EN-120 Forms of Literature
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
An introduction to the study of literary forms, including poetry, drama, short story,
novel, novella, and essay. Students will read texts from a wide variety of genres
and historical periods, to examine how litereay forms developed and gain/lost popularity
over time. Students will learn the vocabulary and technique of literary analysis.
EN-122 Interpreting Pop Literature
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
Utilizing Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, World War Z, and other popular works of
fiction for class, this introductory course will engage students in the fundamental
terms and approaches needed to analyze, appreciate and discuss works of fiction at
the college level. Students will study introductory elements of literary theory, emphasizing
using various social and theoretical perspectives, as a means of learning how to identify
cultural and literary meaning within texts.
EN-204 English Colloquium
Fall; Yearly; 1 Credit; H;
The English Colloquium prepares students for academic expectations in the English
department and introduces them to professional opportunities within the discipline.
This colloquium is intended for students with English, Secondary Education/English
or Professional Writing POEs, individualized POEs with foundation in literature or
writing, or students with secondary emphases in English. Pre-requisites: sophomore standing, one EN course beyond EN110, or instructor's permission.
Complete either EN 490 & EN 495 OR EN 493 & EN 496 - Instructor Permission is Required
EN-490 English Internship
Variable; Variable; 2-9 Credits; H;
English students may apply their acquired skills and knowledge in on-the-job internships
of a semester during their junior or senior year for a total of 9 credit hours. Television
stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, public relations and advertising
agencies are all possible placements for the Juniata interns, who not only work as
full-time members of the business's team but also evaluate and document their growth
in a journal and prepare a portfolio of presentations or publications. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and Junior or Senior standing. Corequisite:
EN495.
EN-493 English Research Seminar
Fall & Spring; Yearly; 2 Credits; H;
This course is a seminar-style introduction to advanced research methodology in literature
and linguistics for senior English POEs. Students will work simultaneously with the
course instructor and a thesis advisor from within the English department to develop
a thesis plan and to begin its execution. Prerequisites: EN120, EN122 and EN204; Senior standing; instructor permission only.
EN-495 English Internship Research
Variable; Variable; 2-6 Credits; H;
In addition to the on-the-job experience provided by the internship, the student is
required to pursue research related to the placement. An in-depth research paper or
presentation is completed during the semester and turned in for a possible 3 credit
hours. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and Junior or Senior standing. Corequisite:
EN490.
EN-496 Senior Research Capstone
Variable; Yearly; 2-4 Credits; H;
This course serves as a capstone experience in English that culminates in a substantial
written thesis. The individual research project is conducted under the guidance of
an English department faculty member. When completed, the thesis is presented in a
public forum such as Liberal Arts Symposium, an oral defense, or a conference. Prerequisites: EN120, EN122, EN204 and EN493; Senior standing.
Survey Courses (select 5 courses for 15 credits)
EN-170 World Literatures
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H, I;
Studies works of African, Asian, Latin American, South American,Caribbean and Native
American literature. Discussions focus on ways literature reveals cultural perspectives
and philosophies.
EN-200 History of the Language
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H, I;
Like other languages, English is not monolithic, and it is always on the move. This
course examines how English functions now, both in its Standard form and in many of
its varieties around the world; how its sounds and structures have changed from its
Proto-Indo-European beginnings; and what major factors have influenced those changes. Prerequisites: FYC101, EN110, or EN109.
EN-215 Boys Will Be Boys
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H;
This course explores the experiences of men and boys as represented through works
of fiction and analyzed via cultural, economic and social contexts. The course considers
" maleness " as a social construct and how perceptions within American society influence
men's actions and the ways in which they perceive themselves, other men, women, and
social situations.
EN-238 Unnatural Acts
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
From the Puritans to tree-huggers, America has been divided between those who see
Nature as moral and liberating, and those who see society as the taming of savage,
godless wilderness. This course will examine that tension in writers from Hawthorne
and Melville to Faulkner.
EN-239 Bloody Murder
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
The United States has always been a violent nation, and American writers have used
that violence to explore questions of justice, truth, and human nature. This course
will examine the portrayal of violence in writers from Poe to Cormac McCarthy.
EN-250 African American Literature
Fall; Odd Years; 3 Credits; CA, H;
A survey of African American literature from the mid-18th century to the present,
with emphasis on both the vernacular/oral and written traditions of African American
literature and attention to the historical and cultural contexts in which the literature
was created. Readings include folktales, slave narratives, autobiographies, poetry,
stories, novels, essays, sermons and speeches, hymns and spirituals, as well as blues
and gospel music and works by such writers as Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Dubois, Zora
Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni
Morrison, Alice Walker, Amiri Baraka, and others. Prerequisites: EN110.
