Spring 2021 Detailed Course Description:

This course will introduce the terms, methods, and expectations of the major in English.  The purpose of the course is twofold.  First, it will introduce the major genres of English literature – nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry – and consider the terms of criticism applicable to these genres.  Second, and more importantly, it will teach the craft of writing a critical essay with strong argumentation, proper grammar, appropriate punctuation and typography, citations of evidence, and applicable Modern Language Association (MLA) format and style.  We will be engaged in writing on a regular, weekly basis, either in the form of short journal entries or more lengthy papers on themes in several works of literature, on genres, or on any variety of problems that we encounter in our readings.  Types of papers we will write range from personal response essays, to analytical essays on formal aspects of works of literature, to thematic and comparison/contrast essays, and to various combinations of these approaches.  The course will include five papers, one of which is a research essay.  This course must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” within one semester of declaring the English major.