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2006-07 PLU Catalog

English

Faculty Major: Literature Emphasis Major: Writing Emphasis
Minors Lower Division Course Offerings


253.535.7698

www.plu.edu/~english

English offers excellent preparation for any future requiring integrative thinking, skill in writing, discernment in reading, an appreciation of human experience and aesthetic values, and the processes of critical and creative expression. Business, government, technology, education, and publishing are areas where our graduates frequently make their careers.

Our program offers emphases in literature and writing, as well as concentrations in children's literature and publishing. The English Department also supports the study abroad programs, and we offer study tours to such places as Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Faculty: Albrecht, Chair; Barot, Bergman, Campbell, Carlton, Eyler, Jansen, Kaufman, Marcus, Mason, D.M. Martin, Rahn, Robinson, Rooney, Seal, Skipper, B. Temple-Thurston.

English Major (Emphasis on Literature)


The English major with an emphasis on literature introduces students to the great literary traditions of Britain, North America, and the English-speaking world. The major in literature places courses organized by historical period at the heart of the student's program, allowing students to read the great works that define the periods, and to explore the ways in which cultural contexts shape the literary imagination. Students who select the emphasis on literature can expect to learn how sensitive readers engage texts through their own speaking and writing, following their insights into the rich pleasures of literary language and growing more sophisticated in constructing effective interpretive arguments. They will also be introduced to the ways in which major critical traditions frame our approaches to literature and define the issues that keep literature meaningful and relevant in our lives.

Students considering English with an emphasis on literature as a major, but who are still undecided, might begin with a 200-level course. Even though no 200-level course is required for majors, students may request that one appropriate 200-level course be substituted for one similar Periods and Surveys course at the 300 level. Students are encouraged to take Shakespeare early in the major.

Courses offered through correspondence, on-line, and independent studies are not accepted to meet the literature requirement.

Foreign Language Requirement


All English majors must complete at least two years of a foreign language at the university level, or the equivalent (see College of Arts and Sciences Foreign Language Requirements, Option I).

Major Requirements


At least 36 and up to 44 semester hours in English beyond Writing 101, at least 20 hours of which must be upper division. The following course distributions are required of majors with an emphasis on literature:

A. Shakespeare - four semester hours

ENGL 301: Shakespeare


B. Periods and Surveys - at least four semester hours from each of the following lines:

ENGL 351: English Medieval Literature
ENGL 352: Chaucer
ENGL 353: English Renaissance Literature
ENGL 361: English Restoration and 18th-Century
ENGL 362: English Romantic and Victorian Literature
ENGL 371: Studies in American Literature, 1820-1920

ENGL 367: 20th-Century British Literature
ENGL 372: 20th-Century American Poetry
ENGL 373: 20th-Century American Fiction and Drama


ENGL 341: Feminist Approaches to Literature
ENGL 343: Post-Colonial Literature and Theory
ENGL 374: American Ethnic Literature

C. Seminar - at least four semester hours

Senior Seminar Project: The capstone: senior seminar project is a general university requirement in all programs and majors. Students will customarily satisfy this presentation requirement in English in their seminar course as a culmination of their undergraduate education, in the senior year. Under certain circumstances, students may substitute an appropriate 300-level course taken in the senior year.

D. Writing - at least four semester hours of any writing course at the 200- to 400- levels

E. Electives - eight semester hours

English Major (Emphasis on Writing):

The writing emphasis at PLU has been designed for a broad spectrum of students, from those wishing to focus on fiction and poetry, to those interested in more pragmatic types of writing, to those set on exploring theoretical issues in rhetoric and composition.

Foreign Language Requirement

All English majors must complete at least two years of a foreign language at the university level, or the equivalent (See College of Arts and Sciences Foreign Language Requirements, Option I).

Major Requirements

At least 36 semester hours in English (excluding Writing 101), distributed as follows:

  1. Writing - at least 20 semester hours in writing, with at least 12 hours upper-division

    1. At least 12 semester hours, from at least two of the following lines:




3. Elective (at least four semester hours from lines 1 or 2 above)

B. Literature - 12 semester hours, with at least four hours upper division

  1. Students are encouraged to take literature courses which contribute to their goals as writers, and which expand their experience with the history and genres of writing.

  1. Elective -at least four semester elective hours in English beyond Writing 101

MINORS

Minor (Emphasis on Literature): 20 semester hours (excluding WRIT 101), distributed as follows: four hours of Shakespeare, eight hours from Periods and Surveys (see Literature Major Requirements), and eight hours of electives.

