English

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Professors Helen Caudill, Patricia Ferreira, Andrew Knauf, Daniel Lane, Jonathan Walters; Associate Professors F. Brett Cox, Carl Martin,  Kathleen McDonald (Chair), and Lea Williams; Assistant Professors Dalyn Luedtke, Kyle Pivetti, Sean Prentiss, Amy Woodbury Tease; Adjunct Faculty Jeanne Beckwith, Kate Donley, Gina Logan, Eileen Murray, Priscilla Morin Ollier, Robert Piasecki, L. Dan Richards, Melanie Schultz, Karen Stewart.

Courses are offered in literature, theater, and film, which provide a broad humanistic background, and in writing and speech, which provide practical skills. The composition and literature sequence emphasizes writing, reading, and critical thinking skills; students also receive instruction in the forms of discourse and literary genres. The world literature sequence, required of all Bachelor of Arts students, examines world texts in their historical and cultural contexts. A broad range of elective offerings, open to students of all academic disciplines, provides examination of traditional periods and authors as well as emerging literary forms.  Specialty courses also include literature of the developing world, of leadership, of American culture and ethnicity, and of the military. A variety of writing courses, both technical and creative, introduces and strengthens rhetorical skill.

Because the English major demands that its students write and speak clearly and precisely about historical and contemporary ideas, it provides a solid basis for many professions and occupations, including law, medicine, teaching, communications, business and government, graduate study, and military service. In addition, many students find that the English major provides excellent preparation for post-graduate study in a variety of fields.

B.A. in English - Required Courses

Students must complete: The student must earn a grade of C or higher in all of these courses, except EN 101/EN 107 or EN 102/EN 108, in one of which a grade of D may be earned.
Composition and Literature I3
Composition and Literature for Foreign Nationals I
Composition and Literature II3
Composition and Literature for Foreign Nationals II
World Literature I3
World Literature II3
Minimum of thirteen English courses above EN 202
39
Required courses above EN 202:
Survey of British Literature I3
Survey of British Literature II3
Survey of American Literature I3
Survey of American Literature II3
Advanced Composition3
Professional and Technical Writing
Introduction to Creative Writing
The Plays of Shakespeare I3
The Plays of Shakespeare II
or EN 373 Major Author
One course in American Literature EN 390
3
One course in British Literature EN 370
3
Senior Seminar3
Four additional English courses numbered above EN 202, three of which must be above 299.
12

EN 101 and EN 102 are prerequisites for all English courses numbered above EN 200.  Although EN 101 and EN 102 are normally taken during the first year, those with satisfactory scores on the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board may petition to receive credit or to substitute other courses for the EN 101/102 requirements. 

Teacher Licensure

English majors may elect to seek licensure by completing education courses and a semester of student teaching as described in the Teacher Education section. Students should begin planning in their freshman year to fit education requirements into their major.

ROTC Courses as required are in addition to the above requirements.

  • Please note that EN 450 is usually taught only in the fall semester.
  • A student must either pass or receive department authorized waiver for both EN 101 or EN 107 and EN 102 or EN 108, before registering for any English class above EN 112

B.A. in English - Curriculum Map

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EN 101 Composition and Literature I or 107 Composition and Literature for Foreign Nationals I3EN 102 Composition and Literature II or 108 Composition and Literature for Foreign Nationals II3
CN/FR/GR/SP Modern Foreign Language (Modern Language credit is determined in accordance with department placement.) 6CN/FR/GR/SP Modern Foreign Language (Modern language credit is determined in accordance with department placement.)6
HI Elective (excluding HI 209)3EC/PY/HI/SO or PO Elective (At least one of these must be in a discipline other than History.  
Elective3Elective3
 Elective3
 15 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EN 201 World Literature I3EN 202 World Literature II3
EN 225 Survey of British Literature I3EN 226 Survey of British Literature II3
EN 282 Literary Methods3MA Elective (excluding MA 005, MA 103, MA 160)3-4
PH/FA/ML/ Elective3Elective3
MA Elective (excluding MA 005, MA 103, MA 160)3-4Elective3
 15-16 15-16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EN 227 Survey of American Literature I3EN 228 Survey of American Literature II3
EN 333 The Plays of Shakespeare I or 334 The Plays of Shakespeare II3EN 350 History of the English Language3
or EN 373 Major Author
 EN 370 Topics in British Literature3
EN 390 Topics in American Literature3Lab Science Elective4
Lab Science Elective4Elective3
Elective3 
 16 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EN 203 Advanced Composition, 204 Professional and Technical Writing, or 306 Creative Writing3EN Elective (above 299)3
EN 450 Senior Seminar3EN Elective (above 299)3
EN Elective (above EN 202)3HI/SO or PO Elective (At least one of the EC/PY/HI/SO/PO electives must be in a discipline other than History (HI).3
EN Elective (above EN 299)3Elective3
EC/PY/HI/SO or PO elective (at least one course must be in a discipline other than History.)3Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 122-124

