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MU Home » Academics » School of Arts and Humanities » Department of English and Writing

English & Writing Courses

101 COMPOSITION (3 s.h.)
Writing, stressing standard English and competence in expository prose. Students must pass ENG 101 before taking ENG 102. A research paper is required. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. This course is offered every fall and spring semester.

102 COMPOSITION AND INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE (3 s.h.)
A continuation of 101 with emphasis on analysis and interpretation of various literary genres and on research techniques. Research paper required. Prerequisite: ENG 101. ENG 102 is a prerequisite for all other courses listed under English. This course is offered every fall and spring semester.

204 GENRES OF CREATIVE WRITING (3 s.h.)
An introduction to creative writing in four genres: fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction. This course has as its prerequisites both ENG 101 and 102 (which the student needs to have taken at Methodist University and passed with a grade of C or higher) and is itself an additional prerequisite for all upper level creative writing courses unless a writing sample is submitted and special permission of the instructor to enter those
upper-level classes is sought and granted. For transfer students or for those students who CLEP ENG 101 and/or 102, a writing sample and permission of the instructor is required. Offered fall semester. Cross listed as WRI 204. Can only be counted toward one program.

207 REVIEWING WRITING (3 s.h.)
A course in writing, stressing standard English and competence in expository prose, required of transfer students who may have had ENG 101 and/or 102 but who failed the English Placement Test. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. May not be substituted for any other English courses that are core requirements. Does not count toward the major or minor in English, Writing, or Communications. This course is offered every fall and spring semester.

211, 212 SURVEY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE 3, (3 s.h.)
211: Beowulf through the mid-eighteenth century. Prerequisite: ENG 102. 211 is offered every fall semester; 212: the end of the eighteenth century to the present. Prerequisite: ENG 102. 212 is offered every spring semester.

220 THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING: FROM IDEA TO TEXT (3 s.h.)
Provides an introduction to all aspects of book and magazine publishing as well as digital media, from evaluations of original manuscripts to the sales and marketing of finished products. Prerequisite: enrollment in the MU Professional Writing Certificate Program.

221, 222 SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 3, (3 s.h.)
221: the seventeenth century through c. 1865 with attention to the cultural-intellectual background. 221 is offered every fall semester; 222: 1865 to the present with emphasis on large literary movements. Pre-requisite for each: ENG 102. 222 is offered every spring semester.

231, 232 SURVEY OF WORLD LITERATURE 3, (3 s.h.)
231: Ancient through Renaissance. Prerequisite for each: ENG 102. 231 is offered every fall semester; 232: Neoclassical through Modern. Asian and Third-World literature included. 232 is offered every spring semester.

260 REVIEW/APPLICATION OF GRAMMAR FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS (3 s.h.)
Review and application in writing of traditional grammar and standard English usage for future elementary school teachers (K-6). Current elementary level language arts textbooks will be considered. Fulfills no general core requirements either in English or in Humanities; not credited toward majors or minors in Communications, English, and Writing. Required of majors in Elementary Education and Specific Learning Disabilities (Special Education). Cross-listed as EDU 260. This course is offered annually in the fall semester. Courses taken at other institutions will not be accepted in lieu of this course except on review and agreement of the course professor.

320 BUSINESS WRITING (3 s.h.)
Practical written business communications—letters, memoranda, reports, proposals, and resumes. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. Creditable to one program only: either Business, English, Mass Communication, or Writing. Prerequisites: ENG 101 and 102. This course is offered every spring semester. Cross-listed as WRI 320.

321 TECHNICAL WRITING (3 s.h.)
Development of writing skills necessary in technical and scientific fields. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. This course is offered as needed. Cross-listed as WRI 321.

322 ADVANCED GRAMMAR (3 s.h.)
The history of the English language; an analysis of the structure of English grammar: sounds, parts of speech, sentence patterns, prose style, and the new grammars. This course is offered every spring semester, even-numbered years. Cross-listed as WRI 322.

323 ADVANCED EXPOSITORY WRITING (3 s.h.)
Study and analysis of models of excellence; practice in various techniques and types of composition; use of computers specific to the discipline of English. This course is offered every spring semester, odd-numbered years. Cross-listed as WRI 323.

324 CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION (3 s.h.)
The development of fiction-writing skills, using short stories and novels as models. Students produce a minimum of 10,000 words. This course is offered as needed. Cross-listed as WRI 324.

325 CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY (3 s.h.)
The development of poetry-writing skills, using traditional and modern forms as models. Students produce a portfolio of their work. This course is offered as needed. Cross-listed as WRI 325.

326 CREATIVE WRITING: DRAMA (3 s.h.)
The development of play-writing skills, using a broad selection of plays, ancient to modern, as models. Each student writes at least one play. Film and/or television drama can serve as alternate focuses. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. This course is offered as needed. Cross-listed as WRI 326.

327 FEATURE WRITING FOR POPULAR MAGAZINES (3 s.h.)
Magazine and feature-section writing. Each student attempts publication of material written in the class. One hour of CAC lab per week at discretion of instructor. This course is offered as needed. Cross-listed as WRI 327.

342 WOMEN’S LITERATURE (3 s.h.)
Concentrated study of literature written by women. The course emphasizes the historical context of women’s poetry, prose, and fiction; introduces students to major figures in women’s literary history; identifies recurrent themes in writings by women; and introduces students to feminist literary theory. Cross-listed as WST 342. This course is offered in alternate years.