Minor (Emphasis on Writing): 20 semester hours (excluding WRIT 101), with at least 12 semester hours in upper division, distributed as follows: 12 semester hours in writing, four semester hours in literature, four semester hours of elective.

Minor (Emphasis on Publishing and Printing Arts): See separate listing under Publishing and Printing Arts.

Special Competence in Children's Literature: Students completing ENGL 333 and eight semester hours from ENGL 326, 334, 335 or other approved courses (all with grades of B or higher) will be recognized for special competence in children's literature.

Prospective Teachers: Students preparing to teach English in secondary schools should arrange for an advisor in both English and Education. Please also see the School of Education section of this catalog.

Secondary Education

Students preparing to teach in junior or senior high school may earn either a Bachelor of Arts in English with certification from the School of Education, or a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a teaching major in English. The English major with an emphasis in literature and the English major with an emphasis in writing may both be pursued by prospective teachers. Secondary education students must fulfill all requirements for the English major: Option 1 of the Foreign Language Requirements (two years of a foreign language at the university level, or the equivalent); at least 36 and no more than 44 credit hours in English; and all the specific requirements for the major either in literature or in writing. State certification for teachers also mandates the following requirements, which are an overlay to the major. Courses taken to satisfy the major can also be courses that satisfy the state certification requirements.

(ENGL 214, 216, 217, 218, 232, 233, 341, 343, appropriate seminar)

Prospective teachers may take EDUC 529: Adolescent Literature in the Secondary Curriculum as an elective in the English major.

Elementary Education

Students preparing to teach in elementary schools following the Language Arts curriculum, must take 24 semester hours minimum in English, and are advised to follow the structure of the English major in satisfying state certification requirements. Consult your advisor in the School of Education.

Graduate Program

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Low-Residency): See Graduate Section.

Course Offerings – English (ENGL)


All literature courses fulfill the general university core requirement in literature.

I. Lower-Division Courses

The following courses were designed for students who are not English majors, and for students considering an English major, to satisfy the general university requirement in literature. Upper- division courses in literature offered by the Department of English will satisfy the general university requirement in literature as well, but the following courses are particularly recommended. These lower-division courses in literature give primary attention to the act of reading in different contexts and genres. The courses emphasize for students the ways in which framing the reading experience by different kinds of questions reveals different texts, and enriches the imaginative experience of reading, leading more to insight on the part of the reader than final answers.

  1. Topics in Literature
    ENGL 213
  2. Genres
    ENGL 214, 215,  216,  217,  218
  3. Traditions in Literature
    ENGL 230,  231,  232,  233,  234,  241,  251

II. Upper-Division Courses

Designed particularly for upper-division students, usually but not exclusively with the major in mind.

  1. British Literature
    ENGL  301,  351,352,  353,  361,  362,   367
  2. American Literature
    ENGL 371,  372,   373,  374
  3. Special Studies
    ENGL 333,  334,  335, 341,  343, 428,  451,  452, 491, 597

III. Writing, Language, and Theory
   WRIT 101, ENGL 221, 224, 225, 227, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 403, 421, 425, 426, 427, 428

IV. Publishing and Printing Arts
    ENGL 311, 312, 313, 314

ENGL 213: Topics in Literature: Themes and Authors – LT

 A variable-content course that focuses on the act of reading and interpreting texts. (4)

ENGL 214: Poetry – LT

 A study of poems and conventions of poetry from the classics to modern projective verse. (4)

ENGL 215: Fiction – LT

 Examines the development of short fiction, concentrating on themes and techniques of the genre. Stresses the Euro-American tradition. (4)

ENGL 216: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Perspectives – C, LT (4)

A variable-content course that focuses on literature form non-Euro-American socieites. Because course topics may vary considerably, course may be repeated for credit with approval of department chair. (4)

ENGL 217: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Alternative Perspectives – A, LT (4)

A variable-content course that focuses on literature that fosters an awareness and understanding of diversity in the United States. Because course topics may vary considerably, courses may be repeated for credit with approval of department chair. (4)

ENGL 218: Drama – LT

 An introduction to the basic elements of drama (plot, character, language) and on the traditional genres (tragedy, comedy). (4)

ENGL 221: Research and Writing – WR

 Strategies for writing academic research papers are practiced, including developing appropriate research topics, locating and using a variety of relevant sources, substantiating generalizations, and using paraphrase and citation accurately. (2 or 4)

