English
Chair: Associate Professor Hinnefeld
Professors: Reid, Wingard; Associate Professors: Black, Dougal; Assistant Professor: Shorr, Tabor; Adjunct Faculty: Comfort, Diamond, Gal, Harris
The Major in English
The field of English studies is one of the cornerstones of a liberal arts education and also offers a variety of approaches to specialized study. At Moravian College, students are invited to explore the rich, multi-dimensional nature of English studies through their engagement with creative expression and the study of culture and history, linguistics, literature, rhetoric, theatre and performance, and writing.
The English major consists of ten courses: a five-course core, four major electives, and a capstone experience.
Core (five courses):
English 225 (writing-intensive)
One additional writing course (writing-intensive): English 211, 212, or 215
Two literary period courses (British or American)
(British: English 240, 351, 352, 354, 355)
(American: English 340, 341, 342)
Note: one of the two period courses must be pre-20th century
(English 340, 341, 351, 352, 355)
One genre course:
Drama (English 232, 233, 234, 360, 361)
Fiction (English 343, 353)
Poetry (English 320)
Four electives, numbered at the 200 level or above
Capstone experience: at least one of the following:
Senior Seminar (English 371)
Student teaching in an education certification program
Teacher certification students follow modified versions of the requirements listed above. Refer to the Teacher Certification in English section below.
Notes on the Major in English
- Students must take at least three courses at the 300 level.
- In preparation for creating an English major portfolio in the Senior Seminar, students must save digital and hard copies of their work in each course, including drafts with peer and instructor comments.
- Students must complete a Hands-On-Learning Assignment (HLA). See http://home.moravian.edu/public/eng/handsOn/index.htm for more information.
- Internships (English 375-377) and study abroad strongly encouraged for all majors. Students should consult with their advisor and the Office of International Studies.
- Writing 100, Learning in Common 101, and the general literature courses (English 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105) may not be used to satisfy requirements for the major, minor, or interdepartmental major programs of the English Department. The general literature course restriction, however, does not apply to English majors pursuing early childhood, middle level, or secondary education certification programs.
- English 225 is a prerequisite for all 300-level courses in the English Department (exceptions: English 361 and 362).
Electives from other disciplines can help in achieving a fully developed academic objective. Suggested areas are graphic design, history, foreign languages, marketing, philosophy, photography, political science, psychology, and sociology.
The Minor in English
The minor in English consists of five courses: English 225; English 211, 212, or 215; one literature course (200- or 300 level); and two electives (200- or 300-level).
The Interdepartmental Major
The six courses in Set I of the interdepartmental major include English 225, which should be taken in the year the student declares the major. The five other English courses, from the 200- and 300-level, and the six courses of Set II are selected by the student with the advisor’s approval.
Teacher Certification in English
Students seeking a major in English and certification in early childhood education (pre-K-grade 4) follow a modified version of the major that requires English 225, two period courses (one of which must be pre-20th century), a genre course, a writing course (211, 212, or 215), the capstone experience (for certification students, student teaching serves as the capstone), and four courses selected in consultation with the advisor.
Students seeking a major in English and certification in middle level education (grades 4-8) follow a modified version of the major that requires English 221, 225, two period courses (one British and one American, one of which must be pre-20th century), a genre course, a writing course (211, 212, or 215), the capstone experience (for certification students, student teaching serves as the capstone), and three courses selected in consultation with the advisor.
Students seeking certification to teach English in a secondary school (grades 7-12) follow a modified version of the major that requires English 221, 225, and 230; 330 or 350; two period courses (one British and one American, one of which must be pre-20th century); a genre course; a writing course (211, 212, or 215); the capstone experience (for certification students, student teaching serves as the capstone); and one course selected in consultation with the advisor.
The advisors for teacher certification in English are John Black (early childhood and middle level) and Martha Reid (secondary). Students who intend to pursue teacher certification are strongly urged to contact the Education Department during their first year at Moravian.
Courses in English
Note: Writing 100, Learning in Common 101, or equivalent is a prerequisite for all courses in the English Department.
101. American Literature. Introduction to the development of the American literary heritage, with emphasis on analytical, written, and oral skills. Prerequisite: Learning in Common 101, Writing 100 or equivalent. (M2)
Comfort
102. British Literature. Introduction to distinctive British works, emphasizing analytical and communication skills. Prerequisite: Learning in Common 101, Writing 100 or equivalent. (M2)
Black, Dougal
103. Western Literature. Selected major works in the literature of the Western world, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. Recommended for those considering an English major. Prerequisite: Learning in Common 101, Writing 100 or equivalent. (M2)
Reid
104. The Experience of Literature. Introduction to major literary genres—fiction, poetry, and drama—from a variety of times and cultures, emphasizing analytical and communication skills through written and oral projects. Prerequisite: Learning in Common 101, Writing 100 or equivalent. (M2)
Gal, Tabor, Staff
105. African-American Literature. Introduction to the poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and drama of the African-American tradition in literature from the beginnings of the Colonial period to the present day. Emphasis will be on identifying the uniqueness of this literature within the larger mainstream of American literature. (M2) Prerequisite: Learning in Common 101, Writing 100 or equivalent.
