English Courses

Writing 100 or its equivalent is a prerequisite for every course in the English Department.

101. American Literature. Introduction to the development of the American literary heritage, with emphasis on analytical, written, and oral skills. (M2) Comfort, Diamond

102. British Literature. Introduction to distinctive British works, emphasizing analytical and communication skills. (M2) Dougal

103.Western Literature. Selected major works in the literature of the Western world, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. Recommended for those considering an English major. (M2) Reid

104. The Experience of Literature. Introduction to major literary genres—fiction, poetry, and drama—from a variety of times and cultures, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. On occasion, thematic courses may be offered, such as “The Experience of Literature by Women.” (M2) Staff

105. African-American Literature. This course will introduce students to the poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and drama of the African-American tradition in literature. Emphasis will be on close reading and writing about the readings. (M2) Comfort

210. Business Writing. Introduction to writing for the business sector (correspondence, reports, proposals, presentations, other forms of business writing). Staff

211. Creative Nonfiction. Guided practice in public and personal essay writing. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: permission of instructor. Fall. Hinnefeld, Wingard

212. Introduction to Creative Writing. Guided practice in poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. Prerequisites: permission of instructor. (M6) Fall. Hinnefeld

213.2. Tutorship I. One-half unit of credit given for completion of tutor training course: extensive practice with student writing samples, several writing assignments, full review of grammar. The practicum is three hours of tutoring per week, compensated at work-study wage. Interested students must apply and be selected by Writing Center director before registering. Prerequisites: interview with director, approval of director. Hinnefeld

214.2. Tutorship II. One-half unit of credit given for self-guided study and four hours of tutoring per week. Student’s written proposal for study must be approved by Writing Center director. Prerequisites: English 213.2, QPA of 3.00, approval of director. Hinnefeld

220. The Study of Literature. Introduction to the discipline of literary scholarship. Topics include analysis of literature, bibliographical and research techniques, critical thinking, various literary approaches, literary theory. Open to non-English majors by permission of department only. Fall & Spring. Writing intensive. Black

221. The English Language. Introduction to phonology, grammar, and lexicon of English from its beginning to the present, with an emphasis on current language issues. Fall. Black

230. Public Speaking. Basic theory of public speaking with emphasis on developing skills essential to effective interpersonal communication in industrial, business, and academic settings. Alternate years. Ramsey

232. Art of the Theater. Aesthetic, historical, and production aspects of theater. Practical experience in production. Alternate years. Ramsey

233. Modern Drama and Theater. Development of dramatic literature and theatrical practice in the 20th century. Fall, alternate years. Ramsey

234. American Drama and Theater. Development of dramatic literature and theatrical practice in America, 1665 to the present. Spring, alternate years. Ramsey

240. Post-Colonial Literature. Introduction to literature produced by 20th-century African, Asian, and Caribbean writers from former colonies of Western European empires, especially Britain. (M5) Diamond

310. Business and Community Writing. Writing for business and nonprofit sectors with required community service/consulting component in targeted agencies. Prerequisites: English 210 or 211, permission of instructor. Spring. Hinnefeld

311. Fiction Writing. Focused study of contemporary fiction, writing of several complete fictional works. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: English 211 or 212 or equivalent; permission of instructor. Spring. Two 70-minute periods. Hinnefeld

312. News and Feature Writing. Guided practice in writing news and feature articles for newspaper readers, with attention to news criteria and the state of newspapers in the United States. Prerequisites: English 211 or 212 or equivalent; permission of instructor. Spring. Wingard

313. Poetry Writing. Focused study of contemporary poetry, writing of a range of complete poetic works. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: Grade of at least B– in Writing 100 or equivalent, English 211 or 212, permission of instructor. (M6) Fall, alternate years. Hinnefeld

314. Theories of Composition and Rhetoric. Contemporary theories of composition— process, product, and pedagogy—and of rhetoric in an academic setting. May be especially valuable for students seeking secondary education certification. Prerequisites: English 211 or 212. Fall, alternate years. Wingard

320. The Art of Poetry. Designed to provide the student of literature with theories and techniques for understanding, appreciating, and evaluating poetry. Alternate years. Dougal

330. Shakespeare. The major plays. Alternate years. Ramsey

340. American Literature 1800-1865. The range of literary voices that constitute American literature, including works by Native Americans and African-Americans, Hispanics, women, and a variety of ethnic and minority groups, as well as the 19thcentury giants: Irving, Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman. Alternate years. Dougal

341. American Realism. Development of American realism from its late 19th-century beginnings in Twain, Howells, Wharton, and James to its height in the early 20th-century writings of Crane, Norris, Robinson, Dreiser, and others. Alternate years. Diamond

342. 20th-Century American Literature to 1950. Nonfiction prose, fiction, poetry to 1950. Fall, alternate years. Wingard

343. Contemporary Fiction. Works since 1950, with emphasis on living authors. Alternate years. Diamond

350. Chaucer. The Canterbury Tales and selected minor poems from the perspective of textual and source analysis, as well as feminist, psychological, and new historicist approaches. No previous study of Middle English required but English 221 recommended. Alternate years. Black

351. British Renaissance and Neoclassicism. British poetry, non-Shakespearean drama, and prose, 1500-1800. Alternate years. Diamond

352. British Literature 1780-1830. Literature by men and women of varying ethnicities and social classes, and of primary documents that reveal major historical conditions and social and cultural movements to which these writers responded. Some emphasis upon major Romantic poets. Alternate years. Dougal

353. The British Novel. From its beginnings in the 18th century to the 20th century. Alternate years. Reid

354. 20th-Century British Literature. British and Irish poets and novelists, with some emphasis on writers who have gained recognition since World War II. Alternate years. Wingard

360. Dramatic Literature and the Moral Life 1580-1642. Investigates issues of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender in the dramatic literature of the early modern period in England. Special attention to the plays of Shakespeare for their sensitivity to the diversity of the human condition. Earlier and later playwrights attuned to these issues will also be studied. (U2) Fall. Reid

361. Dramatic Literature and the Moral Life 1875-Present. Examines moral problems and resolutions in modern/postmodern dramatic literature. Issues of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender, as well as other concerns that compromise the modern moral life. (U2) Ramsey

370. Seminar in English and American Literature. Detailed study of a single writer, school, genre, or theme in literature. Staff

375-377. English Internship. Practical field experience in writing for mass media, business, industry, or nonprofits. Preferably taken in the senior year. Designed in consultation with director of internship program and field supervisor. By arrangement. Prerequisite: Approval of Writing Track portfolio. Wingard

190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.

381-384. Independent Study.

386-389. Field Study.

400-401. Honors.