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Choosing an Introductory English Course

There are several ways to enter the English curriculum at Brown. One would be to take a course that focuses entirely on academic writing for the university (ENGL0110 or ENGL0130). Another is to take an introductory course in reading and writing about literature (one of the offerings in ENGL0200), or in writing for the world outside the university (ENGL0160 or ENGL0180). A third is to take one or more introductory English courses below the 1000 level (see the English Department prospectus for complete descriptions).

English Literatures and Cultures:
Under 1000-level Literature Course Offerings for FALL 2009

ENGL0200 SEMINARS IN WRITING, LITERATURES, AND CULTURES
These courses offer students who do not necessarily intend to pursue a concentration in English a focused experience with reading and writing on a literary or cultural topic. The subject matter of these courses varies with the individual instructor, but each tries to strike a balance between mastery of the subject matter itself and the students' ability to write about problems raised by the assigned readings and class discussion. These courses require 18-20 pages of finished critical prose dealing with the literary, cultural, and theoretical problems raised. The course goal is to improve students' ability to perform close reading and textual analysis. May count as elective credit toward the concentration in English, but may not be used toward fulfillment of the 4-course focus or the theory or scholarly area requirements. Enrollment in each section is limited to 17.

  • ENGL0200R -- Trivial Pursuits in 18th- and 19th-century American Literature

Other Courses below 1000-level to be offered during Semester I
These courses are designed for students who are interested in taking introductory literature courses at Brown. ENGL0210, 0410 and 0610 are courses intended to give students a coherent sense of the literary history and the major critical developments during each of the department's three period-organized research fields. ENGL0250, 0450, and 0650 are introductory seminars restricted to first-year students. All of these courses count toward concentration requirements in Literatures and Cultures in English.

  • ENGL0210F -- Beowulf to Aphra Behn: The Earliest British Literatures
  • ENGL0250F -- Shakespeare's Present Tense
  • ENGL0400A -- Introduction to Shakespeare
  • ENGL0410A -- Literature and the Fantastic
  • ENGL0410J -- The Literature of Identity from Shakespeare to Wilde
  • ENGL0450D -- The Simple Art of Murder
  • ENGL0600D -- Mark Twain's America
  • ENGL0600E -- British Romanticism
  • ENGL0610E -- Postcolonial Literature
  • ENGL0610K -- Twentieth-Century Literatures in English
  • ENGL0650H -- Realism and Modernism

Nonfiction Writing Course Offerings for Fall 2009

The Nonfiction Writing Program at Brown is committed to the principle that writing is integral to learning. The program uniquely links academic writing and creative nonfiction and journalism; this integration offers a comprehensive and flexible approach to prose writing. All courses are conducted in small seminars. For complete course descriptions and for section information, please consult the English Department prospectus. Full descriptions for ENGL 0110, 0130, 0160, 0180, 1160, and 1180 for Fall 2009 are linked here. FAQs for Nonfiction Writing are linked here.

 

Writing for the University

These are introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in nonfiction writing for students who wish to improve skills of composing and revising critical essays. The intermediate and advanced courses give more intensive experience in writing research papers, developing complex arguments, and using a variety of rhetorical strategies. Although many of these courses focus on literary subject matter, their purpose is to prepare students for writing at the college level in the entire range of the courses they are likely to take at Brown. Enrollment in each section is limited to 12 or 17. S/NC.

ENGL0110 CRITICAL READING AND WRITING I: THE ACADEMIC ESSAY
An introduction to university-level writing. Students produce and revise multiple drafts of essays, practice essential skills of paragraph organization, and develop techniques of critical analysis and research. Readings from a range of texts in literature, the media, and academic disciplines. Assignments move from personal response papers to formal academic essays. Sections 3 and 4 are reserved for first-year students.

ENGL0130 CRITICAL READING AND WRITING II: THE RESEARCH ESSAY
For the confident writer. Offers students who have mastered the fundamentals of the critical essay an opportunity to acquire the skills to write a research essay, including formulation of a research problem, use of primary evidence, and techniques of documentation. Individual section topics are drawn from literature, history, the social sciences, the arts, and the sciences. Writing sample may be required.

 

Writing for the World Outside the University

These are courses in various genres of nonfiction prose writing that supplement the English Department's offerings in literature and creative writing. They help students acquire skills in specialized areas of writing. While they may include literary subject matter, these courses are not designed to help students master the writing skills required for their academic assignments as much as to give them some preparation for critical thinking and writing tasks in their extracurricular and service activities and even in life after Brown. These courses are for students who have mastered basic writing skills. Enrollment limited to 12 or 17. Writing sample required. S/NC.

ENGL0160 JOURNALISTIC WRITING
An introduction to journalistic writing that focuses on techniques of investigation, reporting, and feature writing. Uses readings, visiting journalists, and field experience to address ethical and cultural debates involving the profession of journalism. Writing assignments range from news coverage of current events to investigative feature articles. Prerequisite: ENGL0110 or equivalent. Writing sample required.

ENGL0180 INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE NONFICTION
Designed to familiarize students with the techniques and narrative structures of creative nonfiction. Reading and writing will focus on personal essays, memoir, science writing, travel writing, and other related subgenres. Writing sample may be required. May serve as preparation for ENGL1180.

ENGL1160 SPECIAL TOPICS IN JOURNALISM
For advanced writers. Class lists will be reduced after writing samples are reviewed during the first week of classes. Preference will be given to English concentrators.

ENGL1180 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CREATIVE NONFICTION
For advanced writing students. Practices nonfiction, using story-telling techniques of fiction and the figurative language of poetry. May focus on literary journalism, cultural criticism, historical narrative, nature writing, travel writing, or personal essay. Introduces rhetorical strategies of one or more genres through readings, written exercises, critiques, and revisions. Prerequisite: ENGL0130, 0160, 0180, or an advanced-level nonfiction writing course.