EN-258 Funny Pages
Variable; Variable; 3 Credits; H;
Everyone loves comedy--even college professors. But comedy isn't just pratfalls and
punchlines. It's a distinctive literary form with its own conventions, traditions,
and variety of approaches. There's wit, parody, farce, satire, black comedy, and all
the things in between. In this course we'll look at some of the greatest comedy ever
written (and filmed, too), all brought to you by the greatest humorists the English
language has ever produced--the British.
EN-262 Unhappily Ever After
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H;
Deaths. Betrayals. Loves lost. Falls from grace. These calamities, and those that
suffer them, have captivated dramatists, novelists, philosophers, and theoreticians
since the first tragedy was staged in ancient Athens over 2,500 years ago. This course
will explore how literary cultures have understood and expressed notions of tragedy
in different historical periods. By examining the ways in which we inflict and endure
suffering, we will consider how literary tragedy informs our understanding of the
human condition.
Forms and Theory (select 3 courses for 9 credits):
EN-237 Constructing Identities
Fall; Even Years; 3 Credits; CA;
Applying various cultural and theoretical perspectives, students will view and read
works from Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Kurt Vonnegut, Salman Rushdie, David
Foster Wallace and others to examine ways that consumerism, technology, social institutions
and other facets of modern culture and society shape identities and influence the
human condition. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109.
EN-300 Modern Theories of Grammar
Spring; All Years; 3 Credits; H,CW,WK-FR;
As grammatical creatures, we use our talents in pattern recognition and handling discrete
structures. Along with the individual and interpersonal aspects of language, the course
investigates sentence structure as an exercise in constructing a scientific theory
based on the formal reasoning inherent in some grammatical theories. A research project
relates material to students' interests. Prerequisite: EN110, EN109, or FYC 101.
EN-307 Mythology in Film
Spring; Variable; 4 Credits; H;
This course will explore how film communicates the myths of a various societies to
its members. By combining theoretical approaches to myth with film analysis, we will
explore the ways in which cinema both influences and reflects the way we think, what
we value, fear, and aspire to achieve. Focusing on some of the most prevalent themes
in this genre, students will be introduced to Classical and contemporary adaptations
of myths and their historical and cultural contexts, examining how those narratives
provide meaning today via cinema. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN108 and EN109.
EN-341 Shakespearean Drama
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
Examines historical moments, cultural perspectives, and theatrical constructs that
shaped the writing, acting, and reception of Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies, and
history plays. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-370 The Contemporary Novel
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H, CW;
The course covers the novel in English over the past twenty years, focusing on novels
by writers such as Sherman Alexie, Junot Diaz, Alison Bechdel, and Mat Johnson. These
authors will be put in dialogue with an earlier text as a means of exploring the role
of literary influence in contemporary fiction. Each of these pairings will ask if
the contemporary work is a remix, a revision, a corrective, or a reimagination of
a classic precedent. This course explores the use of traditional and innovative narrative
strategies, as well as the social, cultural, and aesthetic values conveyed by those
strategies. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-372 Contemporary Poetry
Fall; Even Years; 3 Credits; CA, H;
Contemporary poetry speaks to us right there and now, whether in a personal cry of
emotion or in a piercing cultural commentary. This course studies representative poets
from our own age, with emphasis on the social context of the times. Different poets
are discussed each time the course is taught, but every year you'll actually get to
meet one of them up close and personal, as part of our Pennsylvania Poet series. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
Writing (select 1 course for 3 credits)
EN-272 Introduction to Professional Writing
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H, CW;
This course covers the types of writing used in the professional and business world,
with attention to deciding when to use which type, or whether to use writing at all.
Also concentrates on effectively addressing different audiences. The course will also
cover the use of graphics, from basic concepts through effective design and adjusting
to audience and situation. Prerequisite: First-year or sophomore standing. Juniors and Seniors by instructor
permission.
EN-273 Visual Literacy
Spring; Even Years; 3 Credits; H;
This course explores how visuals and text are used for purposes of identification,
information, and persuasion. It looks at many visual modes such as comics, ads, maps,
graffiti, film, art, scientific images, and web sites. Students have the option to
create arguments using only text, only images, or a combination of both. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-303 Poetry Writing
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
An intensive workshop in poetic technique, plus extensive writing of poetry for class
discussions and criticism. Emily Dickinson said: " If I feel physically as if the
top of my head were taken off, I know this is poetry. " Whether you are a novice or
an experienced poet, this course will teach you to take off the top of people's heads. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-305 Fiction Writing
Spring; All Years; 3 Credits; F,H,WK-CE;
In this course, we will work to develop skills in the art of writing fiction. Students
will study fiction as a craft, read and discuss fiction by major writers, critique
each other's work, and write and revise extensively. Prerequisite: FYC 101 or sophomore standing.
