English (EN) - Courses

EN-041  -  Academic Reading & Vocabulary I   (3 cr)  

This is the first of two non-credit reading courses for students who are accepted to the College in the EASE Program. These are students whose native language is not English and who need to increase their fluency in written and spoken English as they pursue their degree programs. Attention will be paid to the building of vocabulary and to reading comprehension using periodicals and textbooks.

Corequisite: EN-038  
EN-042  -  English Fundamentals With Lab II   (3 cr)  

This is the second of two non-credit courses for students who are accepted to the College in the EASE Program. These are students whose native language is not English and who need to increase their fluency in written and spoken English as they pursue their degrees. This course is designed to bring students to a college-level competency in grammar, sentence structure, coherence, and clarity. This begins with the preparation of a well-composed, coherent paragraph and moves on to the process of writing focused essays of at least five paragraphs in a variety of rhetorical modes. Standard written English, including appropriate grammar and syntax, is covered in detail. In addition, students will hone their formal and informal speaking skills, develop their listening and note-taking skills and improve their overall reading skills. The course provides intensive English instruction for six classroom hours per week, plus a weekly three-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Take EN-038 and EN-041 or Successfuly Placement Exam.  
Corequisite: Take EN-043.  
EN-043  -  Academic Reading & Vocabulary II   (3 cr)  

This is the second of two noncredit reading courses for students who are accepted to the College in the EASE Program. Attention is paid to expanding vocabulary and to developing college-level reading comprehension using appropriate academic periodicals and textbooks.

Prerequisite: Take EN-038 and EN-041 or Successful Placement Evaluation.  
EN-075  -  Developmental English Skills   (3 cr)  

This course is designed to bring students to a college-level competency in grammar, sentence structure, coherence and clarity. Students are introduced to the process of writing focused essays of at least five paragraphs in a variety of rhetorical modes. Reading comprehension and vocabulary building are also emphasized.

EN-107  -  Ethnic Literature   (3 cr)  

This course explores the connection between culture and literature in the American pantheon. Students read and discuss literature representative of various ethnic groups and analyze the effects of background, history, and geography on creation. Assigned readings and papers help students to delve deeper into how and why literature is created and perpetuated.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-108  -  American Literature   (3 cr)  

This course is a chronological survey of representative prose and verse from the Colonial period to the twentieth century. Authors include Cooper, Emerson, Twain, Dickinson, Poe, and others. Assigned readings and papers cause students to focus on the historical aspects of various literary movements, including the Age of Exploration, the Colonial Period, the Neoclassical Era, the Romantic Movement, the Realism and Naturalism Era, and the Modern Era.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-111  -  College Writing and Critical Analysis   (3 cr)  

This course develops students' ability to construct effective college-level essays in a variety of commonly used rhetorical modes through a process of multiple revisions. Students increase overall competency in deconstructing texts while also expanding their vocabularies to include advanced academic language and terminology. Assigned readings develop students' ability to comprehend more complex, college-level texts on a deeper level with a focus on determining author's purpose, understanding literary terms, and analyzing essay structure.

Prerequisite: EN-075 or placement  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-116  -  Women Writers   (3 cr)  

This course introduces students to a wide variety of literature written by women of different backgrounds and cultures. Students will read and discuss material representative of different groups, times, and backgrounds. Assigned readings and papers help students to delve deeper into how the literary contributions of women have impacted both literature and society as a whole.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-117  -  Creative Writing   (3 cr)  

This course provides students with an opportunity to explore and develop their skills as writers of drama, short fiction, graphic novels, and poetry. The course immerses students in the processes of discovery, expression, and rewriting; engages them with questions of form, structure, and symbolism; and gives them practice in the art of rewriting. Students will also give and receive constructive criticism from the instructor and peers. This course provides students with an excellent foundation from which they can continue to grow as writers.

Designation: Humanities, Fine Arts  
EN-118  -  The Art of Poetry   (3 cr)  

This course covers the basics of poetry writing - purpose, tone, denotative and connotative meanings, rhythm, meter, imagery, symbolism, and figures of speech. Students will survey masters of the poetic genre with special emphasis on American poetry. Various forms of poetry writing -- sonnet, elegy, ode, ballad, etc., -- will be analyzed. A brief history of jazz, rap, and hip-hop poetry will also be studied. Students will research one poet and his/her works in detail and structure their own experiences in verse form. Students will memorize and recite poems.

Designation: Humanities, Fine Arts  
EN-121  -  Analytical Thinking, Writing & Research   (3 cr)  

This course breaks down the research process into a series of steps to give students the writing and research skills necessary for success in any discipline and for graduate study. The research process is taught step-by-step, showing students how to: choose an appropriate topic; develop a strong thesis statement; formulate research questions; find, select, and evaluate viable, scholarly sources; and implement APA style for citations and bibliographies. Students will complete various written assignments and classroom activities that culminate in research papers that students will orally present and defend.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-206  -  Professional Writing and Presentation   (3 cr)  

This course examines the need for effective and thoughtful communication in the business world. Students learn how to compose business documents in appropriate formats, choose appropriate professional language, and enhance their knowledge of professional business modalities. Emphasis is placed on defining one's audience; research methods; data collection, interpretation, and documentation; critical analysis and comprehension of written materials and documents; employing gender neutral language; constructing and delivering professional presentations individually and/or within a collaborative group setting.

