Quad Cities Campus

Minor in English: 18 s.h.

  1. ENG 299: 3 s.h.
  2. English Electives: 15 s.h.

At least three electives must be taken at the 300-400 level

Course Descriptions

195 Introduction to Literature. (3) (General Education/Humanities) An introduction to outstanding works of prose, poetry, and drama which emphasizes the development of the reader’s interpretive skills. The course is designed to promote an appreciation of excellence in literature. For non-English majors. IAI: H3 900.

200 Introduction to Poetry. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) Reading and discussion of poetry from around the world and spanning more than a century, introducing students to questions of social justice and methods of interpretation. IAI: H3 903.

201 Introduction to Fiction. (3) (General Education/Humanities) Reading and discussion of prose fiction from around the world and spanning more than a century, introducing students to questions of social justice and methods of interpretation. IAI: H3 901.

202 Introduction to Drama. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) Reading and discussion of plays from around the world and spanning more than a century, introducing students to questions of social justice and methods of interpretation. IAI: H3 902.

205 Introduction to Shakespeare. (3) (General Education/Humanities) Reading and discussion of selected plays, with emphasis on modern methods of interpretation. For non-English majors. IAI: H3 905.

206 Issues in U.S. Literature. (3) (General Education/Humanities) Reading and discussion of important works of American literature from several historical periods, with emphasis on their relation to American society and culture.

228 Introduction to British Literature. (3) Study of major historical periods of British literature by means of representative literary types, texts, and authors, and predominant genres. Prerequisite/Corequisite: ENG 180.

238 Introduction to American Literature. (3) Study of major historical periods of American literature by means of representative literary types, texts, and authors, and predominant genres. Prerequisite/ Corequisite: ENG 180.

245 (Cross-listed with AAS 245) Survey of African American Literature. (3) A literary and cultural introduction to the study of African American writers, organized chronologically, but with special emphasis on the twentieth century. Not open to students with credit for AAS 245.

258 Introduction to World Literature. (3) Study of representative literary types, texts, and authors, and predominant genres from a range of cultures, both Western and non-Western. Prerequisite/ Corequisite: ENG 180.

280 College Writing II. (3) (General Education/ Communication Skills) A second course in college writing, to be taken during sophomore year. Emphasis on the interaction between writer and reader. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and at least 24 s.h. earned. Designated sections taught with word processors. Graded A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, U, F. IAI: C1 901R.

285 Introduction to Creative Writing. (3) An introductory course for students who wish to explore various forms of poetry and short-fiction writing. ENG 285 or consent of instructor is prerequisite for ENG 385, 386, 485.

290 (Cross-listed with BC 290) Introduction to Film. (3) (General Education/Humanities)Screening and discussion of films from around the world, introducing students to selected traditions, questions of social justice, and methods of interpretation (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in BC 290. IAI: F2 908.

291 Introduction to New Media Literature. (3) Reading and discussion of new media from around the world, introducing emerging traditions, questions of social justice, and methods of interpretation.

299 Critical Methods of Reading and Writing. (3) Introduction to basic forms and conventions of critical writing, strategies of interpretation, and theoretical issues in literary studies. Prerequisites: ENG 180 (with a grade of C or better) and at least one of the following (with a grade of C or better): ENG 200, 201, 202, 206, 228, 238, 258, 290.

300 Short Story. (3) (General Education/ Humanities) A study of the modern short story as a literary form.

301 (Cross-listed with WS 301) Women and Literature. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) The study of literature as an art practiced by women, with an examination of portrayals of women in literature. Not open to students with credit in WS 301. IAI: H3 911D.

