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Undergraduate Course DescriptionsCurrent upper-level English courses are described below. For descriptions of all English courses, refer to the Undergraduate Catalog. Fall 2007Special Topics Creative Writing
Linguistics and TESOL
Literature
Rhetoric and Composition Senior Seminars
SPECIAL TOPICSEnglish 400: Prose Poems and Short-Short StoriesMW 3:00 - 4:15 In this special topics course, we will consider two genres that have become incredibly popular in recent years: the prose poem and the short-short story (also called flash fiction or micro fiction). We will look at the evolution of both forms, from their literary precursors to the present, and explore the blurry boundary between the two. Is the difference between prose poetry and flash fiction simply the opinion of the author? The reader? The editor? Also, how do we account for the rapid rise in popularity of the two forms/genres among contemporary writers? Is the prose poem the dying breath of poetry as we know it? Will the internet kill the traditional short story? Students in the course will write prose poems, short-short stories, and critical essays on the subject, as well as a final project with both creative and critical components. The reading list is still being developed, but possible texts include: Models of the Universe: an anthology of the prose poem; Flash Fiction: 72 very short stories; Joe Wenderoth’s novel-in-prose-poems Letters to Wendy’s; and the online magazine Double Room: a journal of prose poetry and flash fiction.
CREATIVE WRITINGEnglish 306: Creative NonfictionM 6:30 - 9:10 There are two ways I know to improve writing—by reading and by writing. In this class we will do a lot of both, concentrating specifically on the techniques, craft, and art of the literary essay. Using our own experiences and perceptions as the lens through which we record the world, we’re going to start by writing about the self (in a memoir piece) and as the term progresses we’ll expand our scope to both nature writing and literary journalism as we begin writing about things beyond the self—other people, other places, other ways of living in the world. We’ll work on the nuts-and-bolts of the writing (research and interview strategies, structure, point of view, storytelling, voice) as we tackle the really big questions that will face us: What do I want to write about and why? How am I going to write it? What am I really writing about? Class time will be divided between discussions of published works, writing exercises, and both small and large group workshops of student writing. Probable text: Writing True: The Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction edited by Mimi Schwartz and Sondra Perl. English 307: Fiction Writing 2TR 9:30 - 10:45 Writing is an art and craft, creative inspiration blended with very hard work. In this class, we will focus on the work—reading, writing, discussing fiction, both professional examples, and our own personal writing. The goal is to develop technical ability and understanding of craft and technique; and to define and cultivate a personal aesthetic—or, at least, do some serious thinking about it. A portion of the class will concentrate on the development of a critical vocabulary, in-class writing exercises, and the discussion of pieces of short fiction. Obviously, fiction is a massive “world,” and we will analyze the usual and expected aspects: plot, setting, character, and so on. However, I would like to focus on objects in fiction (as in what is there and why?), figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.), conflict (locating it and why it’s important), and mood, or atmosphere. Be sure to think about these specific aspects with every fiction piece we read. Another portion of the class will be dedicated to workshop, or peer review, of your own original fiction (knowing this, you shouldn’t submit any work that you aren’t comfortable sharing with the class). Every student is expected to thoroughly read their peers’ work, and to give thoughtful and respectful feedback. Although focusing on workshopping student stories at this time, we will continue with exercises and our discussions of published fiction as well. Text: Flash Flash Fiction Forward: 80 Very Short Stories by James Thomas and Robert Shapard. We will also have handouts and stories on reserve, and/or Blackboard. Contact Professor Lovelace (salovelace@bsu.edu) with any questions. English 308: Poetry Writing 2MW 5:00 - 6:15 The readings in this course are focused on modern American poetry, which Cary Nelson calls “one of the major achievements of human culture.” We will pay special attention to the long poem, an American tradition. The readings are arranged thematically, and these themes will also be the basis of writing assignments and reading responses. The first goal of this course is to make us all into better readers of poetry (a lifelong task), so throughout the term we will discuss poems by published authors. Part of this class will be devoted to small group and large group workshops, where students will critique the work of their peers. Requirements include readings and quizzes, ten poems, short essays, a final portfolio and a final essay. The text for this course is Cary Nelson’s Modern American Poetry and the companion website.
English 407: Fiction Writing 3W 6:30 - 9:10 This course is a continuation of fiction writing 307 with a focus on the short story and an emphasis on the student’s ability to write literary fiction featuring a complex situation and characters. The workshop is designed for careful and considerate criticism of students’ work, which includes typed critiques of each others’ stories. Writing IS revision and the workshop is intended to assist the author with that task. Formal class sessions may be replaced on several occasions by individual conferences with students. Assignments will differ, somewhat, throughout the semester for those who have elected to repeat 407. A handout for criteria for grading of a short story will be distributed during the first class meeting. Each student will create two new stories and, toward the end of the semester, will turn in one of the two stories (after receiving comments from the workshops on each and my written comments and assessment) for the revision grade; all drafts submitted to me will count toward the final overall grade. Participation in classroom discussions of published literature read and in workshops, quizzes, and a final exam, as well as attendance, will also be factored in to the final grade. English 489: Practicum in Literary EditingT 6:30 - 9:10 The students in this class will be responsible for producing the Spring 2008 issue of The Broken Plate, Ball State’s undergraduate literary magazine. Student editors will be responsible for all aspects of magazine production, including soliciting submissions, selecting quality work, and designing the publication using Adobe InDesign. Other requirements include magazine and book reviews, readings and quizzes, software tutorials, and an individual final project. Texts may include literary magazines, Merriam-Webster’s Manual for Writers and Editors, and Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style.
LINGUISTICS AND TESOLEnglish 436: Theory and Research in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, section 1MW 3:00 - 4:15 The course surveys TESOL theories and research based on second language acquisition theories and research with various perspectives, such as nativist, interactionist, cognitivist, and social-constructivist. The course also examines non-linguistic factors, such as age, attitudes, and motivation, and educational issues surrounding English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) learners and teachers. The overall objectives of this course are to understand the mechanisms and the phenomena of language learning, in particular, ESL/EFL, and to apply that understanding to ESL/EFL teaching and research. English 437: Methods and Materials in Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesW 6:00-8:40 This course will provide students with the opportunity to study, practice, and apply the principles of language learning treated in ENG 436 to teaching English as a second or foreign language. Specifically, this course will provide an immersive learning experience to allow students direct contact with English language learners in a public school setting while familiarizing students with Limited English Proficient standards and specific methods for teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing language skills. LITERATURE AND FILMEnglish 347: Twentieth Century Literature Manifesto PoetryMW 5:00-6:15 Whether you love poetry or just want to learn to read it better, you’ll see that this course covers some of the most exciting ever written in English. The Twentieth Century began in a time of wild experimentation in literature, music, and visual arts. Political unrest, new technology, and advances in global communication combined to offer new possibilities in collaboration and self-expression. Sound familiar yet? Throw in a dash of anarchy; that is the Manifesto Poets. This course will cover early Modernist poetry and poetics including the movements known as Dadaism, Surrealism, Futurism, Imagism, and Vorticism. We will read poets from Britain, Europe, and America who congregated primarily in Paris in the first third of the century and shaped American poetry as we still recognize it today. Included will be: H.D., Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, Kay Boyle, E. E. Cummings, Tristan Tzara, and Nancy Cunard. We will also consider simultaneous artistic innovations in painting, music, publishing, and the precursor of performance art as they impacted the poetry of the time. Students will write a paper about an issue relevant to the course topic and have the opportunity to craft a manifesto of their own and proclaim it to the campus community as loudly or quietly as they desire. English 424: Genre Studies -
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