344 AMERICAN DIVERSITY (3 s.h.)
American literature by authors of diverse backgrounds, including African American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American authors. This course is offered every fall semester in even-numbered years.

350 AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE (3 s.h.)
Literature by or about African-Americans. All genres included. This course is offered as needed.

361 LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN (3 s.h.)
Literature available to students in grades K-6, with emphasis on historical development, literary genres, and pedagogical strategies. Required for those in Elementary K-6 but not credited toward either the major or minor in English. Cross-listed as EDU 361. This course is offered as needed. Courses taken at other institutions will not be accepted in lieu of this course except on review and agreement of the course professor.

362 LITERATURE FOR ADOLESCENTS (3 s.h.)
Literature available to students in middle and secondary schools (grades 6-12) with emphasis on integrating literature in the communication skills program and on strategies for promoting appreciation of literature among students in Middle and Secondary schools. Required of Middle School Education majors and of English majors seeking secondary level teacher licensure. Not credited toward either the 36 s.h. major or 18 s.h. minor in English. Cross-listed as EDU 362. This course is offered as needed. Courses taken at other institutions will not be accepted in lieu of this course except on review and agreement of the course professor.

371 CHAUCER (3 s.h.)
The English medieval period with particular emphasis on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde, and minor poems. This course is offered as needed.

373 LITERATURE OF MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (3 s.h.)
This course will explore the writings of major authors of medieval England, with a focus on the major themes including feudalism, Arthurian legend, romances, the Catholic Church, heresy, mysticism, medieval drama, and/or love poetry. This will also expose students to the major work outside of those of Chaucer, and may discuss connections to be made between the middle ages and our own culture today. This course is offered in the fall semester of alternate years.

374 SHAKESPEARE (3 s.h.)
Representative Shakespearean plays with attention to historical background and cultural setting. This course is offered in alternate years.

382 NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN LITERATURE (3.s.h.)
Representative poetry and prose of nineteenth century America, including Romanticism and/or Realism. This course is offered in every fall semester of even-numbered years.

392 NINETEENTH CENTURY BRITISH LITERATURE (3.s.h.)
Representative poetry and prose of nineteenth-century Britain, including Romanticism and/or Victorianism. This course is offered in every fall semester of odd-numbered years.

402 MODERNIST LITERATURE (3.s.h.)
British and American fiction, drama, and/or poetry from the early twentieth century, emphasizing principal trends and representative works. This course is offered in every spring semester of even-numbered years.

403 CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE (3.s.h.)
Fiction, drama, and/or poetry written since World War II, emphasizing principal trends and representative works. This course is offered in every spring semester of odd-numbered years.

404 MYTH AND CULTURE (3 s.h.)
See REL 404. Creditable to one program only. This course is offered in alternate years.

416 ENGLISH/WRITING INTERNSHIP (1-3 s.h.)
Experiential learning. An opportunity for an upper-level Writing or English major to work either in the public or private sector at a position involving writing, editing, or research. The student is assigned duties approved by the Department Chair, a supervising English or Writing instructor, and an on-site supervisor. Written reports by the student are required. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior status, a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all Writing and English classes, and permission of the supervising instructor. For elective credit. Not creditable toward either the 18 s.h. at the 200 level or above in English or the 18 s.h. at the 200 level or above in Writing required by those majors. Cross-listed as WRI 416.

420 THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING: WRITING FOR BUSINESS & THE BUSINESS OF WRITING (3 s.h.)
Focuses on the rhetorical principles that underscore business writing and on the practical writing application of those principles in professional context. Prerequisite: WRI 220 and permission of the instructor.

455 SENIOR SEMINAR IN LITERARY STUDIES (3 s.h.)
Course description: A capstone course required for all fourth-year English majors who are candidates for graduation and for all students seeking secondary certification in English, English 455 offers a thorough review of current research methodologies, citation practices, the use of print and electronic resources, and literary theory. It provides each student with the opportunity to engage in a lengthy, semester-long research project on a single literary topic or text of his or her own choosing. A research paper of at least twenty pages and utilizing at least ten electronic or non-electronic sources will be required as will a twenty-minute oral presentation involving the integration of visual aids and demonstrating each student’s computer literacy. Both the research paper and the oral presentation will be evaluated for grammatical clarity, the accuracy, depth, originality, and the persuasiveness of the analysis or synthesis, and will be expected to conform to current style norms and practices as established by the MLA and used in literary scholarship. For students who plan to attend graduate school, one final segment of the course will be devoted to the graduate school selection, application, funding, and admission processes. For those students who plan to enter the work force, that final segment will be devoted to resume writing and career planning. This course is offered every spring semester.

433 COPYEDITING AND PROOFREADING (3 s.h.)
Provides instruction on how to copyedit and proofread various kinds of texts, both in hard copy and electronically. Includes a review of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and usage. Prerequisite: ENG 322.

485 SPECIAL STUDIES IN ENGLISH/WRITING (3 s.h.)
To be determined. In-depth study involving research or research/travel and writing. Prerequisite: permission of the department head. This course is offered as needed.

499 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH/WRITING (TBA)
An opportunity for a well-qualified, upper-division student to engage in special research in his/her major. Requires approval by the faculty advisor, the supervising professor, and the department head, before approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Credit to be determined.