English

A review of the concepts of traditional grammar and punctuation, with ample opportunities to practice proofreading skills, and a refresher course in constructing paragraphs and writing short essays as preparation for freshman composition. Pass/Fail.

Instruction and practice in writing well-organized compositions with a review of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of information literacy through required library assignments.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Continued instruction and practice in reading, writing, and critical thinking with particular emphasis on analysis and interpretation. Further emphasis on information literacy through required library assignments. 

This course explores global literature in the context of empire. Readings focus upon literary and cultural dialogues that shape national identity during and after colonization. Colonial and postcolonial texts are read together to show the evolution of culture through narrative. 

This collaborative workshop involves English majors in career exploration and preparation, development of interpersonal and leadership skills, and practice with relevant technologies.

A study of selected British works from the Old English period through the eighteenth century, this course introduces students to the early classics of English literature and helps place those works in their social and historical contexts. 

A study of selected British works from the nineteenth century to the present, this course introduces students to classics of English literature and helps place those works in their social and historical contexts. 

A study of selected major American writers from the colonial period to 1865, including poetry, fiction, essay, history, and autobiography. 

A study of selected major American writers from 1865 to the present, including poetry, fiction, drama, essay, history, and biography. 

An entry-level study of supernatural fiction in American literature from its beginnings in the early nineteenth century to the present. This course will explore supernatural literature--in the form of stories, poems, and critical essays--as well as cinematic and television adaptations of classic literature. Using a number of critical and theoretical frameworks, the course will examine traditional and contemporary supernatural themes and conventions and explore the reasons for the popularity of the form and its ability to contain and facilitate serious discussion and debate.  

A course in writing creative nonfiction, including personal essays and creative journalism in various forms. Students will learn to read examples of creative nonfiction critically, use language skillfully, shape ideas into well-crafted essays, provide thoughtful critique of peer writing, and participate in a creative writing workshop. 

A course that requires students to serve as staff writers for the campus newspaper and for the literary magazine and to sell ads, work on layouts, and distribute publications across the campus. 

This course is intended to help the beginning writer learn and practice the craft of writing in several different genres. Critical and expressive skills are sharpened through the practice of writing creative essays, short fiction, and poetry, and also through written and oral critiques of student work and analysis of the techniques of established essayists, fiction writers, and poets. Each unit of the course will begin with readings and exercises designed to practice the elements of writing in that unit, building up to the writing of our own essays, stories, and poems. These works will be critiqued in class, and students will revise and submit them, along with other exercises, to determine their final grade.

A study of the short story as a literary genre. Readings include American and international authors, with attention to historical development, cultural contexts, and contemporary innovations and experimentation.

A course in the writing of poetry. Contemporary and traditional poetry of various cultures will be examples and guides. Students will write, experiment, and critique. 

A course in writing fiction.  Students will read and study classic and contemporary works of fiction from a writer’s perspective and practice skills of the craft, including characterization, setting, point of view, dialogue, scene, and structure. Course includes workshop and critique of peer writing. 

A study of film and how to analyze it, including aesthetic, genre, and auteur approaches. The films will include work from the silent period to the present by both American and European directors. 

A study of drama, fiction, and film, mostly British and American, that have helped to create and sustain this popular twentieth century tradition. The works will include at least three Shakespeare comedies, one or two Restoration or eighteenth-century comedies, a novel by Jane, Austen, plays by Shaw and Wilde, and a contemporary comic novel and a film a week chosen to balance movies from the first and the second halves of the sound era.

An introductory course in contemporary journalism, including practice in ethical and accurate journalistic reporting and writing. Topics to be examined include news, editorial, and features writing and the role, history, and production of various forms of journalism.

A course in editorial skills for working with a wide range of publications. Instruction in stylistic editing, substantive editing, and production editing. 

This course offers an introduction to theory and practice of text/image relationships in specific communication contexts. Students will study the ways in which texts and images work together to create meaning in various written and electronic documents, and they will design print and electronic documents. This course aims to prepare professional writing minors to contribute to communication projects and teams in the workplace.

