English Department Electives
Creative Writing
This course is about the methods of creating fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. It will examine plot, and how stories are generated, shaped and finished. Students will look at various kinds of stories (genre) such as memoir, creative-memoir, tragedy, epic, saga, picaresque, coming-of-age story, love story, satire, high, low, and absurdist comedy. We will also examine character. Aristotle argued that character is plot. We will ask, who and what are heroines, heroes, villains, protagonists and antagonists, heavies, questors, wanders, foils, sidekicks, role models, stereotypes?
With poetry, we will focus on a particular device, form, aspect, genre of poetry. We will begin with The Line, The Stanza and The Poem. Then we shift our focus to the emotional elements of poetry like The Leap, The Trigger, The Personae, The Voice, The Sentimentia, The Risk.
The basic requirements vary but usaully are in-class readings of sample works, production of student work that will be critiqued in a peer workshop, and a two page essay on an author of the student's choice.
Visual Image
Visual Image provides an introduction to the critical study of
film. Students move from the pre-critical level of viewing to
analyzing film from historical, social and technical perspectives.
Students learn the film terminology used in film criticism.
Genres (comedy, gangster, war, music and horror) and the roles
of the producer, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and
actors and actresses in the filmmaking process are discussed.
Emphasis is placed on students’written responses to the films
viewed in class; writing assignments include both short respons-
es and longer critical essays. Students also script short
screenplays for scenes. Each student is required to complete a
research project. The final exam is performance-based; each stu-
dent must produce and submit a video for a final exam project.
Journalism
Journalism introduces the fundamentals of media communica-
tion. Through outside speakers, audio-visual supplements, field
trips and a variety of texts, students learn news writing, editing,
layout, management, advertising and photography. Aprimary
objective is learning to write and to read with understanding a
variety of journalistic articles for publications such as the school
newspaper and yearbook.
Introduction to Philosophy
Introduction to Philosophy is designed for the student interested
in the foundations of Western and Eastern philosophy.
Specifically, the student is encouraged to understand the origins of
political, social, religious and artistic thought and to be able to
connect them to specific pieces of literature. Students also begin
to examine and compare (through reading, writing and speaking)
the foundations of their own thinking.
American Humanities
American Humanities is an interdisciplinary approach to an
understanding of cultural trends set against the backdrop of four
significant historical eras in American history (the American fron-
tier and westward expansion, the 1920s, World War II - the 1940s,
and the 1960s). Students will gain an understanding that a time
period is defined, not only by the politics and political figures of
the moment, but by the social climate and culture as well.
Students will explore the historical events of those eras in
American history as well as the literature, art, music, and popular
culture. In this study of society, students will gain an insight into
each time period by participating in active class discussions, daily
reading assignments, analytical writing assignments, creative
projects, and innovative class activities. American Humanities
will involve both independent and group work.
Fantasy/Science Fiction
Fantasy/Science Fiction defines and distinguishes the similarities
and differences among fantasy of all types (i.e., mythological,
adventure, political, futuristic, etc.), science fiction and escapist
literature. Students explore each genre in terms of its political,
social and historical impact. The course includes the works of
Tolkien, Carter, , Wells, Verne, Shelley, Bradbury,
Clark, and others .