Longwood University English Majors Newsletter Fall 2008

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Longwood University English Majors Newsletter Fall 2008"

Mervyn Stevenson
6 years ago
Views:

1 Longwood University English Majors Newsletter Fall 2008

2 Important Registration Announcement English majors who started at Longwood before Fall 2007 should make the following substitutions for classes that are no longer offered (these substitutions do not affect students who began in Fall 2007 or after): If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 321, the student should register for ENGL 325 instead. If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 322, the student should register for ENGL 326 or ENGL 365 (each course can only be taken once) instead. If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 323, the student should register for ENGL 326 or ENGL 365 (each course can only be taken once) instead. If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 324, the student should register for ENGL 327 instead. If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 331, the student should register for ENGL 335 instead. If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 332, the student should register for ENGL 336 or ENGL 362 (each course can only be taken once) instead. If degree audit indicates that the student needs ENGL 333, the student should register for ENGL 336 or ENGL 362 (each course can only be taken once) instead. Please contact your advisor if you have any questions. SPECIAL NOTICE ENGL 209 is not required for majors who started at Longwood before Fall 2007, though they are welcome to take it as an elective if they would like to improve their writing skills. (The course will not count toward the major for these students.) 2

3 Course Descriptions: Spring 2009 Before you register, please check the meeting times below against the most current information available on MyLongwood. For descriptions of all of Longwood s English courses, including 100- and 200-level English General Education courses and English 400. English : Introduction to Literary Analysis (Dr. Lynch, MWF 9-9:50) English : Introduction to Literary Analysis (Dr. Van Ness, TR 9:30-10:45) English 302: History of Rhetoric (Dr. Welch, TR 12:30-1:45) English , Writing Fiction (Dr. Faulkner, MWF 9-9:50) English : Writing Fiction (Dr. Hursey, TR 2-3:15) English 317: Writing Poetry (Ms. Carroll-Hackett, T 6:15-9) English 318: Writing Non-Fiction (Ms. Stinson, TR 11-12:15) English 319: Technical Writing (Dr. Rogers, TR 9:30-10:45) English 325: British Literature: Medieval to Renaissance (Dr. Tracy, TR 12:30-1:45) English 326: British Literature: Restoration to Romanticism (Dr. Taylor, MWF 11-11:50) English 327: British Literature: Victorian to Contemporary (Dr. Heady, MWF 2-2:50) English 335: American Literature: Colonial to Realism (Dr. Van Ness, TR 11-12:15) English 336: American Literature: Naturalism to Contemporary (Dr. Cook, TR 9:30-10:45) English 350: Linguistics (Mr. Butler, MWF 2-2:50) English 357: The Art of Film II (Dr. McGee, M 6:15-9). The theme of this course is "Hollywood Goes to High School." Students will read Robert C. Bulman's Hollywood Goes to High School: Cinema, Schools, and American Culture as background and we'll discuss such films as Donnie Darko, Brick, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Heathers, Breakfast Club, Blackboard Jungle, Dangerous Minds, Elephant, and The Chocolate War. All films are tentative at this point. (Students do not need to have taken Art of Film I to take this course). English 361: Southern Women Writers (Dr. Cook, MWF 10-10:50). This course will focus on women writers from the American South, many from Virginia, from different genres, including novelists Ellen Glasgow, Lee Smith, Jill McCorkle, who will be reading at Longwood in March, and Connie Briscoe and poets Margaret Gibson, Vivian Shipley, and Natasha Trethewey. English 362: Literature of Diversity (Dr. Guran, MWF 1-1:50) English 365: Shakespeare (Dr. Shawn Smith, TR 2-3:15) English , -02, -03: Children's Literature (Dr. Miskec, MW 4-5:15, MW 5:30-6:45, TR 11-12:15) English , -05: Children's Literature (Dr. McGee, TR 12:30-1:45, TR 2-3:15) English : Literature for Young Adults (Dr. Brock-Servais, MW 4-5:15) English 381: Literature for Young Adults (Dr. Miskec, TR 2-3:15) English : Grammar (Dr. Robin Smith, MWF 11-11:50) English : Grammar (Dr. Southall, TR 8-9:15) English : Grammar (Dr. Rogers, TR 11-12:15) English , -05: Grammar (Mr. Butler, TR 12:30-1:45, TR 2-3:15) English 415: Restoration and Eightenth-Century Drama (Dr. Taylor, T 6:15-9). A survey Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British drama. 3

SPRING 2009 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS, CONTINUED English 423: Chaucer (Dr. Tracy, M 6:15-9). This course introduces students to the most influential British poet of the medieval period, Geoffrey.