ROTC courses as required are in addition to the above requirements.

English Minor

Many students who major in disciplines other than English but who share a love and respect for language and literature pursue the academic minor in English. This versatile and popular program encourages students to draw from the department’s range of resources in writing, literature, film, and theater, tailoring a program to their special interests. For example, students primarily interested in developing their potential to write well might choose a minor consisting of Advanced Composition, Professional and Technical Writing, Creative Writing, and a course emphasizing the critical analysis of literature. Students who enjoy literature, film, or theater can find ample opportunities among the department’s regular offerings to develop competencies in these areas. For the English minor, the student must complete, with a grade of C or higher, six courses:

EN 201World Literature I3
EN 202World Literature II3
EN 282Literary Methods3
Three additional English courses numbered above EN 202, one of which must be above 299.9
Total Credits18

Courses

EN 005 Basic English 3 Credits

A review of the fundamentals of composition designed to raise the student's command of English to the college level. Required for those whose tests and records demonstrate weakness in diction, spelling, grammar, punctuation and organization. Offered fall semester only. Students assigned to EN 005 must successfully complete the course before enrolling in EN 101. This course will not meet any degree requirements and cannot be used as an elective.

EN 101 Composition and Literature I 3 Credits

EN 101 is devoted chiefly to the principles of written organization, exposition, argumentation, and research. Pre-Requisite: EN 005 or incoming test score.

EN 102 Composition and Literature II 3 Credits

EN 102 provides, through an extension and intensification of the methods and approaches of EN 101, an introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and film. Prerequisite: EN 101.

EN 105 English as a Foreign Language I 3 Credits

A course for intermediate non-native speakers of English that stresses writing, reading, speaking, listening improvement and provides an introduction to the social and cultural values of the English-speaking world. Placement by TOEFL score.

EN 106 English as a Foreign Language II 3 Credits

A course for advanced non-native speakers of English that stresses writing, reading, speaking, listening improvement and provides an introduction to the conduct, organization and reporting of library research. Prerequisite: EN 105 or permission of the instructor.

EN 107 Composition and Literature for Foreign Nationals I 3 Credits

A course for advanced non-native speakers of English that parallels the content and structure of EN 101. The student and instructor will meet in conference to assess the student's progress in the course. Prerequisite: EN 106 or permission of instructor.

EN 108 Composition and Literature for Foreign Nationals II 3 Credits

A course for advanced non-native speakers of English that parallels the content and structure of EN 102. The student and instructor will meet in conference to assess the student's progress in the course. Prerequisite: EN 107 or permission of instructor.

EN 112 Public Speaking 3 Credits

A practical course in the fundamentals of public address and speech analysis.

EN 201 World Literature I 3 Credits

A course that examines representative works of world literature up to the mid-seventeenth century. Texts are explored in their historical, cultural, and social contexts. EN 201 is not a prerequisite for EN 202. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every semester. A required course for the Bachelor of Arts degree; A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 202 World Literature II 3 Credits

A course that examines representative works of world literature from the mid-seventeenth century to the present. Texts are explored in their historical, cultural, and social contexts. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every semester. EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every semester. A required course for the Bachelor of Arts degree; A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 203 Advanced Composition 3 Credits

A course designed to move beyond the fundamentals of writing studied in EN 101 and EN 102 and to develop the student's abilities as a writer through the composition and analysis of extended essays on a variety of topics, employing a range of rhetorical approaches. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 204 Professional and Technical Writing 3 Credits