302 Popular Forms of Literature. (3) Studies in selected popular forms of literature. Topics may include forms such as detective fiction, science fiction, westerns, horror, romance, adventure, or thrillers. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

304 Poetic Forms. (3) Study of a major form of poetic expression. May include a single genre (e.g. epic or lyric), or individual forms (e.g. sonnet or ode). The course will also address both the technical vocabularies and major concepts of poetics. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

305 Non-Fiction Forms. (3) Study of one or more of the forms of non-fiction writing such as autobiography, diary, essay, epistolary, or non-fiction movements such as the New Journalism or creative non-fiction. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

306 Forms of the Novel. (3) An intensive study of one or more of the forms of the novel. Topics may include the epistolary, picaresque, gothic, or other forms. The course will also address narratology and major critical approaches to the novel. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

307 (Cross-listed with WS 307) Issues for Women Writing. (3, repeatable to 6 for different topics) Reading, discussion, and writing focused on a particular social, cultural, or personal issue related to how and what women write. Not open to students with credit in WS 307. Prerequisite: ENG 299 or WS 190, or consent of instructor.

310 Forms of Drama. (3) A study of one or more of the forms of drama such as medieval morality and mystery plays, revenge tragedy, heroic tragedy, and comedy of manners. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

311 Studies in Medieval British Literature. (3) Studies of selected British literary works from the beginnings to about 1500, with the Old English and more difficult Middle English texts read in translation. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

312 Studies in Renaissance and Seventeenth- Century British Literature. (3) Studies of selected British literary works from 1485 to 1660. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

314 Shakespeare. (3) A study of the major comedies, histories, and tragedies along with a consideration of the historical, intellectual, and theatrical contexts in which they were written. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

319 Studies in Nineteenth-Century British Literature. (3) Investigates those qualities, issues, and forms which distinguish nineteenth-century British writers from their predecessors and which inform the literature of their successors. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

324 Studies in Twentieth-Century British Literature. (3) Investigates selected poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction in the context of changing social and political horizons characteristic of modern Britain. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

331 Studies in Nineteenth-Century American Literature. (3) Investigates the development of a distinctive American literature against the background of the cultural changes in an expanding nation. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

334 Studies in Twentieth-Century American Literature. (3) Investigates literary responses to the cultural expansions and fragmentations of twentiethcentury American life. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

335 Studies in American Poetry. (3) Focuses on one or more of the critical issues which have characterized the emergence and development of poetry in America. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

337 Contemporary American Literature. (3) Study of contemporary American fiction, poetry, non-fiction, drama, and film, emphasizing recent formal and thematic trends. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

340 American Nature Writing. (3) Study of selected literary works, primarily non-fiction, from the seventeenth century to the present, that explore the human engagement with the American landscape and its forms of life. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

346 (Cross-listed with AAS 346) African American Fiction. (3) A survey of selected African American short stories and novels from the beginning to the present, from Brown, Johnson, and Toomer to Ellison, Baldwin, Morrison, and beyond. Not open to students with credit in AAS 346. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

347 The Novel in Context. (3) Study of the novel in light of a particular context such as literary movements, social conditions, an award (Booker, Pulitzer, etc.), or political issues. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

348 Ethnic Literatures of the United States. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) Study of literary texts, authors, and genres from various ethnic groups in the U.S. Examinations of culturally specific and cross-cultural questions including issues of race, class, and gender. Prerequisite: ENG 280 or consent of instructor.

350 Postcolonial Literature. (3) (Global Issues) A study of texts that address the experiences of empire by writers from countries with a history of colonialism or works by writers who have migrated from formerly colonized countries. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

351 Marginalized Literature. (3) A study of texts by writers and/or about characters who are marginalized and underrepresented because of sexuality, disability, class, race, gender, or religion. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

353 Great Books. (3) Study of selected literary masterpieces, from the ancient Greeks through the present: European epics, drama, lyric poetry, and prose in English translation. IAI: H3 906.

354 (Cross-listed with AAS 354) African Americans in American Film. (3) Analysis of the representation of African Americans in American films as a way to consider how imagery affects society’s attitudes about race. Films from early 20th century depictions of mammies to the 1990s hip-hop sagas will be examined. Not open to students with credit in AAS 354. Prerequisite: AAS 100 or consent of instructor.

355 Myths, Legends, and Literature. (3) A literary study of myths and legends, with special emphasis on European myths and legends and their relationship to literature.

356 Literature of the Bible. (3) A study of the literary variety of the Testaments, including Biblical history, lyric poetry, biography, and letters, among other forms.