4 SPRING 2009 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS, CONTINUED English 423: Chaucer (Dr. Tracy, M 6:15-9). This course introduces students to the most influential British poet of the medieval period, Geoffrey. We will read these texts closely and discuss them thoroughly, examining issues of socio-economic mobility, gender, religion, heresy, and the shifting relationship of the class structure. English 424: Milton (Dr. Shawn Smith, MW 4-5:15). An in-depth study of Milton s major works of poetry and prose. English 461: Literary Criticism: Senior Seminar (Dr. Heady, MWF 12-12:50) English 470: Professional Writing (Dr. Welch, online) English 475: Advanced Dramatic Writing (Ms. Carroll-Hackett, M 6:15-9) English 479: Writing: Theory and Practice for the Middle, Secondary, and College Classroom (Dr. Robin Smith, TR 2-3:15) English , -02: Directed Secondary Teaching (Dr. Southall, Dr. Robin Smith) English : Writing: Theory and Practice for the Elementary Classroom (Mr. Butler, MWF 12-12:50) English : Writing: Theory and Practice for the Elementary Classroom (Dr. Robin Smith, MWF 1-1:50) English : Writing: Theory and Practice for the Elementary Classroom (Dr. Southall, TR 9:30-10:45) English : Writing: Theory and Practice for the Elementary Classroom (Ms. Lettner-Rust, TR 9:30-10:45). English 485: Practical Issues for the Working Writer (Ms. Walton, MWF 12-12:50). English 495: Magical Realism (Dr. Van Ness, MWF 9-9:50). A survey of this important post-modernist movement as it appears in the novels of such writers as Kinsella, O Brien, Marquez, Esquirel, and others. Special attention will center not only on identifying the characteristics of this kind of fiction but also on distinguishing between magic realism as it appears in various countries. SPRING 2009 HONORS PROGRAM COURSES Dr. Tracy and Dr. Heady will teach honors sections of English 202 and English 400, respectively, next semester. All English majors with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher are invited to take honors courses. See Dr. Brock- Servais for placement. 4

SENIOR SEMINAR ACADEMIC CONFERENCE The fall Senior Seminar Conference will be held on Saturday, 22 November, in Ruffner 115. All English majors are encouraged to attend.

It will also give students an idea of what to expect when they take senior seminar. Coffee and muffins will be available in the morning, and soda and cookies in the afternoon. Contact Dr.

5 SENIOR SEMINAR ACADEMIC CONFERENCE The fall Senior Seminar Conference will be held on Saturday, 22 November, in Ruffner 115. All English majors are encouraged to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity to listen to, and ask questions about the capstone projects of senior English majors. It will also give students an idea of what to expect when they take senior seminar. Coffee and muffins will be available in the morning, and soda and cookies in the afternoon. Contact Dr. Taylor for more information. CREATIVE WRITING Contact Mary Carroll-Hackett for information on the department s concentration in creative writing. GOAL 15 COURSES (INTERNSHIPS) Education 370 Practicum II, English 482 Directed Teaching in the Secondary Classroom, English 490 Independent Study, English 492 Internship in English, and English 498 Honors Research in English may be used to satisfy Goal 15. Students may satisfy this goal by arranging with the professor of a 300- or 400-level English literature course to take a one credit Independent Study in conjunction with the other course to satisfy the requirement. Students may also find an internship that a professor will agree to supervise. English majors should consult with their advisors about internship possibilities, as well as the process involved in getting internships approved. In recent semesters, English majors have completed both on-campus and offcampus internships, including those with newspapers, bookstores, and healthcare organizations. The Longwood Career Center is willing and able to help students find internships. Information on Longwood internships is available at: A copy of the department s Internship Learning Contract is available at: 5

