Course Descriptions

English 1: Expository Writing

English 1 fulfills the first half of the College Writing Requirement for Liberal Arts students. For Engineering students, English 1 fulfills the English requirement.

English 1 explores the principles of effective written communication and provides intensive practice in writing various types of expository prose, especially analysis and persuasion. Essays by contemporary and earlier authors will be examined as instances of the range and versatility of standard written English. English 1 is offered both semesters, with substantially fewer sections in the spring.

English 2: First-Year Writing Seminars

English 2 fulfills the second half of the College Writing Requirement for Liberal Arts students. Engineering students are not required to take English 2.

Like English 1, English 2 is a composition course designed to provide a foundation for writing in other courses. Unlike English 1, English 2 offers students the opportunity to choose among several seminar topics, all of which are approached in an interdisciplinary way. While drawing on various materials including fiction, essays, films and other visual and aural texts, English 2 puts the primary emphasis on students’ own writing. English 2 is offered both semesters, with substantially fewer sections in the fall. English 1 (or 3) is a prerequisite for this course.

Courses for Non-native English Speakers:

English 3: Reading, Writing, Research

English 3 fulfills the first half of the College Writing Requirement for Liberal Arts students. For Engineering students, English 3 fulfills the English requirement.

English 3 is designed for international students and for students who speak English as an additional language. Like English 1, this course explores the principles of effective written communication and provides intensive practice in writing various types of expository prose, especially analysis and persuasion. Essays by contemporary and earlier writers will be examined as instances of the range and versatility of standard written English. English 3 is offered in the fall semester; consent of the instructor is required for admission.

English 4: Writing Seminar

English 4 fulfills the second half of the College Writing Requirement for Liberal Arts students. Engineering students are not required to take English 4.

English 4 is designed for international students and for students who speak English as an additional language. As in English 2, the seminar topics of English 4 are approached in an interdisciplinary way. While drawing on various materials including fiction, essays, films and other visual and aural texts, English 4 puts the primary emphasis on students' own writing. English 4 is offered in the spring semester; prerequisites are English 1 (or 3), and consent of the instructor.

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