EN-306 Creative Nonfiction Writing
Fall; Even Years; 3 Credits; H, CW;
An experience in creating forms of nonfiction prose ranging from analytical essay
to the familiar essay to satire. First-year students need the instructor's permission
to enroll. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-311 Professional News and Feature Writing
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H, CW;
This advanced writing course introduces students to the genres and techniques of journalism.
Students will write a number of news and feature stories. The writing process involves
interviewing, note taking and other forms of data gathering on campus and local news
events, creating multiple story drafts and participating in peer-editing workshops:
work culminates in a portfolio of stories written throughout the semester. Students
need not plan to become professional media writers to benefit from the course. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-315 Technical Writing
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H, CW;
An examination of writing for the real world: as such it concentrates equally on content
and practice. The course builds around various document designs and waysto present
those designs in expressions appropriate to audience and purpose. While sophomores
are allowed to register they may be removed from the course if the demand by upperclassmen
is high. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109 and Sophomore, Junior or Senior standing.
EN-376 Writing Across Media
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H,CW,CTDH;
When we want to convey a message to others, how do we choose whether to Tweet, blog,
or shoot video? And why does it matter which we choose? Contemporary life asks us
to be agile interpreters of images, texts, and sounds. In response, this course immerses
students into the theory and practice of how and why we choose the media in which
we communicate. Students explore how we understand and manipulate media, but also
how media-in and of themselves-influence what gets written and how. Through an assignment
sequence that includes text, webtext, image, sound, and video, students gain strength
and versatility as writers by honing their awareness of genre, audience, and rhetorical
situation. The course culminates in a multimodal, web-based portfolio. This course
may be of interest to those considering not only professional writing, but also business,
marketing, technology, creative entrepreneurship, media studies, art, and/or design. Pre-Req: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109
EN-377 Interactive Media Writing
EN-378 Video Production Writing
Fall; Odd Years; 4 Credits; H,CW,CTDH,WK-CE;
Writing for Video Production is a course that combines contemporary rhetoric, creative
inquiry, design thinking, media authorship, self-reflection, and social engagement.
Students complete directed writing such as journal entries, scripts, storyboards,
and shotlists in concert with video production, facilitating an integrated process
of thinking, creating, and problem-solving. Take FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109
EN-379 Professional Editing
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H,SW-LE;
This course provides a broad understanding of editing and its role in document development,
publication, and use. Students will learn to edit effectively on a range of editing
tasks and documents and edit documents for a community partner project. These skills
will prepare students for a variety of professional editing positions. Prerequisite: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.
Genre Courses (select 5 courses for 15credits)
EN-162 Women and Literature
Fall; Even Years; 3 Credits; H;
Studies literature by and about women; looks at the rich history of women's literature
and the variety of traditional and non- traditional approaches women have used to
describe their experience, from poetry, plays, and novels to letters and diaries;
explores the effect of culture on women's writing.
EN-163 Science Fiction
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; H;
Science fiction-the attempt to make sense of this world through the creation of others-is
the quintessential literary genre of the 20th and 21st centuries. This course studies
the scope of modern science fiction, from aliens to post-nuclear societies, from time
travel to advanced technology. Looks at the most up-to-date authors, as well as some
of the classics.
EN-188 Bad Literature
Fall; Variable; 3 Credits; H;
Theodore Sturgeon, science fiction writer of the mid-twentieth century, famously said:
" 90% of everything is crap. " He was right, too: there's a lot of crap out there.
And we'll be reading some of it in this class. But-what do we mean when we say literature
is " crap " ? Isn't it just a matter of taste? And if it isn't, how can we tell crap
from genius? And who decides? And if 90 percent of everything is in fact crap, does
the crap serve any useful function in society? All of these questions and many more,
as we enter the wonderful world of bad literature.
EN-207 Heaven or Hell on Earth
Spring; Even Years; 3 Credits; H;
In this course we will examine the ways in which specific novels, short stories and
films explore various perspectives on nightmarish or ideal societies through alternative
political and social ideologies. The class will introduce various literary theories
(including Marxism, approaches to feminism and New Historicism) as well as the genre
and history of utopian and dystopian literature. V for Vendetta, Sir Thomas More's
Utopia, Plato's Atlantis writings, Children of Men and other works will be covered
during the semester. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109.