6 TEACH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) Are you majoring in Liberal Studies or English Education? Have you thought about teaching ESL? Many of the courses you are already taking could satisfy the requirements for endorsement in ESL. Virginia is short of ESL teachers right now and you could really make a difference in the life of someone new to Virginia. Because of ESL s critical status, students who are eligible can receive a scholarship for up to $3,720. To be eligible, you must be enrolled on a full- or part-time basis in the ESL teacher preparation program, be at or beyond the sophomore year, have a GPA of at least 2.7, and be a resident of Virginia. Also, students must be recommended by their university. For the loan to be forgiven, you must teach ESL for four semesters in any Virginia public school. If you have any additional questions or would like to know more about the ESL education program at Longwood, please contact Dr. Susan Hildebrandt. STUDENT TEACHING ANNOUNCEMENTS Anyone wanting or needing information on student teaching, Praxis tests, S-LATE, or LATE should contact Dr. Southall. 6

7 STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAJORS IN ENGLISH Study abroad is not just for language majors! Here are some opportunities for English majors to study abroad; discuss the options with your advisor and come by the Office of International Affairs, Ruffner 146, for more information. The Office of International Affairs provides $1,000 scholarships to ALL students who study abroad for an entire semester, regardless of the program, and this helps pay for your airfare and some other expenses. All study abroad programs awarding at least 3 credits are considered approved international experiences and waive Goal 9. In addition, study abroad courses usually satisfy other major, minor or General Education requirements. Semester Abroad: English majors can spend a semester abroad while taking courses toward the major, minor or some General Education requirements. Please stop by the Office of International Affairs to explore the possibilities; you can study abroad in almost any country in the world. In addition, Longwood University has One-for-One exchange programs* with these universities: University of Plymouth, England; University of Derby, England; University of Geneva, Switzerland. You will work with your advisor to plan the courses you will take, and how the study abroad semester will fit into your overall graduation plan. * One-for-one exchange programs are usually much more affordable than some other study abroad programs because students in the exchange programs pay their own university (Longwood) and do not pay anything to the university abroad. In some exchange programs, students pay for the room and board through Longwood also, and in others, they pay for the room and board abroad. Summer Programs: There are many 4-week, 6-week or 8-week summer programs around the world. The Office of International Affairs can help you find a program in your area of interest; you will work with your academic advisor to plan which courses to take and how they will transfer. Access the latest information at: Study Abroad to England! May 2009 ENGL 444/544: Literature and Culture; Anglo-Saxon England This course is designed to teach Anglo-Saxon literature in the context of its history, language and culture, and explore the evolution of Anglo-Saxon literature and culture through the early Middle English period. This course is also designed to emphasize the close analysis of texts, including poetry, fiction and drama written during the Anglo-Saxon and early Middle English period. Students should be able to read for comprehension, detail and nuance; demonstrate an attention to the literary qualities of language; do a close reading of the texts; analyze the ways specific literary devices contribute to the meaning of a text; and write critical papers that use the skills developed above to support a claim about a text. As a study abroad course, this class will focus on reading the texts, and discussing them onsite and in context and analyzing their cultural impact on English literature as a whole. There will be some instruction in the Anglo-Saxon language, but all texts will be read in translation. For applications and deposit information please contact Dr. Larissa Tracy: tracylc@longwood.edu 7

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Martha Cook participated on a panel at a conference on the topic The Harlem Renaissance Revisited in March at the University of Connecticut.

8 FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Martha Cook participated on a panel at a conference on the topic The Harlem Renaissance Revisited in March at the University of Connecticut. A expanded version of her paper, The Search for Self in Wallace Thurman s The Blacker the Berry...: Color, Class, and Community, has been accepted for inclusion in a book manuscript on the conference topic. She also presented a paper at the biennial Society for the Study of Southern Literature conference in Williamsburg in April entitled Natasha Trethewey s Native Guard: Transforming the Fugitive Poets. CAREER CENTER AND ENGLISH MAJORS English majors go into a variety of career fields after graduation, including writing, editing, publishing, public relations, advertising, and education. Let the Career Center staff help you learn more about these career fields and others in which you may have an interest. The Career Center staff will help you in finding internships, writing resumes and cover letters, and preparing for interviews. Review all the workshops the Career Center offers each semester by viewing: Review and practice professional dining etiquette by signing up to attend the Professional Dining Etiquette dinner one offered each semester. Applying to graduate school? See the resources the Career Center has for writing a personal statement, researching graduate programs, etc. Check out the Career Center Library, Lancaster Hall, Ground Floor, and the Career Center web site, < for job information, including salary statistics, employment outlook, internship listings, job listings, graduate school information, and more. Schedule an appointment to talk with one of the staff by calling x