ENGL 224: Travel Writing – WR

 Writing about travel, while traveling or upon return. Students keep travel journals, produce short travel essays, and read selected travel writers. (4)

ENGL 225: Autobiographical Writing – WR

 Reading autobiography and writing parts of one's own, with an emphasis on how writing style and personal identity complement each other. (4)

ENGL 227: Imaginative Writing I – WR

 A beginning workshop in writing poetry or short fiction. Includes a study of techniques and forms to develop critical standards and an understanding of the writing process. (Prerequisite: WRIT 101 or its equivalent, Advanced Placement, or consent of instructor.) (4)

ENGL 230: Contemporary Literature – LT

 Emphasis on the diversity of new voices in American fiction such as Toni Morrison, Leslie Silko, Nicholson Baker, Joyce Carol Oates, Cormac McCarthy, and Amy Tan, from the emergence of post-modernism to the most important current fiction. (4)

ENGL 231: Masterpieces of European Literature – LT

 Representative works of classical, medieval, and early Renaissance literature. (Crosslisted with CLAS 231.) (4)

ENGL 232: Women's Literature – A, LT

 An introduction to fiction, poetry, and other literatures by women writers. Includes an exploration of women's ways of reading and writing. (4)

ENGL 233: Post-Colonial Literature – C, LT

 Writers from Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Caribbean confront the legacy of colonialism from an insider's perspective. Emphasis on fiction. (4)

ENGL 234: Environmental Literature – LT

 Examines representations of nature in literature, and the ways in which humans define themselves and their relationship with nature through those representations. Focuses on major texts from various cultures and historical periods. Includes poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. (4)

ENGL 239: Environment and Culture

 Study of the ways in which environmental issues are shaped by human culture and values. Major conceptions of nature, including non-Western perspectives and issues in eco-justice. Critical evaluations of literature, arts, ethics, conceptual frameworks, history, and spirituality. (Crosslisted with RELI 239.) (4)

ENGL 241: American Traditions in Literature – LT

 Selected themes that distinguish American literature from British traditions, from colonial or early national roots to current branches: for example, confronting the divine, inventing selfhood, coping with racism. (4)

ENGL 251: British Traditions in Literature – LT

 Selected themes that define British literature as one of the great literatures of the world, from Anglo-Saxon origins to post-modern rebellions: for example, identity, society, and God; love and desire; industry, science, and culture. (4)

ENGL 301: Shakespeare – LT

 Study of representative works of the great poet as a central figure in the canon of English literature. (4)

ENGL 311: The Book in Society

 A critical study of the role of books in our history, society, and daily lives. (Crosslisted with COMA 321.) (4)

ENGL 312: Publishing Procedures

 A workshop introduction to the world of book publishing, involving students in decisions about what to publish and how to produce it. (Crosslisted with COMA 322.) (4)

ENGL 313: The Art of the Book I

 The combination studio course and seminar explores the visual properties of language. (Crosslisted with ARTD 331.) (4)

ENGL 314: The Art of the Book II

 Individual projects to explore further typography and fine bookmaking. (4)

ENGL 323: Writing in Professional Settings – WR

 Students working in professional settings analyze the rhetorical demands of their job-related writing. (4)

ENGL 324: Free-Lance Writing – WR

 A workshop in writing for publication, with primary emphasis on the feature article. (4)

ENGL 325: Personal Essay – WR
Students write essays on topics of their choice, working particularly on voice and style. (4)

ENGL 326: Writing for Children – WR

 A workshop in writing fiction and non-fiction for children and teenagers, with an introduction to the varieties of contemporary children's literature. (4)

ENGL 327: Imaginative Writing II – WR

 An advanced workshop in writing poetry or short fiction. Some attention will be given to procedures for submitting manuscript for publication. (4)

ENGL 328: Advanced Composition for Teachers – WR

 Students are introduced to philosophical, social, and pragmatic issues confronting teachers of writing. Required for certification by the School of Education. (4)

ENGL 333: Children's Literature – LT

 An introduction to a rich literary tradition, with analysis in depth of such authors as H.C. Anderson, Tolkien, Lewis, Potter, Wilder, and LeGuin. (4)

ENGL 334: Special Topics in Children's Literature – LT

 Content varies each year. Possible topics include genres, themes, historical periods, and traditions. May be repeated for credit with different topic. (4)