EN-212 Sports Literature
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H;
Students will consider ways in which sports literature written over the last eighty
years reveals the developing and shifting American ideologies concerning subjects
such as race, gender, sexuality, and justice, over that same time period. Students
will also develop an understanding of the genres and purposes in various forms of
sports literature, including newspaper articles, magazine feature articles, short
stories, and novels. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-213 Zombie Nation
Fall; Odd Years; 3 Credits; CA, H;
In this course students will read a variety of novels and review media that inspires
and reflects our cultural fixation with zombies. Through critical thinking, analysis,
and discussion, students will explore the intersections between fictional zombies
and actual cultural practices that reflect the mindlessness of a zombie culture. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN108 & EN109.
EN-236 Dirty Books
Fall; Yearly; 3 Credits; H, CW;
An examination of works of literature that have been labeled obscene. Using examples
from the comedy of Aristophanes to the poetry of Allen Ginsberg, the course looks
at why and how serious writers deploy scandalous and offensive elements in their work.
EN-251 Slave Narratives
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H, CW;
The personal autobiographies of American slaves are the foundational works of the
African American literary tradition, and they have influenced generations of American
authors. Originally written as a means of promoting the abolition of slavery, contemporary
writers have taken this historical form and transformed it to reflect upon the past
and engage with problems of the present. Neo-slave narratives are a reminder that,
as Faulkner writes, " The past is never dead. It's not even past. " In this course,
we will read a variety of original slave narratives and put them in dialogue with
contemporary fictionalized slave narratives. In doing so, we will explore topics such
as the boundaries between fact and fiction, the political uses of literature, the
afterlife of slavery, and many others. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109.
EN-255 Passing Narratives
Variable; Yearly; 4 Credits; CA, H;
Passing narratives investigate how the boundaries of identity can be reimagined. Most
often depicting racial passing (when a person " passes for " someone of another race),
these narratives also can be about performing another gender or sexual identity. In
this course, we will trace the evolution of this trope through American literature
and film. Prerequisites: FYC-101 or EN-110 or EN-109.
EN-274 Beyond Grey's Anatomy
Spring; Yearly; 3 Credits; CA, H;
An examination of representations of medicine in popular culture using rhetorical
and cultural studies approaches. Students will study topics such as cancer, HIV/AIDS,
pregnancy, and brain scans as they are represented in print, TV, and film. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-292 Crossing the Border
Either Semeter; Varaible; 4 Credits; H, CW;
This class will examine the many meanings of " border crossing " in 20th and 21st
century literature about immigration to the United States. Using critical race theory,
this class will put works of fiction and autobiography in historical context to better
investigate the influence of immigration law on U.S. national literature. Beginning
with short texts from the turn of the twentieth-century, we will focus primarily on
contemporary works dealing with the post-1965(or " new wave " ) immigrant experience.
Authors may include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Edwidge Danticat, Junot Diaz, Jhumpa
Lahiri, Guillermo Gsmez-Peqa, Chang-rae Lee, Karen Tei Yamashita, and others. Topics
will include: " American Dream " mythology, social mobility, generational conflict,
acculturation and assimilation, hyphenated identity, nativism, barriers to full citizenship,
and more. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109.
EN-301 Young Adult Literature
Fall; Even Years; 3 Credits; H;
Students will read & analyze a variety of literature from the Young Adult Lit category.
Students will engage in class discussions and make presentations based on individual
research.
EN-312 Literature of Revenge
Fall; Odd Years; 3 Credits; H;
Students will examine the various functions revenge plays in human culture by tracing
its role as a literary device from the bloodbaths of popular Greek tragedies to the
more psychological retaliation of contemporary works. Engaging in a focused study
of the historical and cultural influences that have shaped human notions of revenge
over centuries, students will contemplate the often complicated distinctions humans
make between perceptions of retribution and justice. Prerequisite: EN110 or EN109.
EN-385 Queer Literature
Spring; Odd Years; 3 Credits; CA, H;
By applying queer theory frameworks to a variety of texts, we will examine literary
representations of LGBTQ identity. Readings will include works by James Baldwin, John
Rechy, Audre Lorde, Leslie Feinberg, Tony Kushner, and others. Topics will include:
biological essentialism vs. the social construction of gender and sexual identity;
authenticity and performance; social and legal forms of identity categorization and
boundary maintenance; the role of literature in social reform; and more. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109.
EN-388 Heroes and Villains
Fall; Variable; 3 Credits; H;
Heroes-yay! Villains-hiss! All our lives we've learned to think in terms of good guys
and bad guys. But why do we think in those categories? And what exactly do we mean
by good guys and bad guys? And should we even be in the business of separating good
guys from bad guys? This course will take a detailed look at heroes and villains in
literature, movies, and television, and ask you to think about the whole duality,
and what it means for the stories we tell. Prerequisites: EN110 or EN109.