Comfort
210.2. Business Writing. Introduction to writing for the business sector (correspondence, reports, proposals, presentations, other forms of business writing). Prerequisite: Linc 101, Writing 100 or equivalent.
Staff
211. Creative Nonfiction. Guided practice in public and personal essay writing. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: Writing 100 or equivalent, and permission of instructor. Spring.
Harris, Hinnefeld, Wingard
212. Introduction to Creative Writing. Guided practice in poetry and fiction. Prerequisites: Writing 100 or equivalent, and permission of instructor. Fall. (M6)
Hinnefeld
213.2. Tutorship I. One-half unit of credit given for completion of tutor training course: extensive practice with student writing samples, several writing assignments, full review of grammar. The practicum is three hours of tutoring per week, compensated at work-study wage. Interested students must apply to and be selected by the Writing Center director before registering. Prerequisites: Writing 100 or equivalent, interview with director, and approval of director.
Hinnefeld
214.2. Tutorship II. One-half unit of credit given for self-guided study and four hours of tutoring per week. Student's written proposal for study must be approved by Writing Center director. Prerequisites: English 213.2, GPA of 3.00, and approval of director.
Hinnefeld
215. Rhetoric and/of Narrative. Rhetoric is ordinarily thought of as a tool of orators, politicians, and advertisers, not as something employed by “creative” writers. Through reading rhetorical theory and literary theory as well as several narratives—novels, memoirs, film, and social texts—this course will examine rhetoric as it works in literary and cultural narratives: fiction and nonfiction prose, popular culture texts, and narratives of cultural myth. Writing-intensive.
Wingard
221. The English Language. Introduction to phonology, grammar, lexicon, and other aspects of English from its beginning to the present, with an emphasis on current language issues. Fall.
Black
225. Introduction to English Studies. Introduction to various aspects of the discipline, including analysis of literature, bibliographic and research techniques, critical thinking and writing, various literary approaches, literary theory, and history of the field. Closed to non-English majors except by written permission of department chair or instructor. Writing intensive. Strongly encouraged as a pre-requisite for upper-level English courses. Fall and spring.
Black, Tabor
230. Public Speaking. Basic theory of public speaking with emphasis on developing skills essential to effective interpersonal communication in industrial, business, and academic settings. Fall.
Shorr
232. Art of the Theater. Aesthetic, historical, and production aspects of theater. Practical experience in production. Alternate years.
Shorr
233. Modern Drama and Theater. Development of dramatic literature and theatrical practice in the 20th century.
Tabor
234. American Drama and Theater. Development of dramatic literature and theatrical practice in America, 1665 to the present.
Tabor
240. Post-Colonial Literature. Introduction to literature produced by 20th-century African, Asian, and Caribbean writers from former colonies of Western European empires, especially Britain. (M5)
Staff
261. Prophets of Doom and Gloom? Science Fiction, Science Fact, and the Contemporary World. (Also Interdisciplinary 261) Creators of science fiction often present dire warnings about the world to come in which science has subverted human values. By studying important developments in science and technology and significant works of science fiction, we can comprehend the nature of these warnings and attempt to formulate a civilized response to the dehumanizing forces afflicting the contemporary world. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (U1)
Diamond
262. Literature and the Way We Live. (Also Interdisciplinary 262) This course considers such moral issues as the environment; identity, duties to kin; love, marriage and sex; racism and sexism; as posed within a variety of world literature that includes short stories, novels, poetry, and drama, ranging from the era of Sophocles' Antigone to the present. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (U2)
Dougal
263. Writing And/As Activism. To what can extent can, or should, writing (and also reading) function as a kind of activism? Can written work change minds and hearts? Should it be designed to do so? Can writing be more than a hobby--but also more than a vocation? That is, can the acts of writing and reading be seen as moral acts, as part of living a fully engaged life? In this course we will examine these and other questions as we read, view, discuss, and emulate both factual/documentary and imaginative works (ranging from op-ed pieces and documentaries to poems and short stories). (U2)
Hinnefeld
310. Business and Community Writing. Writing for business and nonprofit sectors with required community service/consulting component in targeted agencies. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or 215, and permission of instructor. Alternate years.