357 Nation and Literature. (3) (Global Issues) The study of literature by writers of a particular nation (or related nations) with special attention to that nation’s identity, history, cultural traditions, and international relations. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

358 Studies in Non-Western Literature. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) Study of selected literary works (in English translation) from developing countries, with attention to their distinctive forms and viewpoints. IAI: H3 908N.

366 Reading Instruction in Secondary Schools. (2) This course addresses instructional reading strategies for secondary school content area classrooms. It focuses on reading and literacy instruction, design and selection of content-specific reading materials, creating course content to meet learner needs, and formal and informal reading assessment. Prerequisites: EIS 202, EIS 301, and SPED 210.

368 Studies in Literary Theory. (3) Studies in selected works of literary theory. This course may focus on specific themes or topics such as structuralism, hermeneutics, deconstruction, queer theory, or disability studies. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

370 Rhetorical Grammar. (3) Use a rhetorical framework to study grammatical and discourse structures and apply them to students’ own writing. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280, or permission of instructor.

372 The English Language in Historical and Social Contexts. (3) Origins and varieties of the English language and its acquisition. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

376 Professional Development Workshop. (1) Students prepare application materials for internships, jobs, or further schooling, a portfolio of writing, and an essay that articulates personal and professional goals. Students will also take part in workshops for career and/or educational opportunities for English majors. Prerequisite: junior standing.

380 Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences. (3) Reading, analyzing, and writing discipline-specific texts; students will write about content from their major fields. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. BGS online writing course. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280, or permission of instructor.

381 Technical Communication. (3) Developing informative, reader-centered technical communication. Writing, testing, and revising common genres and styles. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. BGS online writing course. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280, or permission of instructor.

383 Public and Persuasive Writing. (3) Reading, analyzing, and writing texts from various public, persuasive discourses: political rhetoric, legal discourse, media presentations, and/or other texts. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280, or permission of instructor.

384 Teaching Writing in Secondary Schools. (3) An advanced writing course designed primarily for English education majors and minors; a study of the rhetorical process, practice in writing essays, and consideration of teaching composition. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisite: ENG 280.

385 Writing Workshop: Poetry. (3) Further work in the writing of poetry. Prerequisite: ENG 285 or consent of instructor.

386 Writing Workshop: Fiction. (3) Further work in the writing of fiction. Prerequisite: ENG 285 or consent of instructor.

387 Writing Workshop: Nonfiction. (3) Work in the writing of literary nonfiction. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280, or consent of instructor.

389 Film Theory and Criticism. (3) Study of various critical approaches to film and an exploration of the theories informing these approaches (with laboratory). Prerequisite: ENG 290 or consent of instructor.

390 (Cross-listed with BC 390) Film History. (3) This course is an historical survey that covers the international history of cinema from its origins to the present. It considers issues including the development of national film industries, national and international film movements, and the social history of film (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in BC 390. Prerequisite: ENG/BC 290 or consent of instructor.

392 National Cinemas. (3) (Global Issues) An intensive study of selected national cinemas, concentrating on how different nations have developed film industries and how these films have affected national identities. Prerequisite: ENG/BC 290 or consent of instructor.

393 American Film Genres. (3) Study of American film genres including Westerns, gangster and detective films, musicals, horror and science fiction films, melodramas, and comedies (with laboratory). Prerequisite: ENG/BC 290, ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

394 (Cross-listed with BC 394) Documentary Film and Video. (3) History of documentary film and video with focus on the documentary as a medium of communication, information, and interpretation (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit in BC 394.

395 Film and Literature. (3) Selected literary works and their film adaptations will serve as the basis for the comparative analysis of the different aesthetics of literature and film (with laboratory). Prerequisite: ENG 290 with a grade of C or better, ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or permission of instructor.

400 Topics in Literature. (1–3, repeatable for different topics) A study of a special theme or topic in literature. Printed. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

401 Major Authors. (1–3, repeatable for different authors) A thorough study of the work of a major author or two closely related authors. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

408 Senior Honors Thesis. (1–4, repeatable to 4) An independent study project resulting in a substantial original paper. Students will work closely with a single instructor who will evaluate the project. Prerequisites: registration for departmental honors in English, approval of the thesis advisor and the departmental honors coordinator, and senior status in the University.

