Course Descriptions

ENGL 0900 Preparation for College Writing I Credits 3 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 0900

This composition course introduces the process and strategies of writing clear, focused paragraphs. Students learn and practice the basic skills of standard American written English, including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Prerequisite: College required assessment for placement

ENGL 0950 Preparation for College Writing II Credits 4 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 0950

This composition course is for students who need a more intensive review of standard American written English (grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure)than English 1201 provides. The course also introduces the processes and strategies of essay writing from first thoughts through revision to the final, edited, 2-3 page essay. Prerequisite: College required assessment for placement

ENGL 0990 Gateway Composition Credits 2 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 0990

This composition course is for students who need a more intensive review of standard American written English (grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure) than English 1201 alone provides. The course also introduces the processes and strategies of essay writing from first thoughts through revision to the final, edited college-level essay.Prerequisite: College required assessment for placement OR prior successful completion of English 0900

ENGL 1140 Professional Writing Credits 3 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 1140

This course offers students the opportunity to improve their writing skills and adapt them for professional communication. Students will focus on assessing purpose, audience, credibility, style, clarity/correctness, and format to determine appropriate approaches to a range of written and electronic communication, including memos, letters, employment documents, and proposals/reports.

ENGL 1200 Gateway College Writing Credits 4 Goal Areas 01 Course Outline 1200

This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.

ENGL 1201 College Writing I Credits 4 Goal Areas 01 Course Outline 1201

ENGL 1202 College Writing II Credits 2 Goal Areas 01 Course Outline 1202

This class focuses on the research process, textual analysis of primary and secondary sources, rhetorical strategies for argument and persuasion, and successful integration of sources into a longer academic paper utilizing MLA (or other, as appropriate) documentation format. The class may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or topical in content, as noted on the class registration site.

ENGL 1250 Magazine Workshop Credits 2 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 1250

This workshop offers students the opportunity to gain practical editorial experience by working on the college literary/arts magazine. As members of the editorial staff, students will solicit, select, and edit stories, essays and poems for publication. May be repeated for credit.

ENGL 1260 Newspaper Writing Credits 2 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 1260

Students will meet at least one hour each week in a laboratory format to edit and publish the student newspaper. Working in collaboration with student contributors and considering local, national and global issues, students will decide what is appropriate and relevant content for the campus newspaper.

ENGL 1800 Introduction to Journalism Credits 3 Goal Areas 01,09 Course Outline 1800

This course provides an introduction to writing in standard journalism modes, which may include news, features, editorials, sports, reviews, and blogs. Contemporary practices, issues, and ethics of the profession are also covered.

ENGL 1900 Introduction to Creative Writing Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 1900

This class is designed for students who want to try creative writing, perhaps for the first time, and learn more about the creative process. No previous creative writing experience is necessary. Coursework will include reading, writing, and discussion of both student and professional work in at least three of the following genres: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction (or memoir), and drama. The focus of the class, students' creative work, will be presented and critiqued in a workshop environment.

ENGL 1940 Technical Writing Credits 3 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 1940

This course further develops writing skills as applied to technical subjects for a specialized or lay audience. Credit does not apply to the 40 MnTC (Minnesota Transfer Curriculum) credits required in the A.A. (Associate of Arts).

ENGL 1950 Graphic Novels Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 1950

This course will introduce students to the diverse body of literature known as graphic novels. While emphasis will be placed on works that are specifically considered graphic novels, it may also include the study of other comics-strips and books that have significantly contributed to the development of the form. Students can expect to be exposed not only to a wide range of graphic novel types, such as autobiography, journalism, history, humor, dramatic fiction, manga, and superheroes, but also to a deeper understanding of the methods of telling stories that are unique to comics.

ENGL 1960 Writing Workshop Credits 1 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 1960

This course is designed for people interested in more intensive work with creative writing projects. The emphasis could range from poetry to story or nonfiction writing.

ENGL 1990 English Special Topics Credits 1-4 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 1990

This course will provide flexibility in offering an in-depth review of topics of immediate importance and topical interest. These topics will go beyond the introductory courses in examining specific aspects of the subject matter.

ENGL 2010 Writing Creative Non-Fiction and Memoir Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2010

This course offers beginning instruction in the art of writing creative non-fiction, which includes the personal essay, literary journalism, and other hybrid forms, as well as memoir writing. Students will read and analyze the work of professional writers, explore a variety of techniques for discovering material and topics, and experience workshop peer review of their work.

