150. Writing Across the Curriculum (1). Extensive practice in the writing specific to different academic fields, such as art criticism, sociology, and chemistry. The course covers writing rules appropriate to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Examples for study will include both student and professional writing in various academic subjects. Writing in professional journals will be foregrounded. (LW) Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
160. Introduction to Rhetorical Theory and Practice (1). This course provides an intensive overview of classical and modern rhetoric and discourse studies. Through example and their own writing, students will learn about modes of persuasion, logical fallacies in argumentation, and how to use external aids (the library, the World Wide Web, electronic databases, etc.) to strengthen their thinking and writing. (LW)
190. Introduction to Literary Study (1). Designed for the potential major in English and other interested students. Possible prerequisite to advanced courses in English. Methods of close reading of selected works of poetry, drama, and fiction, with training in analysis and critical writing. (Also listed as Comparative Literature 190. English majors should register for English 190.) (WL, LW) Offered each semester.
195. British Literary Traditions (1). Reading lists vary, but each includes British texts from the earliest to the most recent literary historical periods. The course’s aim is to provide students with an understanding of individual texts as indebted to the texts that precede them, and as unique demonstration of each writer’s own creativity and of the specific historical context within which she/he writes. (WL) Offered each semester. Prerequisite: English 190.
196. American Literary Traditions (1). Reading lists vary, but each includes American texts from the 17th through the 20th centuries. The course’s aim is to provide students with an understanding of individual texts as indebted to the texts that precede them, and as unique demonstration of each writer’s own creativity and of the specific historical context within which she/he writes. (WL) Prerequisite: English 190.
197. Literature of the English Diaspora (1). Reading lists vary, but each includes texts from throughout the English diaspora. The course’s aim is to provide students with an understanding of individual texts as related to other texts, and as unique demonstrations of each writer’s own creativity and of the specific historical, cultural, and regional context within which she/he writes. Prerequisite: English 190 or consent of instructor.
205. Introduction to Creative Writing (1). Experimentation and practice in writing poetry and fiction. Readings to suggest and illustrate forms and techniques. (LW) Offered each semester. Prerequisite: One literature course or sophomore standing.
210. Creative Writing: Poetry (1). Close analysis of representative poems to increase understanding of the nature and methods of poetry. Composition and discussion of original poems. Offered each fall. Prerequisite: English 205.
211. Advanced Poetry-Writing (1⁄2, 1). Advanced practice in the techniques of poetry-writing. Composition and discussion of original poems. (WL) Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: English 205 and 210.
215. Writing for Actors (1). Analysis of the craft of dramatic writing with emphasis on structure and dialogue. Practice in writing scripts for stage and screen. (Also listed as Theatre Arts 215.) (WL) Prerequisite: English 205 or Theatre Arts 110.
220. Creative Writing: Fiction (1). The techniques of short story writing. Study of representative examples. Practice in writing fiction of various lengths. Offered each fall. Prerequisite: English 205.
221. Advanced Fiction-Writing (1⁄2, 1). Advanced practice in the techniques of fiction-writing. Composition and discussion of original stories. Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: English 205 and 220.
223. Topics in Creative Writing (1⁄2, 1). This course examines specific modes of creative writing that cross traditional literary genres such as graphic novels, online writing, and writing for video. It may focus on specific topics that cross literary genres such as point of view, setting, and narrative. May be repeated for credit if topic is different. Offered occasionally. Topics course. Prerequisite: English 190, 205.
226. Creative Non-Fiction (1). Study and practice in the essay as a literary form. Some historical survey of the personal essay in the English-speaking world, especially in Britain and America. Special attention to what makes essays “literary,” and practice in writing such essays. (WL) Offered each spring. Prerequisite: English 205.
227. The Mackey Workshop (1⁄2, 1). Advanced practice in poetry-writing, fiction-writing, play-writing, or essaywriting. Genre varies with the particular instructor, who will always be the Lois Wilson Mackey’45 Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
234. English-Language Literature in International Contexts (1⁄2, 1). These courses focus on literature written in English by writers not natively either American or British. In many cases, they write in a “post-colonial” context. Texts are located both internationally and in relation to their own cultural and historical context. Topics and texts may vary with instructor. English Language Literature in International Contexts courses might include: Coming-of-Age in Australia; The Color Line in South-African Literature; The Literature of Scottish Nationalism; Narrative in Post-Colonial India. (Also listed as Theatre Arts 234, when appropriate.) Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
246. Literary History, Theory, Practice (1⁄2, 1). This course investigates various approaches to language, texts, reading, representation, literary history, and interpretation. Various theoretical perspectives will be used to analyze literary texts. Topics, theories, and texts vary with instructor. Prerequisite: English 190 and either 195, 196, or 197.
