English 280 introduces students to the structure, history, and varieties of the English language. We examine different types of language use, the writing and sound systems of the language, its national, regional and social diversity, and ramifications of its present status as a world language. By the time they have finished this course, students will:
- have some understanding of what it means to analyze a language
- understand the difference between facts about the structure of a language and the conventions that govern the use of that language in specific contexts -- the difference between prescriptive and descriptive approaches to language
- be aware of how English vocabulary is structured, where English words and phrases come from, and how new terms are developed
- have a basic understanding of English grammatical structure
- understand why the English spelling system seems so contrary to all sense and reason
- learn important facts about the history of English
- understand how language can vary in different contexts and how a language like English is likely to vary regionally and socially
While the category of "Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Literature" is canonized in the titles of courses like this one, anthologies of fiction and poetry, departments of bookstores, and elsewhere, the terms involved are in fact hotly contested. As we navigate the thorny boundaries of this category, we will continually examine and question the relations between sexual desire and literary expression. In order to pursue these goals, we will work to develop and practice skills of close critical analysis. This course takes a small sample of works from a range of periods and contexts and read them both with careful attention to the historical and social context in which they were written, and with an eye toward observing and analyzing recurrent themes and motifs that emerge across the works.
This
course is a rigorous introduction to writing at the college level, with
an emphasis on rhetoric -- that is, the art of persuasion grounded in
an awareness of the distinctive needs of different audiences and
purposes. The class draws on both classical and modern theories of
rhetoric to give students a functional toolset for thinking about their
own and others' writing. Students develop skills in building a coherent
and incisive argument, using and presenting research materials, and
revising for style, organization, and content. The course assignments
give students paractice in analyzing the rhetorical strategies of
others and then proceed through an extended research project, focusing
on different aspects of argumentation and audience awareness,
culminating in a fully-developed final paper.
This
course combines the goals of English 101 with added attention to issues
of style, mechanics, and other formal conventions that are of
particular interest to non-native speakers of English.
This
course integrates a rhetorical approach to academic writing into the
Technology and Social Policy "First Year Focus" curriculum. In this
class, writing assignments and discussions of the social implications
of rhetorical strategy are designed to coordinate with other first-year
courses in sociology, psychology, and history in a thematically unified
semester for advanced first-year students.