ENGL 335: Fairy Tales and Fantasy – LT

 Fairy tales are told and interpreted; interpretive models and theories from several psychological traditions are explored. Fantasy is looked at both as image and as story. (4)

ENGL 341: Feminist Approaches to Literature – A, LT

 Introduction to a variety of feminisms in contemporary theory as frameworks for reading feminist literature and for approaching traditional literature from feminist positions. (4)

ENGL 343: Voices of Diversity: Post-Colonial Literature and Theory – C, LT

 Introduces perspectives of post-colonial theorists as a framework for understanding the relationship of colonialism and its legacies to the works of writers from Africa, the Caribbean, and other ex-colonial territories. (4)

ENGL 351: English Medieval Literature – LT

 A survey of the first two periods of English literature: Old English, including the epic Beowulf, and Middle English, ranging from the romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to the beginnings of English drama in Everyman. (4)

ENGL 352: Chaucer – LT

 A study of Geoffrey Chaucer's major works, especially The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde, and of the intellectual, social, and political circumstances of their production in 14th-century England. (4)

ENGL 353: English Renaissance Literature – LT

 Studies the Golden Age of English literature. Selected poets from Wyatt to Marvell, including Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Donne, and Jonson; selected playwrights from Kyd to Webster; selected prose from More to Bacon and Browne. (4)

ENGL 361: Restoration and 18th-Century Literature – LT

 Surveys the lively drama, neoclassical poetry, gothic fiction, and early novel of a period marked by religious controversy and philosophical optimism. (4)

ENGL 362: Romantic and Victorian Literature – LT

 A survey of the richly varied writers of 19th-century England seen in the context of a rapidly changing social reality-from romantic revolutionaries and dreamers to earnest cultural critics and myth-makers. (4)

ENGL 367: 20th-Century British Literature – LT

 A survey of England's literary landscape from the rise of modernism through mid-century reactions to contemporary innovations. (4)

ENGL 371: Studies in American Literature, 1820-1920 – LT

 The mutual influence of literary traditions and American culture in idealism, realism, and naturalism. (4)

ENGL 372: 20th-Century American Poetry – LT

 Major voices in American poetry from Frost and Eliot, Williams and Pound, through the post-war generation to recent poets. (4)

ENGL 373: 20th-Century American Fiction and Drama – LT

 Major authors and forms, both conventional and experimental. (4)

ENGL 374: American Ethnic Literatures – A, LT

 Attention to the literatures and popular traditions of America's ethnic communities. Includes African and Asian Americans, Native Americans and Latino/as. (4)

ENGL 387: Topics in Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture

Provides writers with a grounding in Rhetoric, the art of shaping discourse to respond to cultural context and to produce cultural and social effects. Strategies for generating discourse, appealing to audiences, and crafting a style will be studied in light of their historical origins, theoretical assumptions, social and ethical implications, and practical utility. Recommended for writing majors. (4)

ENGL 403: The English Language

 Studies in the structure and history of English, with emphasis on syntactical analysis and issues of usage. (4)

ENGL 421: Tutorial in Writing – WR

 Guided work in an individual writing project. A plan of study must be approved before the student may register for the course. (1-4)

ENGL 425: Writing on Special Topics – SR, WR

 Writing in a wide range of academic and creative genres determined by their particular educational goals, students will shape their papers to meet the rhetorical demands of publications relevant to their academic or professional future. (4)

ENGL 427: Imaginative Writing III – SR, WR
An advanced workshop in writing poetry or short fiction. Some attention will be given to procedures for submitting manuscript for publication. For seniors only. (4)

ENGL 428: Seminar: Critical Theory – LT, SR

 Issues in literary studies and in rhetorical theory are discussed in relationship to influential movements such as reader-response, cultural studies, feminism, and deconstruction. Recommended for prospective graduate students. (4)

ENGL 451: Seminar: Author – LT, SR

 Concentrated study of the work, life, influence, and critical reputation of a major author in the English-speaking world. The course includes careful attention to the relations of the author to cultural contexts, the framing of critical approaches through literary theory, substantial library research, and a major writing project. (4)

ENGL 452: Seminar: Theme, Genre – LT, SR

 Concentrated study of a major literary theme or genre, as it might appear in various periods, authors, and cultures. The course includes careful attention to practical criticism, the framing of critical approaches through literary theory, substantial library research, and a major writing project. (4)

ENGL 491: Independent Studies

 An intensive course in reading. May include a thesis. Intended for upper-division majors. (4)