An introduction to the research tools in English studies and a practicum in research methods, including finding sources, recognizing different critical approaches, creating an annotated bibliography, and introducing quoted or paraphrased material correctly. 

A systematic and rigorous examination of traditional grammar, including the study of elements of sentence structure and applications to proofreading and language conventions appropriate to the purpose, audience, and context of written and oral communication. Attention given to students’ right to their own language, diverse language learners, and the impact of cultural, economic, political, and social environments upon language. This course explores usage problems and focuses on fundamental issues underlying all errors of grammatical usage. 

An examination of diverse and censored books in literature, with a focus on inclusivity and socially constructed ideas of censorship throughout history. Emphasis will be placed on social justice frames and theories, on diverse and intersectional authors whose texts have been censored, and on developing critical consciousness through close reading.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

An entry-level study of a literature focused on a particular author or theme. This course invites active readers to build on their interests and explore new texts and ideas that arise from the close study of literature. 

In conjunction with a faculty mentor, the student will participate in a research project that will culminate in a paper and, if appropriate, a presentation. A research proposal form completed by the student and faculty mentor is required to complete registration. 

A focused study of a period, genre, movement or theme not covered by the department's standard course offerings. May include literature of a geographic or cultural region within or outside the United States, advanced study of a particular author or artistic movement, or investigation of a theme or issue across genres, periods, or nationalities. 

A course in literature for young adults, with emphasis on classics and trends in realistic fiction or problem novels, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, nonfiction, and poetry geared toward young adult audiences.  This course likewise incorporates trends and issues in young adult literacy and pertinent critical stances. 

A study of five representative Austen novels spanning her writing career. We will discuss these works in historical and cultural context and consider some movie treatments of Austen.

A literature course focusing on activism, agency, belonging, and becoming through contemporary and classic texts, texts by BIPOC women activists, and texts that emphasize the importance of literature and of intersectionality. We will frame, read, and respond as our study directs.

An introduction to queer literary theories, queer analysis, queer histories, and numerous pieces of literature that engage queer themes. Students will examine how literary texts reproduce and resist social normativities, power structures, and representations of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

This course is organized around a series of workshops in which students will present their own prose (either fiction or creative nonfiction) and discuss the prose of their classmates. Prose Workshop supports an open and exploratory approach in terms of the craft considerations, themes, and voices students present in their work. Students are also encouraged to experiment with different types of workshops and consider what styles do and do not work best for them and their work. The course supports students' understanding of prose and prose craft through readings in contemporary prose, but the primary text and focus of our discussion will be student writing. Students participate actively in workshops and submit a final portfolio of revised prose. The course also features discussions of the professionalization of creative writing, graduate and editorial opportunities, and the publication of creative work.

This course is organized around a series of workshops in which students will present their own poetry and discuss the poetry of their classmates. Poetry Workshop supports an open and exploratory approach in terms of the craft considerations, themes, and voices students present in their work. Students are also encouraged to experiment with different types of workshops and consider what styles do and do not work best for them and their work. The course supports students' understanding of poetry and poetic craft through readings in contemporary poetry, but the primary text and focus of our discussion will be student writing. Students participate actively in workshops and submit a final portfolio or revised poems. The course also features discussions of the professionalization of creative writing, graduate and editorial opportunities, and the publication of creative work.

A survey of African-American literature from slave narratives to recent works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. 

A study of 20th and 21st-century literature from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, including novels, short stories, autobiography, and drama. Readings will show perspectives of different cultures and a variety of artistic modes. 

A study of the development of the British novel, from its origins to the beginning of the 20th century. The novels to be studied will represent a variety of forms and styles and will include writers such as Austen, Dickens, Eliot, Hardy, and others. 

Students will study several (five to eight) Shakespeare plays within their historical context and alongside modern criticism and responses. Special attention will be given to understanding the social, cultural, and political context of the early modern period and the ways Shakespeare has been used to create and reinforce modern cultural norms. Supplementary reading in diverse responses to the Shakespeare canon, both critical an, literary, will be required. The particular context such as gender, sexuality, race, or, class, may change from year to year with special attention to current cultural climate.

