1. Freshman Seminar in Reading & Writing
A course in writing and reading as interdependent activities stimulating intellectual inquiry and growth. Emphasis on intensive critical engagement with texts through writing will encourage students to interact with ideas in the texts, to develop their own interpretations, and to become aware of how language use in different discourses shapes and constrains meaning. Activities include frequent writing and class discussion of papers. Offered when cross-listed with FYS only.

20. Literature & Culture
This course provides an introduction to literature as a significant form of culture. Students read a broad range of writers and types of writing from a variety of historical periods to investigate how literature shapes, and is shaped by, the culture of which it is a part and to become familiar with different literary practices and cultural definitions of literature.

30. Genre: Topics
An examination of the history, criticism, theory and status of a single genre, such as the essay, epic, romance, short story, sitcom, and so on. May be repeated once for credit when the topic varies. Intended especially for first- and second-year students.

42. Approaches to American Literature
Students will read a broad range of significant American literary and non-literary texts, becoming familiar with a variety of approaches to understanding them and examining the questions of how such texts are categorized and interpreted as American.

44. Approaches to British Literature
Students will read a broad range of significant British literary and non-literary texts, becoming familiar with a variety of approaches to understanding them and examining the questions of how such texts are categorized and interpreted as British.

50. Reading the Popular in Culture
This course takes an introductory look at form, content, convention and innovation in various textual forms of popular culture (including but not limited to the romance, the western, the detective story, and science fiction). In this foray into literary and cultural study, students are encouraged to theorize such issues as "popular" vs "high" culture, the production and reception of texts, and the sorts of "cultural work" popular texts do, particularly in terms of gender, race and class. Frequent writing and revision.

54. Reading Drama
Students in this course will gain experience reading a variety of dramatic texts, and writing about their reading by engaging in questions related to form, genre, performance, history, and culture. Typically, the course will focus on a dramatic kind, like comedy or tragedy, or perhaps on an issue (representing women) or character type. Frequent writing and revision.

56. The Classic, Then and Now
What is a Classic? By reading selected "classic" texts against the critical commentary on them from two (or more) historical periods and/or cultures, students this course consider whether the "classic" owes its status to universal literary appeal or to transient critical taste. Frequent writing and revision.

58. Reading Shakespeare
What do we need to know to read a 400 year old writer? Does it matter that that writer never expect4ed to be read? How did his contemporaries see him? How have others at other times read or seen him? And what exactly are we "reading" when we read "Shakespeare"? By examining a limited number of plays, students will confron some of the conventions of reading/seeing Shakespearean playtexts and gain acquaintance with a variety of mechanisms (curricula, performance history, literary criticism, popular culture) that operate to shape our perception of "Shakespeare."

60. Literary Study
This course introduces students to the theories and processes of literary studyãthat is, to the problems, questions, and issues that constitute literary study as a critical activity and as a profession. Students will examine such areas of inquiry as literatures definition, function, and value; the authority of authors, readers, critics, and texts; the >nature< of texts; and the problem of situating both the text and the reader in history, society, and culture. Required for English and Writing majors and minors.

61. Writing Seminar
This is a topics-oriented course, concerned with theoretical issues that confront writers and the practical ways in which those issues are addressed. The course is designed to help students become more fully aware of what assumptions govern their own and others' writings, of how writing works cognitively to contribute to intellectual growth, of ways of reading writing culturally and rhetorically. Required for all English and Writing majors, this is course is open to all students with a serious interest in writing. Required for English and Writing majors and minors.

63. American Writing Since 1960
An examination of significant trends in American writing from 1960 to the present in prose fiction, poetry, and non-fiction prose.

65. Introduction to African American Literature
This course introduces students to issues in African American studies. It is a multidisciplinary course in which key statements by African Americans--including scholarly and artistic statements--will be studied very closely. The goal is not only to acquaint students with a chronology of texts and their authors, but also to view African American literature both independently and in the context of cultural, intellectual and political histories of people of color in the United States. Frequent writing and revision.

66. American Multicultural Literature
This course is an introduction to the issue of multiculturalism within U.S. society. Through reading texts from different cultural traditions such as African American, Anglo American, Asian American, Chicano, and Native American, students study the relationship between the dominant U.S. culture and marginalized U.S. cultures and the ways in which American identities and values are formed and challenged. Frequent writing and revision.

