, each with its own professor; this is the reference for this section (Wed & Fri) — the shape of the semester, without the reading list, which lives in your course pack. Click a month to open it, and check things off as they happen — it's saved right in your browser.
These happen outside the regular Wed/Fri slot — plan around them.
A field trip, with several options to choose from. Sign-up sheets are posted across from Paul Dyck's office (D178). No regular class that day.
A film night with at least a few options — attend at least one. Details posted well before each showing. No regular class that day.
A lecture for all WK1 students and any other interested CMU students — currently planned as a conversation with Premier Wab Kinew (tbc).
Full descriptions are in the syllabus — this is the shape of it.
The parts of the syllabus you'll actually need to look up mid-semester.
Email: jmagnus-johnston@cmu.ca · Office D290, DeFehr Hall
Office hours: Mon/Wed 2:30–4:30 PM · Tue/Thu 4:00–6:00 PM, D290
Required textbook: Garbage: What Counts as Waste? — CommonWord Bookstore only. Bring it to every class.
Full syllabus: Download the PDF
Discussion questions, symposium proposal, and essay all go through Populi, in Word (.doc/.docx) format. Name your file Lastname AssignmentName (e.g. Baggins Essay1.docx). Discussion questions are due by 9:00 AM; everything else by 11:59 PM.
A 1% per day penalty applies for five days after the due date. After that, late work is allowed only case-by-case, after talking with James. If illness or an emergency is affecting your work for more than a few days, let him know.
12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1" margins. No title page — put the essay's title, your name, course number/name, submission date, and word count at the top left of page one. Include a Works Cited page; use MLA format throughout, in-text and cited. CMU's style guide is Diana Hacker's A Pocket Style Manual, 9th ed.
You: let James know as a courtesy, catch up on notes from classmates, and keep up with the readings.
Him: if he can't make it to class, he'll post an announcement in Populi.
All sources in all student writing must be properly referenced — plagiarism is a serious matter under CMU's Academic Policies (see the CMU website and Academic Calendar).
AI use is prohibited for composition. Each student is expected to complete assignments without substantive writing assistance from others, including AI — a central aim of WK1 is developing your own thought and voice as an attentive reader, which generative AI drafting works against.
For accessibility accommodations, contact Sandra Loeppky, Coordinator of Accessibility Programs, at sloeppky@cmu.ca or 204.487.3300 x.340. CMU asks everyone to refrain from wearing fragrances and scented personal care products on campus, in recognition of asthma, allergy, and chemical sensitivities.
Free, confidential counselling is available to CMU students — email counselling@cmu.ca, or reach Danielle Morton (Director of Student Community Life) at dmorton@cmu.ca. Counselling office: C366, north side.
| Letter | % | Points | Descriptor |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90–100 | 4.5 | Exceptional |
| A | 85–89 | 4.25 | Excellent |
| A- | 80–84 | 4.0 | Great |
| B+ | 77–79 | 3.5 | Very good |
| B | 73–76 | 3.25 | Good |
| B- | 70–72 | 3.0 | Satisfactory |
| C+ | 67–69 | 2.5 | Competent |
| C | 63–66 | 2.25 | Acceptable |
| C- | 60–62 | 2.0 | Adequate |
| D | 50–59 | 1 | Marginal |
| F | 0–49 | 0 | Failure |