A study of modern theatre from 1875 to the present, this course will look at the development of drama through playwrights and their works. Beginning with Ibsen, Strindberg, Chekhov, and Shaw, the class will explore important twentieth century plays and conclude with contemporary drama. Work will include substantial reading and writing, with viewing and reviewing of performances.

A study of Old English language and a reading of a history of the English language. Readings of selected prose and poetry in Old English. 

A study of Chaucer's poetry with a few selections from other Middle English writings. Supplementary study of etymology of English words and supplementary reading in background material. 

A course in the historical development of the English language from Proto-Indo-European through the present, including phonology, morphology, semantics, and dialect. We will pay particular attention to the historical and social influences on the language and on those who speak and write it.

An audience-focused writing course offering practice with professional documents, including proposals, evaluations, process pieces, and argument. Editing, collaborative writing, and style topics prepare students to work on creative and project-based teams.    

A study of important American women writers that focuses on a variety of genres. 

A study of fiction, poetry, drama, essays, and autobiographies by Southern American writers. Topics include issues of family and social institutions, race, religion, and the importance of the land and place. The seminar format offers opportunity for personal expression and independent research. 

This course draws upon the specialized expertise of the instructor and focuses upon one type of writing used in professional settings. Topics include public relations, business, research, and promotional writing. Students will study strategies and contexts for the selected topic and generate original writing projects and presentations.

A study of important American short fiction and novels from 1970 to the present, including significant literary movements such as postmodernism. 

This course draws upon the specialized expertise of the instructor and focuses on one type of writing prominent in current publishing, including autofiction, flash writing, screenwriting, young adult literature, and the graphic novel. Students study strategies and contexts for the selected topic and generate original writing projects in the selected form. 

A study of 20th-century poetry in the English language, with concentration on some of the major poets and principal schools of poetry, and with briefer study of a wide range of contemporary poets and their works. 

A study of Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats with selections from other poets of the Romantic period. 

A study of selected British works from the Victorian period. This course introduces students to a variety of genres and helps place these works in their historical and cultural contexts. 

A study of major works of Swift, Pope, Boswell, and Johnson with additional reading from other authors illustrating the age and significant literary forms.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Interns work with an employer to observe a professional setting, learn and practice new skills related to the major and chosen field, and use the experience as an opportunity to reflect upon career goals and expectations. Approved placements involve a significant amount of writing. Each hour of credit involves 40 hours of work.

Special topics course offered in response to student and faculty interest.

Representative epics, dramas, and novels of continental literature studied in relation to English literature. 

Under the direction of a faculty member, a student will complete the assembly of their final creative writing thesis, making revision choices through directed conference sessions with ENG-496/ENG-497 or ENG-410 peers and through one-on-one discussions with a faculty director, focusing on the effectiveness of the manuscript as a whole. Projects will be presented orally as well. 

Under the direction of a faculty member, a student will complete the assembly of their final creative writing thesis, making revision choices through directed conference sessions with ENG-496/ENG-497 or ENG-410 peers and through one-on-one discussions with a faculty director, focusing on the effectiveness of the manuscript as a whole. Projects will be presented orally as well. 

Under the direction of a faculty member, a student will conduct an original close reading of a literary work informed by a substantial body of, critical works on their topic. Generally, students are advised to limit themselves to one to three works and/or authors. All projects will culminate in a research paper. Projects will be presented orally as well. 

Under the direction of a faculty member, a student will conduct an original close reading of a literary work informed by a substantial body of critical works on their topic. Generally, students are advised to limit themselves to one to three works and/or authors. All projects will culminate in a research paper. 

A pre-professional course aimed at identifying the goals of English teachers and exploring different methods of reaching these goals. Students will build a growing knowledge of content pedagogy, culturally-relevant praxis, and current research and best practices. They will begin a file of teaching materials, including lesson plans, unit plans, and a plan for a year.