ENGL 2020 Writing Stories Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2020

This course offers beginning instruction in the art of writing fiction. Exploring techniques for generating material, engaging in writing exercises, and critically examining contemporary short fiction are important aspects of this course. Students will develop a portfolio of their writing and will critique others' work in a writing workshop environment.

ENGL 2030 Writing Poetry Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2030

Beginning instruction in the art of poetry. Exploring techniques for generating material, engaging in writing exercises both in and out of class, and discussing examples of contemporary poetry are important aspects of this class. Students will draft a collection of poems and critique others' work in a writing workshop environment.

ENGL 2150 Introduction to Literary Studies Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2150

This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of literatures and to means to credibly examine that literature. It thus includes literary terms, critical approaches and their application to literature.

ENGL 2270 Modern American Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2270

This course will introduce students to selected American writers of the twentieth and/or twenty-first centuries and their works. The course may be organized either by historic periods or topically.

ENGL 2300 Children's Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2300

In this course, students will have the pleasure of reading, discussing and evaluating children's literature ranging from the picture book to the young adult novel. Students will explore the history of children's literature, critical responses to it and its specific role for children and adults. Students will examine works from the genre that might include picture books, chapter books, folktales, fantasy, realistic fiction, historical fiction, poetry and nonfiction with an emphasis on how the genre and its themes have evolved over time, paying particular attention to how those themes address the role of children in society. This course will appeal to students, parents and educators.

ENGL 2320 Writing: From Structure to Style Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2320

This course focuses on the structure of language as well how its rules and applications affect written communication and authorial choices in professional and academic settings. The course further intends to create confidence in written and oral expression, to support students in business, graphic arts, paralegal, and other programs.

ENGL 2330 Hmong American Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2330

Hmong American Literature explores the works of Hmong writers as represented in the novel, nonfiction, short stories, poetry, drama/film, and Paj Ntaub (stories recorded in tapestry). To a more limited extent, characterizations of Hmong in works by non-Hmong authors may be considered, as well as relevant works by Laotian American and Asian American writers.

ENGL 2340 Nature in Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,10 Course Outline 2340

This course surveys literature that examines the relation between human beings and the natural world as that relationship has been variously conceived by British, American, and other writers. The literary works studied may begin with the pastoral poetry of the English Renaissance and focus on literature from the late eighteenth-century, nineteenth century, and contemporary works. The primary consideration of this course is on how a literary idea of nature has been affected and effected by variations in culture, namely, changes in politics, economics, and technology that in diverse cultural and historical contexts have created conflicts between ecological and human interests. Ultimately this study leads to considering how the green language created by the writers under study has contributed to an eco-critical ethic that allows examination of current ecological sensibilities and the language that represents them. The course may also engage oriental literature, for many American and British authors have aligned their thinking on nature with eastern religions. Additionally, the content will reference painters, philosophers, and composers whose works contribute a relevant understanding of nature-as they may lead into relevant scientific considerations of nature. Prerequisite: Engl 1200 or Engl 1201

ENGL 2350 Women and Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2350

This course explores women as characters in and writers of literature, including fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry. The course may also address issues of historical context, gender, class and race as a way of understanding women in literature.

ENGL 2360 Global Literary Perspectives Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2360

Students will interpret world literature and film (either in translation or originally written in English) that present culturally diverse voices and viewpoints. Special attention will be given to colonial and postcolonial literatures that reflect the immigrant communities of Twin Cities college campuses, such as Egyptian, Finnish, Ethiopian, Hmong, Icelandic, Iranian, Korean, Liberian, Mexican, Norwegian, Russian, Somali, Swedish, and Vietnamese.

ENGL 2370 African American Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2370

This course introduces the student to the writings of African-Americans from the colonial period to the present and explores the contributions of these writers to American culture, letters, and life. The course may be organized either by historic periods or topically.

ENGL 2380 American Indian Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2380

This course introduces the students to North American Native American Literature. Readings may include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songs, mythology, and film from traditional and contemporary authors. Special attention may be given to Native American authors with Minnesota connections, such as Louise Erdrich, David Treuer, and Susan Power.

ENGL 2390 Work in American Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,09 Course Outline 2390

This course examines American texts by and about workers and those concerned with workers. It focuses on how these texts portray work and the ways that work structures personal and social life, as well as on how these texts address and are formed by historical and political events that shape working conditions. The course may be organized historically or topically.