409 Independent Study. (1–3, repeatable to 3) Independent reading or research projects for the senior English major. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 433 Literature for Young Adults. (3) Survey of literature for secondary students grades 7–12. Emphasis on critical analysis, evaluation, and use of books in various genres.

466 Teaching Literature and Reading in Secondary Schools. (3) Constructs teaching units for 6–12 grade students that integrate age-appropriate literary genres; and examines reading strategies derived from literary theory. Prerequisites: ENG 280 and 384; 12 s.h. (or equivalent) of coursework in literature, or consent of instructor.

471 Language Diversity and Grammar for Teachers. (3) Examines the relationships among standard and nonstandard dialects and effective practices for teaching grammar. Prerequisites: ENG 280 and 372, or consent of instructor.

473 Topics in Linguistics. (3, repeatable for different topics to 6) Selected topic varies and will be announced in the printed course schedule book at each offering. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing, or consent of instructor.

474 World Englishes. (3) (Global Issues) An examination of the history, status, and linguistic features of Englishes around the world. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

476 Senior Seminar. (3, repeatable to 6 for different topics) Intensive exploration of a major issue, era, author, or text, culminating in the writing of a substantial scholarly essay. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisite: ENG 280, ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, senior standing, or consent of department chairperson.

480 Computers and Writing. (3) Practice and study of computer-mediated communication. File management, word processing, networked communication, hypertext, and other current applications. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280.

481 Topics in Rhetoric and Composition. (3, repeatable for different topics to 6) Semester-long study of a topic in the theory, practice, pedagogy, or history of rhetoric and composition. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280.

482 Life Writing. (3) Issues relevant for writing biography and/or autobiography. Relevant theory and practice, such as research, interviewing, and revision. Prerequisite: ENG 180 and 280, or permission of instructor.

483 Professional Editing. (3) Study of professional copy-editing techniques and practice editing manuscripts. Prerequisites: ENG 180, ENG 280, and departmental WID course.

484 Writing Center Tutoring. (3) Tutoring in the WIU Writing Center; includes intensive training and work experience in the Writing Center. Prerequisites: ENG 180, ENG 280, any departmental WID course, and permission of instructor. Graded S/U only.

485 Advanced Poetry Workshop. (3) An advanced course in writing poetry for students already accomplished in the genre. Prerequisites: ENG 285 and 385.

486 Advanced Fiction Workshop. (3) An advanced course in writing fiction for students already experienced in the genre. Prerequisites: ENG 285 and 386.

487 Advanced Nonfiction Workshop. (3) An advanced course in writing nonfiction for students already experienced in the genre. Prerequisites: ENG 285 and 387.

492 (Cross-listed with REL 492) Religion, Literature, and Film. (3) (Global Issues) Study of multicultural literary and cinematic texts engaging a wide range of religious traditions. Not open to students with credit for REL 492. Prerequisite: ENG 299 with a grade of C or better, or one 100- or 200-level Religious Studies or Philosophy course, or consent of instructor.

494 (Cross-listed with BC 494 and WS 494) Women and Film/Television. (3) An overview of women in film and television that considers the on-screen images of women as well as the positions of women working behind the scenes (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit for BC 494 or WS 494. Prerequisite: ENG 280.

495 Internship. (1–12, repeatable to 12) Actual work assignments and on-the-job experiences in businesses and public agencies which value the skills of intellect, imagination, research, reading, and writing of the English major. Prerequisite: permission of department chairperson. Graded S/U only.

496 (Cross-listed with BC 496) Topics in Film. (3) Study of major subjects and themes in film. Topics vary but may include intensive study of directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Federico Fellini, or artistic movements such as Italian Neorealism, French New- Wave, Contemporary Spanish Cinema, or Russian Formalism. Not open to students with credit in BC 496. Prerequisites: ENG/BC 290, ENG/BC 390, and 6 s.h. in approved film minor electives, or permission of instructor.