251. Studies in Medieval Literature (1⁄2, 1). Literature before 1500, first of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in Medieval Literature might be: Feudalism and Quest Romance; Chaucer and His Contemporaries; Privileged Access: Medieval Dream-Visions and the Politics of Truth. (WL) Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
252. Studies in Renaissance Literature (1⁄2, 1). Literature 1500 to mid-1600s, second of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in Renaissance Literature might be: Renaissance Love Poetry; Shakespeare and His Contemporaries; Teasing Time: Masque, Pageant, Pastoral. (Also listed as Theatre Arts 252, when appropriate.) Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
253. Studies in Restoration and Enlightenment Literature (1⁄2, 1). Literature mid-1600s to late 1700s, third of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in Restoration and Enlightenment Literature might be: Satire and Sensibility, Dryden to Sterne; “The Rise of the Novel;” and the Reading Middle Class. Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
254. Studies in Romantic Literature (1⁄2, 1). Literature late 1700s through early 1800s, fourth of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in Romantic Literature might be: Inventing “Folk” and Historicizing Fiction: Wordsworth, Scott, Cooper, Irving; Re-Writing Satanic Rebellion, Blake to Emily Bronte. Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
256. Studies in American Literature Before 1860 (1⁄2, 1). American literature to 1860, fifth of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in American Literature Before 1860 might be: Personal Narratives in a Developing Nation; Establishing a National Voice. Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
257. Studies in Literature, Later 1800s and Early 1900s (1⁄2, 1). Sixth of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in Literature, Later 1800s and Early 1900s, might be: The Victorian Temper; Literary Regionalism and Industrializing America; Trans-Atlantic Connections; Immigrants and the American Experience. Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
258. Studies in Literature, Later Twentieth Century (1⁄2, 1). Seventh of a set of courses, “Texts and Historical Contexts,” all of which approach literature by locating it in its historical context. Studies in Literature, Later 20th Century, might be: Literary Modernism: Stein, Eliot, Joyce, Woolf; The Harlem Renaissance; Postmodern Metafiction and the Discourses of History: Coetzee, Rushdie, Barthes, Doctorow, Morrison. Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
271. Topics in Literature and Criticism (1⁄2, 1). Attention to special problems in literature and/or criticism. Complementing other offerings, these courses vary in subject and approach. They arise from and respond to the particular interests and expertise of students and faculty. Topics course. Prerequisite: Varies with instructor.
301. Literature in Context (1). Topics will change, but all sections of this advanced seminar will provide students the opportunity to examine literature in ideological, artistic, historical and/or rhetorical contexts. May be repeated for credit if topic is different. Topics course. Prerequisite: English 190, 195, 196, and 246 or two “TD” courses; junior standing; or consent of instructor.
310. Literature as Process: Composing in Forms (1). An examination of specialized literary forms. General topics include the study of specific texts that define the history and development of certain sub-genres of literature (science fiction, the detective story, the horror story, New Journalism, formalist poetry, etc.). The student also will be expected to produce original creative works within each category included in the course. Recommended for creative-writing majors or literary-studies majors with interests in particular types of genre writing. Specific topics in the course vary. May be repeated once for credit if content changes. Topics course. Prerequisite: Junior standing and English 190 and 195; or consent of instructor.
360. Advanced Study in Rhetoric and Discourse Topics (1). This course provides a thematic, in-depth study of some major aspect of rhetorical or discourse theory. The course of study involves the communication of some selected aspect of theory (e.g., ethos, encomium, semiotics, speech-act theory) and its application to some particular manifestation in prose rhetoric or discourse. Offered occasionally. Topics course. Prerequisite: English 160 or consent of instructor.
375. Independent Study. (Credit determined at completion of course.)
390. Special Projects (1⁄2, 1). Individually planned programs of reading, writing, research, and consultation supervised by a member of the department. No more than 1 unit of standard special projects credit may be applied toward any major. Prerequisite: Junior standing; and English 190 or 195 for literature projects, English 205 plus appropriate genre course for creativewriting projects; English 160, 190 for rhetoric and discourse projects.
English Course Descriptions