Designation: Humanities  
EN-208  -  The American Novel   (3 cr)  

This course introduces students to the novel genre, specifically as it relates to American novelists. It is designed to expose students to novels by a variety of authors whose works span the nineteenth century to the present. Students will concentrate on the development of analytical skills, which will allow them to understand and appreciate great works of fiction. Advanced research skills and literary criticism will also be covered.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-210  -  Film and Literature   (3 cr)  

This course emphasizes the relationship between film and literature. It includes viewing and discussion of selected films in the context of film history. The terminologies of film, genres, themes, screen writing, and cinematic techniques are studied. Novels, short stories, and plays are analyzed in relation to film versions of the same works. The impact of movie making on business and on society will also be discussed.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-211  -  African-American Literature   (3 cr)  

This course is a chronological survey spanning from the eighteenth century to the present. It presents a wide range of literary selections including drama, fiction, poetry, and autobiography. It also explores the rich African American oral tradition of folktales, spirituals, and speeches. Assigned readings and papers allow students to further investigate African American authors within an historical framework.

Prerequisite: Take EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-212  -  Autobiography   (3 cr)  

This class explores contemporary issues in autobiographies written within the last century. The course exposes students to some of the world's great literature, such as Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. It validates the importance of self-evaluation through the examination of class, age, gender, race and culture in these original works.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities, Fine Arts  
EN-220  -  Shakespeare: Stage & Film   (3 cr)  

This course examines various Shakespearean plays and enhances student understanding by blending verse with film adaptations. Students study representative plays from each period of Shakespeare's career, including histories, tragedies, and comedies. Through close analysis of these plays, both on the page and on film, students develop an appreciation of the richness of Shakespeare's theatrical art through powerful words and images. Students will also explore how film artists create visual performances out of dramatic literature. The course also examines how Shakespeare's plays reflect the history, values, social structure, and modes of expression of the time.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-221  -  Literary Criticism and Analysis   (3 cr)  

This course provides students with advanced college-level skills in examining and critically analyzing a variety of literary genres. Students are exposed to challenging contemporary and classic literature in fiction, poetry, non- fiction, and drama. They are pushed to not only analyze, but to convey their findings in well-constructed essays with proper academic citations and formatting. In addition to submitting a series of essay assignments and reaction papers, students are required to complete an exploration of a literary genre of their choice.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-222  -  Filmmaking Through the Cell Phone Lens   (3 cr)  

The use of cellphones is ubiquitous throughout much of the world, yet many people don't realize the varying power of such a device, particularly in regards to the film industry. Through a combination of screenings, lectures, and activities, this course will introduce students to the basics of film and then guide them through creating their own films using only their cellphones. Historical context, the three act structure, and elements of storytelling will also be discussed.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities, Fine Arts  
EN-230  -  Storytelling Across the Media   (3 cr)  

This course focuses on how nonfiction stories are shaped and introduces students to different modes of storytelling, including: print articles, videos, web articles, and creative nonfiction literature. Students choose a particular social issue to study and explore and then craft stories on the issue in various formats to gain an understanding of how each medium shapes the story. Projects in print, video, web, and creative nonfiction are conducted. Students develop basic skills in news writing, creative writing, video production, digital editing, and web design.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities, Fine Arts  
EN-240  -  Introduction to Caribbean Literature   (3 cr)  

This course offers an introduction to Caribbean literature through the study of select short stories, novels, plays, and poetry. Students examine the diverse and dynamic literature of this region and locate the writings within the canon of English literature. Through the course readings and lectures, the course covers the emergence of Caribbean literature; the relationship between language and literature; and the politics of race, gender and cultural identity.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-250  -  EASE Capstone   (3 cr)  

This course serves as the culminating experience of the EASE language program. A variety of skills will be honed including in-depth reading, critical analyzing, listening comprehension, precise writing and effective presenting. At the conclusion of the course, students will be equipped with the skills to succeed during the next phase of their education.

Prerequisite: EN-111  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-310  -  Legend, Folklore and Mythology   (3 cr)  

This course is intended to develop students' competency in assessing the myriad ways in which cultural beliefs, fears, and taboos intersect, both historically and globally. Classroom interaction, daily observations of modern folklore, and assigned readings help students to recognize the universal moral implications of cultural narratives.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-315  -  Masterworks of World Literature   (3 cr)  

Students are introduced to a selection of major works from classical, medieval, Renaissance, and modern times that have contributed to establishing world literary tradition. Heroic tales, romances, fables, myths, and legends are among the genres studied.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-320  -  Modern Ghosts   (3 cr)  

Family is forever, but is that a good thing? In this course, students identify collective familial fears of haunting through the lens of contemporary literature. Class discussion, assigned readings, and analytical papers allow students to examine the modern symbolism of a haunted home and recognize universal themes of loss and legacy.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-325  -  Advanced Writing for the Social Sciences   (3 cr)  

This course builds on the foundations of critical thinking, reading, and writing, with an emphasis on applying these skills within a professional, public, or academic environment. The objective of the course is to develop writers who write clear, grammatical, well-structured prose, and who can discover and convey complex ideas critically in various applications. Students continue to build an e-portfolio with original work that focuses on current topics selected from the social sciences. Students also create bodies of work that can be used for graduate, job, and internship applications.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities  
EN-330  -  Time Narratives   (3 cr)  

This course enhances students' awareness of culture, race, and identity by examining how diverse authors treat time in their works. Class discussion, assigned readings, and analytical papers allow students to have a better grasp on how the passing of time affects their lives and how it has shaped the past.

Prerequisite: EN-121  
Designation: Humanities