A course that teaches the theory and practice of communicating on the job. Instruction addresses written, visual, and oral technical communication. Assignments involve students in practical, collaborative and technologically informed learning modeled upon realities of the work place. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 210 Modern Short Story 3 Credits

A study of the short story genre through reading, discussion, and written analysis of selected modern stories. The course also addresses the history of the short story and the nature and uses of literary art. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 220 Children's Literature 3 Credits

A course familiarizing students with the range and history of children's literature. Students revisit beloved classics as well as significant contemporary works, analyzing literary value. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 225 Survey of British Literature I 3 Credits

An overview of British literature from the Anglo Saxons to the late-eighteenth century in their historical and cultural contexts, with attention to the development of the English language. May include texts in Middle English. Selections may include sermons, chronicles, and letters as well as fiction, poetry, and drama. Provides a foundation for upper-level study in the discipline and is required for English majors. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every fall.

EN 226 Survey of British Literature II 3 Credits

An overview of British literature from the Romantics to the present in their historical and cultural contexts. May include non-fiction as well as fiction, poetry, and drama. Provides a foundation for upper-level study in the discipline and is required for English majors. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every spring.

EN 227 Survey of American Literature I 3 Credits

An overview of colonial and post-Revolutionary writing in its historical and cultural contexts, including the work of European explorers and native peoples in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Selections may include letters, travel narratives, and political documents as well as fiction, poetry, and drama. Provides a foundation for upper-level study in the discipline and is required for English majors. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every fall.

EN 228 Survey of American Literature II 3 Credits

An overview of American writing from the Civil War to the present in its historical and cultural contexts. Selections may include non-fiction as well as fiction, poetry, and drama. Provides a foundation for upper-level study and is required for English majors. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every spring.

EN 239 Introduction to Theater 3 Credits

A course that provides a basic introduction to theater as an art form and as an academic discipline. Topics of study include a survey of theater history; an analysis of the different forms of drama, including representative plays; and an introduction to the performance aspects of acting, directing, and theatrical design. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Fulfills General Education Humanities requirement but will not serve as literature elective.

EN 240 Technical Aspects of Theatrical Design 3 Credits

A course that provides instruction in all phases of the construction of scenery, costumes and in lighting production, together with an introduction to the design of these elements. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 241 Acting and Directing 3 Credits

A course that introduces the basic techniques of acting and directing, including instruction in the relationship of the actor to the other actors on the stage. Extensive use is made of improvisation and theater games. Directing instruction gives the student practice in the solution of directorial problems through the staging of scenes, tableaux and pictorial dramatizations. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 242 Play Production 1-3 Credit

A course that provides study and performance of theater and play production techniques as well as rehearsal and presentation of a full-scale dramatic production. Students may choose to audition to act in a play or to work on one of the technical support crews. Three accumulated hours will comprise one 3-credit for free elective use only.

EN 244 The Literature of Leadership 3 Credits

A survey of major literary texts dealing with the theme of leadership. Differing examples and ideals of leadership are related to the philosophical assumptions and cultural values of the authors and civilizations represented by each work. Both advocacy and critique of these ideals are examined; contrasts among them emphasize the ethical implications of leaders' decisions. Topics include relationships among leadership, religion, and philosophy; leadership and technology; the role of coercion or political/economic power; and the potential conflicts of leadership and individual freedom. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 245 Science Fiction Literature 3 Credits

A study of representative readings in science fiction literature centered on novels and short fiction from the late-nineteenth century to the present with a focus on how these works develop major themes associated with the genre. Prerequisites: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 250 Crime in Literature 3 Credits

A course in which students read and discuss works of literature that explore the ethical, social and philosophical implications of criminal behavior and society's response to it. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 251 Literature of the Sea 3 Credits

A study of literature about life at sea, especially during times of crisis. The course examines attitudes toward solitude, comradeship and the ocean's beauty and power. Moral and physical qualities needed by a ship's officers and crew are also discussed. Readings are drawn from world literatures, ancient and modern. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 270 Military Literature 3 Credits