Hinnefeld
311. Fiction Writing. Focused study of contemporary fiction, writing of several complete fictional works. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or 215, and permission of instructor. Spring. (M6)
Hinnefeld
312. News and Feature Writing. Guided practice in writing news and feature articles for newspaper readers, with attention to news criteria and the state of newspapers in the United States. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or 215, and permission of instructor. Spring.
Wingard
313. Poetry Writing. Focused study of contemporary poetry, writing of a range of complete poetic works. Workshop setting. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or 215, and permission of instructor. Alternate years. (M6)
Hinnefeld
314. Theories of Composition and Rhetoric. Contemporary theories of composition—process, product, and pedagogy—and of rhetoric in an academic setting. May be especially valuable for students seeking secondary education certification. Prerequisites: English 211, 212, or 215, and permission of instructor. Fall, alternate years.
Wingard
320. The Art of Poetry. Designed to provide the student of literature with theories and techniques for understanding, appreciating, and evaluating poetry. Alternate years.
Dougal
330. Shakespeare. The major plays. Spring, alternate years.
Reid
340. American Literature 1800-1865. A study of the range of literary voices that constitute "American literature" from 1800-1865, including works by Native and African Americans, Hispanics, women, and a variety of ethnic and minority groups, as well as by the better-known writers of the era—Irving, Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson, Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, and Whitman. Alternate years.
Dougal
341. American Realism. Development of American realism from its late 19th-century beginnings in Twain, Howells, Wharton, and James to its height in the early 20th-century writings of Crane, Norris, Robinson, Dreiser, and others. Alternate years.
Staff
342. 20th Century American Literature. Nonfiction prose, fiction, poetry to 1950. Fall, alternate years.
Wingard
343. American Fiction after World War II. Works since 1950, with emphasis on living authors. Alternate years.
Staff
344. Contemporary Native American Literature. This course will provide students with an opportunity to closely read poetry, fiction, drama, and essays written by and about Native Americans. To truly understand these literary texts, we will need to learn about native peoples’ history, cultural contexts, oral traditions, and identity. Developing and interrogating questions regarding Native American identity will complicate our understanding of fixed literary genres and the power relations they encode. Our readings, discussions, and writing assignments will offer the opportunity to develop questions at issue for our discourse community. Writing especially will provide the chance to develop your own line of inquiry regarding specific texts.
Tabor
350. Chaucer. The Canterbury Tales and selected minor poems from the perspective of textual and source analysis, as well as feminist, psychological, and new historicist approaches. No previous study of Middle English required but English 221 recommended. Spring, alternate years.
Black
351. British Renaissance and Neoclassicism. British poetry, non-Shakespearean drama, and prose, 1500-1800. Alternate years.
Staff
352. British Literature 1780-1830. A study of literature by men and women of varying ethnicities and social classes, and of primary documents that reveal major historical conditions and social and cultural movements to which these writers responded. Some emphasis upon major Romantic poets. Alternate years.
Dougal
353. The British Novel. A study of the English novel from its beginnings in the 18th century to the 20th century. Alternate years.
Reid
354. 20th-Century British Literature. British and Irish poets and novelists, with some emphasis on writers who have gained recognition since World War II. Alternate years.
Reid
355. Literature and Culture of Medieval Britain. Study of selected major and minor texts (mostly in translation) from Old English and Middle English literature, with corresponding interdisciplinary study of their cultural contexts. Examination of the evolution of literary genres, styles, and audiences. Exploration of the approaches and perspectives of contemporary scholarship to topics and issues in medieval studies, with a consideration of the links between contemporary and medieval cultures. Fall, alternate years.
Black
360. Dramatic Literature and the Moral Life 1580-1642. Investigates issues of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender in the dramatic literature of the early modern period in England. Special attention to the plays of Shakespeare for their sensitivity to the diversity of the human condition. Earlier and later playwrights attuned to these issues will also be studied. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. Fall. (U2)
Reid
361. Dramatic Literature and the Moral Life 1875-Present. Examines moral problems and resolutions in modern and postmodern dramatic literature. Issues of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender, as well as other concerns that are part of the modern moral life. (U2)
Reid
370. Seminar. Detailed study of a single writer, school, genre, or theme in literature.
Staff
371. Senior Seminar. This course will synthesize and expand upon what students have learned throughout their major. Weekly meetings will consist of readings, discussion, and writing on topics within English Studies. Course requirements will include an extended written work in a student’s chosen genre, as well as a portfolio. Spring.
Staff
375-377. English Internship. Practical field experience in writing for mass media, business, industry, or nonprofits. Preferably taken in the senior year. Designed in consultation with director of internship program and field supervisor. By arrangement.
Wingard
190-199, 290-299, 390-399. Special Topics.
286, 381-384. Independent Study.
288, 386-388. Internship.
400-401. Honors.