9 ENGLISH GRADUATE STUDIES AT LONGWOOD Did you know that you can stay right here at Longwood and earn your MA in English? The English graduate program has four concentrations: Literature, Education and Writing, Creative Writing, and Initial Licensure. Graduate students enjoy more individual attention and seminar classes reserved for them alone. There are a limited number of assistantships available through the Office of Graduate Studies. Please talk to Dr. Tracy about whether one of these options can help you toward your future. SENIOR HONORS RESEARCH PROGRAM The Senior Honors Research Program, which is distinct from the Longwood Honors Program, involves the student and a faculty director in a research project in the student's field. It culminates in a professional paper. It is excellent preparation for graduate school, and some people have compared it to a mini-master's thesis. Complete details about the program are under Honors Programs in the front part of the current university catalog. This is a year-long program, and students earn six hours of academic credit. The usual time table is as follows: Second semester of junior year: Student and advisor propose a project and present it to the Senior Honors Research Committee for approval. First semester of senior year: Student enrolls in Honors 498 in his or her field and does the research for the project. Faculty advisor provides guidance. Second semester of senior year: Student enrolls in Honors 499 and writes a paper based on the research. The student orally defends his or her work before an examining committee. Assuming the defense is successful, the student graduates with Senior Research Honors. This is a demanding program which should be undertaken by our top students. Students contemplating a project should be juniors, and they cannot register for Senior Honors Research while they are student teaching, which means student teachers or those in full semester internships need to propose their project fall semester of their junior year. Students who are interested in doing a project next year need to propose the project this semester. If interested, consult with your academic advisor. 9

CONCENTRATION IN RHETORIC AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING Check out the Rhetoric and Professional Writing bulletin board outside of G01 for information about this new concentration, or contact Dr. Welch.

10 CONCENTRATION IN RHETORIC AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING Check out the Rhetoric and Professional Writing bulletin board outside of G01 for information about this new concentration, or contact Dr. Welch. Please visit Dr. Welch s website for more information at First Annual Professional and Technical Writing Contest Would you like to win $100 for a piece of professional writing? Dr. Rogers and Dr. Welch are hosting the firstever contest for your best memo, website, proposal, instruction manual, or other piece of professional writing created for a class at Longwood. Second prize is $50 and third is $25. To enter, pick up a registration form from Lisa in Grainger 100 and then submit it with your piece of writing. For more information, please visit our website at: or Drs. Rogers or Welch at rogersk@longwood.edu or welchkd@longwood.edu. History of Rhetoric Offered This Spring Please consider taking English 302, History of Rhetoric, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this spring! All English majors can use this course for credit in the English Major. Professional Writing and Rhetoric students are strongly encouraged to enroll in this required course for spring. It is not offered every year! The History of Rhetoric course isn't a typical "history" course. There are no dates to learn or things to memorize. Instead, in this course we will look at the various ways rhetoric has been understood and how "ancient" ideas about rhetoric relate to later theories of rhetoric. These contemporary theories not only take into account scholarship on the nature of language and its ambiguities, but also take into account the ways we make meaning, build arguments, and validate truths. We will see how rhetoric is a vital, growing field of intellectual exploration today. Students will apply some of their new knowledge about rhetoric to a text of their choice as a major semester project. Our book for the course will be the latest edition of Patricia Bizzell and Bruce Herzberg's The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present, but please don't be intimidated by the size of the textbook! We won't read the whole thing and we will, of course, put the texts we do read from that text into relationship with late 20th/early 21st century scholarship from the field of rhetorical studies that take us far beyond the watered down definitions of rhetoric that are often deployed in discussions of rhetoric and composition. 10

THE APPROVED LIST OF HUMANITIES-SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSES FOR ENGINEERING DEGREES

THE APPROVED LIST OF HUMANITIES-SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSES FOR ENGINEERING DEGREES Each student program of study must contain a minimum of 21 credit hours of course work in general education and must be chosen