A study of men and women in war and the military service, their ideals, experiences, and strategies as seen in foreign and American military literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 272 Veterans' Literature and Writing 3 Credits

In this course, students read a selection of works by veterans to explore how soldier-writers have given voice to their military experiences and to reflect on how writers have depicted war and the military experience. These texts will serve as models to students as they develop personalized writing projects, either critical or creative, over the course of the semester. This course is open to anyone who is currently serving, or has served, in any branch of the military. This course fulfills a literature, writing or humanities requirement. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108 and instructor permission. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 274 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 Credits

Introduction to Creative Writing establishes the principles and practices of writing creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. In addition to reading works in these three genres as models, students will produce original pieces that apply the theoretical principles of creative writing. 3 lecture hours.

EN 276 Environmental Writing 3 Credits

Environmental Writing invites students to explore environmental issues such as sustainability, conservation, preservation, and wildlife management through creative writing and persuasive writing. Students will analyze how writers of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction invite their readers to take action. Students may also conduct independent research, which is often immersive or experiential, on an environmental topic towards the composition of their own creative essays, stories, and poems.

EN 278 Writing for the Web 3 Credits

Writing for the Web examines the ways that digital technologies impact writing. Through experimentation with different written modes, as well as the manipulation and analysis of various media, students will compose and revise content for web-based environments. This course approaches writing from a rhetorical perspective that emphasizes purpose and audience. Students practice using various existing and emerging technologies, but prior technical training is not required.

EN 282 Literary Methods 3 Credits

Literary Methods serves as an introduction to scholarship in the discipline of English. To begin, students will examine the evolution and current state of English literary study as a discipline, learn how a literary text becomes an object of study, and identify a secondary text and the kinds of methodologies at work in them. Students themselves will then engage in the practice of literary research and analytical writing by focusing on one text in English and its respective body of criticism. Course work will comprise gathering and analyzing primary and secondary sources, enhancing close reading skills, and performing a substantive piece of research. Auxiliary critical writing exercises might include an annotated bibliography or a literature review. Required for the English major and minor. Prerequisites: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours.

EN 292 American Ethnic Literature & Cultural Literature 3 Credits

The purpose of this course is two-fold: to acquaint the student with the writings of representative ethnic groups in America in terms of their contributions to American literature and culture in general; and to familiarize the student with both the problems of minority groups in integration and with the solutions which have been offered to these problems by the minority representatives themselves. The course will cover as many minority groups as time allows. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 299 Topics in English Studies 3 Credits

Topics vary. Designed as a Humanities elective for non-majors. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Course may be repeated for credit with a different topic. 3 lecture hours.

EN 307 The History of the Motion Picture 3 Credits

A study of the development of the motion picture from a technological curiosity to a powerful, pervasive vehicle for art and argument. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Fulfills General Education Humanities requirement but will not serve as literature elective.

EN 308 The Motion Picture Director 3 Credits

A study, through readings and viewings of representative films, of the work of three great motion picture directors: The emphasis will be on their contributions to the art of the motion picture and their statements as artists viewing their own times. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Fulfills General Education Humanities requirement but will not serve as literature elective.

EN 310 The Art of the Motion Picture 3 Credits

A study of cinema art direction, photography, editing, writing and acting. Classes involve lecture, discussion, readings in film criticism and the viewing of selected films. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Fulfills General Education Humanities requirement but will not serve as literature elective.

EN 311 American Film Comedy 3 Credits

A study of representative American film comedies from a variety of standpoints: generically (as manifestations of comic tradition); culturally (as examples of satire and social criticism); aesthetically (as products of cinematic and literary techniques); historically (as parts of an evolving tradition). Representative films include works by Keaton, Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, W. C. Fields, Jerry Lewis, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen and others. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Fulfills General Education Humanities requirement but will not serve as literature elective.

EN 320 Literature of the Developing World 3 Credits

A study of the literature of developing nations. The course emphasizes works that reveal a country's distinctive religious, social, economic, political institutions and the challenges that confront them. Topics to be discussed may include colonialism: the struggle for national identity: the impact of modern technologies on traditional values: tensions between military power and democratic processes: and the clash between the wealthy and the poor. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108. A recommended literature course for fulfillment of General Education or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements in literature, Arts and Humanities, or English.