67. Introducton to Asian-American Literature
A brief introduction to 20th century literature by and about North Americans of Asian descent. This course aims to provide students with an historical foundation, a literary survey, and an appreciation of some of the contemporary issues related to race, class, and gender identity among Chines Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Filipino Americans, and Asian Indians. Includes fiction, poetry, criticism, autobiography/memoir, nonfiction essay, and film. Frequent writing, revision, and oral presentations required.

68. Australian Literature
A study of writing from "Down Under," mostly fiction and mostly since 1900, in terms of Australia's emerging society and its sense of national identity. Australian literature considered not simply as a representation, but as ongoing interrogation, of Australian society and culture. Literary texts will be supplemented by non-literary materials. Frequent writing and revision.

70. Introduction to Film Study
Critical approaches to film study, emphasizing the development of film as both an art form and cultural practice, and based on an analysis of at least a dozen film texts. Viewing lab required. Fee of $20 to cover the cost of film rentals and video purchases.

75. Introduction to Women's Studies: The Experience of Marginality
This course is designed to familiarize students with women's experiences, as well as with the ways in which society shapes notions of gender. The course will also provide ways to identify and analyze how a society's notions of gender shape the ways in which a society sees and organizes itself. Class members examine the construction of women's social roles and their personal experiences, discussing points of congruence and dissonance. As an interdisciplinary course, reading and discussion material will be drawn from fields such as religion, sociology, psychology, political science, and literature, among others, so students may examine the views, status, and contributions of women. Class sessions consist of a mixture of lectures, guest speakers, films and discussion. Frequent writing and revision.

77. Women and Literature
This course studies women writers and the historically and culturally specific conditions that have affected their production, women characters (literary representations of women ranging from the stereotypical and normative to the challenging and visionary), and women readers. Special attention is given to the inclusive category "women" which ignores differentials such as race, class, age, ethnicity, and sexual preference. Frequent writing and revision.

80. Introduction to English Linguistics
An introduction to the systematic study of the English language, and of language in general. Words; sounds; grammar and structure; language and culture; world languages and the development of English; language and the brain; language growth in the child; variations and dialects; writing systems. Frequent writing and revision.

86. Reading & Writing Sexuality
This course explores contemporary conceptions of sexual identity with particular emphasis on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer identities. The course examines theories and practices of representing sexuality, including conventions for talking about or censoring talk about sex. Writing assignments are designed to help students think critically and creatively about the complex phenomenon of human sexuality. Frequent writing and revision.

88. Reading & Writing about Class
This course explores contemporary conceptions of socioeconomic class identity, with particular emphasis on the United States context. The course examines theories and practices of representing class. Writing assignments are designed to help students think critically and creatively about the complex phenomena of class structures and class-based identity categories, and about the effects of these structures and categories on everyday life and self-presentation. We will read and discuss texts from a variety of genres: fiction, non-fiction, and theory. Also, we will trace historical changes in American definitions and perceptions of class. Frequent writing and revision.

91. Reading & Writing Poetry
An introduction to the practice of poetry, this course will explore a variety of approaches to both reading and writing poems. Traditions and theories that have helped shape and continue to influence contemporary poetry will be discussed in relation to the student's own work in this genre. Frequent writing and revision.

92. Reading & Writing the Short Story
An introduction to reading and writing short fiction. The course explores the traditions, theories, and practices that have shaped short stories, with emphasis on the fiction of the later twentieth century. Writing assignments include both critical papers and original stories. Frequent writing and revision.

93. Reading & Writing Non-fiction
An introduction to reading and writing non-fiction. Different sections may focus on essay writing, life writing, literary journalism, travel writing, scientific writing, and so on. Emphasis is on the student's own production of texts, as well as on traditions and practices of the particular genre. Activities will include frequent writing and discussion of papers. May be repeated once for credit when the topic varies. Frequent writing and revision.

94 . Business and Administrative Communication
The theory, principles, and processes of effective business and administrative communication, among which may be informative and persuasive letters and memos, informal proposals, policy and procedure descriptions, application letters, resumés, directives, performance reviews and evaluations, and letters of recommendation. Class discussion of student work, with emphasis on how each document represents the writer and how well it achieves its purpose. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Frequent writing and revision.

95. Writing Reports and Proposals
A study of the nature, function and types of reports and proposals, including principles of organizational communication; audience analysis; gathering, assessing, and organizing information; rhetoric of layout and design principles; oral presentation of data. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Frequent writing and revision.

99. Special Topics Additional courses (not described in the above course listings) are offered on an occasional basis according to student and faculty interest. Titles for these courses appear in preregistration materials. Individual course descriptions are available through the English Department office. Frequent writing and revision.