ENGL 2400 Utopian/Dystopian Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,08 Course Outline 2400

This course introduces students to the literature of utopias and dystopias, literary works about imaginary places, whose intention is to explore alternative models of political, cultural, and societal structures. Utopian/dystopian literatures seek to challenge existing ideas about governments, social communities, and constructions of human identity, but they also offer new, sometimes radical and transformative ideas regarding the reformation of existing human societies.

ENGL 2410 US Latinx and Latin American Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2410

This course will introduce students to the genres, traditions, and themes that characterize Latinx literatures. Emphasis will be placed on the distinctions and similarities that have shaped the experiences and the cultural imagination among different Latinx communities in the U.S. and throughout Latin America. Genres include, but are not limited to, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and film.

ENGL 2450 Survey of American Literature I Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2450

This course will provide students with a chronological overview of American literature, including major writers, literary developments (e.g. sentimentalism, gothic fiction, romanticism, transcendentalism) and key historical and social contexts, from the pre-colonial period to 1860.

ENGL 2460 Survey of American Literature II Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2460

This course will provide students with a chronological overview of American literature, including major writers, literary movements (e.g. local color, realism, naturalism, modernism, and post-modernism) and social and historical contexts, from 1860 to the present.

ENGL 2500 Playwriting Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2500

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of writing theatrical plays. They will be expected to work on several creative projects throughout the semester and to participate in workshops in which they will discuss and critique one another's work. Students may also be asked to complete other writing exercises and to analyze a selection of plays to gain a better understanding of the art of playwriting.

ENGL 2540 Introduction to Literary Studies: Reading Poetry Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2540

This course is a study of poetry: the reading and analysis of poetic works from a variety of time periods and cultures. Important figures, poetic traditions and movements, formal techniques, and other methods of evoking mood and meaning will be explored through discussion and in both written and oral projects throughout the semester.

ENGL 2550 Survey of British Literature I Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,08 Course Outline 2550

This course covers the literature of Great Britain with its historical background from its beginnings to 1785. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Donne, and Swift, among others, are studied in this course.

ENGL 2560 Survey of British Literature II Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,08 Course Outline 2560

This course covers the literature of Great Britain with its historical background from 1785 through the 20th century. The literature of the Romantic, Victorian, and Modern periods are studied in this course.

ENGL 2570 Introduction to Literary Studies: Reading Plays Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2570

This course is a survey of drama as literature; plays will be read as literary texts, not as the grounds for specific performances or performance practices. Through their engagements with the dramatic literature in this course, students will be introduced to a diversity of dramatic styles and themes. Attention will also be devoted to the social and cultural contexts in which the plays were written and in which they are read. Course materials may be organized either historically or topically.

ENGL 2580 Shakespeare's Plays Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,08 Course Outline 2580

This course studies some of the major plays of William Shakespeare (which may include histories, comedies, tragedies, and romances), analyzing the plays from the standpoint of literary interpretation, focusing on poetic style and literary techniques.

ENGL 2590 Introduction to Literary Studies: American Short Story Credits 3 Goal Areas 06 Course Outline 2590

The short story is a form that was created and refined by American writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will study American short story writers, their stories, and their views of American life.

ENGL 2900 Fantasy Literature Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,07 Course Outline 2900

This course will introduce students to fantasy as a literary genre. It will expose students to various types of fantasy stories (such as high fantasy, sword and sorcery, urban fantasy, and/or fantasy horror). It will also address how fantasy literature can reflect or comment on issues in the real world, including how various forms of bigotry can be challenged or normalized by fantasy texts.

ENGL 2950 Mystery and Detective Fiction Credits 3 Goal Areas 06,09 Course Outline 2950

This course will introduce students to mystery and detective fiction as a literary genre and as popular literature, examining the conventions of suspense writing, possibly including hook, twist, red herring, back story, sub-plot, procedural, clues, and the ethical concerns of investigative methods and civic life. Discussion of various sub-genre styles will engage students in critical thinking applied to historical era, culturally diverse contexts, and gender roles in mystery writing.

ENGL 2960 Creative Writing Capstone Project Credits 1 Goal Areas n/a Course Outline 2960

This course is intended for students who are in the Creative Writing AFA program and within a semester of completion. This capstone experience will focus on the writing and revision of a demonstrative portfolio of writing within a single genre, multiple genres, or blended genres (poetry, fiction, scriptwriting, and/or creative nonfiction). Students will work individually with faculty to develop and polish their writing for publication submission and movement toward further study and/or career options.Prerequisite: Engl 1900 Introduction to Creative Writing