EN 322 Topics in World Literatures 3 Credits

A seminar that focuses on a specific period, genre, region, or topic of interest in the field of World Literatures. Sample topics may include Global Shakespeares, Developing World Literatures, The Trojan War, Caribbean Women Writers, or Global Modernisms. Required texts will be in English translation; foreign language training is neither assumed nor required. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered once a year. May be repeated for credit with a different topic.

EN 333 The Plays of Shakespeare I 3 Credits

A study of selected early comedies, tragedies, and history plays. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 334 The Plays of Shakespeare II 3 Credits

A study of selected mature comedies, problem plays, tragedies and romances. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 350 History of the English Language 3 Credits

This course will trace the linguistic, material, and cultural development of the English language from its North Germanic beginnings to its current status as a global lingua franca, with special attention to the early British forms. We will attend to the structure of language (e.g., lexicon, syntax, phonetics) as well as to its socio-political aspects (e.g., migration, class, codification). Students will be asked to read, analyze, and contextualize texts in Old, Middle, and Early Modern English. Required for the English Major. Fulfills Gen. Ed. Humanities requirement but will not serve as literature elective. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 362 Rhetorical Criticism 3 Credits

Rhetorical Criticism provides students with a general understanding of rhetoric and with knowledge of specific rhetorical traditions such as neo-Aristotelian criticism, metaphorical analysis, narrative/cluster criticism, fantasy theme analysis, and genre criticism. The goals of this course are to engage in systematic, prolonged inquiry and to recognize how different persuasive strategies produce specific meanings. EN 362 Rhetorical Criticism further advances the skills initially developed in EN 203 Advanced Composition.

EN 364 Intermediate Creative Writing 3 Credits

Intermediate Creative Writing develops the foundational skills learned in EN 274 Introduction to Creative Writing. Students examine poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction in order to understand and employ advanced techniques such as flashback, metaphor, and point of view. Genres may also include memoir, the travel essay, free verse poetry, and/or flash (non)fiction. By the end of the semester, students are expected to apply these elements of craft to produce original creative work.

EN 370 Topics in British Literature 3 Credits

A seminar that focuses on a period or a topic of interest in the field of British Literature. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every semester.

EN 373 Major Author 3 Credits

A course that focuses on the work of a single author to allow a unique depth of study and research. Students will analyze the relationship between authorship, biography, and textual production. Topics may include Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton, Thomas Mallory, Salman Rushdie, Muriel Spark, and Mark Twain. Offered every year. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Can be repeated for credit with a different topic.

EN 390 Topics in American Literature 3 Credits

A seminar that focuses on a period or a topic of interest in the field of American Literature. May be repeated for credit with a different topic. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. 3 lecture hours. Offered every semester.

EN 399 Topics in English Studies 3 Credits

Topics vary. Designed as an elective for majors and advanced non-majors. Prerequisite: EN 102 or EN 108. Course may be repeated for credit with a different topic. 3 lecture hours.

EN 420 Thematic Seminar-Literature 3 Credits

A seminar that explores a topic of interest in the Humanities. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 425 Directed Study In Literature 3 Credits

A course in which a student of demonstrated ability works with a faculty mentor in a well-defined area in Literature within the competence of the department faculty. Emphasis will be on student initiative, guided reading, and consultations with the mentor. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and the department curriculum committee. Pre-Requisite: EN 102 or EN 108.

EN 450 Senior Seminar 3 Credits

The required capstone course for the major. EN 450 measures students' ability to distinguish periods of English and American literature; to analyze a work in relation to one of several specified intellectual contexts; and to demonstrate competence in the practice of at least two critial approaches. Students are encouraged to bring to the seminar papers written for courses completed earlier in the major. Two essays (one of which fulfills the university requirement for a senior paper outlining ethical standards based on life experience) and a major oral presentation-to faculty members from both within and outside the English department--are required. Pre-requisite: senior status as an English major or minor or permission of the instructor. *May be repeated once, on a different topic, for a maximum of 6 credits. This course satisfies the university’s General Education Ethics requirement.