Course Descriptions
English (EN)
EN 091 Reading Improvement I (4)
This basic course in the key skills is necessary for the successful study and comprehension of college-level reading material. Skills highlighted are: building vocabulary through context clues and word analysis, finding main ideas, determining significant details and relationships of ideas, outlining, understanding graphic material, practicing critical reading, and interpreting figurative language. Enrollment determine by performance on reading placement test. Offered annually. Credit not applicable to degree requirements. Credit/no credit.
EN 100 Essentials of English Composition (4)
This course offers practice in writing short essays and prepares students for success in EN 101 while offering elective credit toward a degree. Emphasis is on paragraph and essay organization and on identifying ideas that support the writer’s central purpose. Enrollment determined by performance on the English Department Placement Examination.
EN 101 Introduction to Expository Writing (3)
Instruction and practice in writing, editing, and revising short narrative and expository essays. The course instructs the basics of organization and clear expression and use of Standard Edited American English. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: EN 100 or placement by exam.
EN 102 Expository Writing (3)
Instruction and practice in writing short-to-medium-length expository essays and in writing from sources. Skills required for research and research writing are emphasized, such as summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, evaluation, and synthesizing. The course includes instruction and practice in writing a multi-source research paper of substantial length. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: EN 101 or placement by exam.
EN 201 Types of Literature (3)
Introduction to the study of literature through reading, discussion, and written analysis of major works ranging from ancient to contemporary. The course includes exemplary works from all major genre and diverse cultures. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: EN 102.
EN 255 Short Story and Novel (3)
This introductory literature course surveys classical, modern, and contemporary short stories and novels from around the world. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: EN 102.
EN 256 Poetry and Drama (3)
This course examines classical and modern works primarily of major English, Continental, and American authors. Offered annually. Prerequisite: EN 102.
EN 280 Special Topics (3)
This course provides selected topics in introductory literature (to be announced). Topics include, but are not limited to African American Literature. Prerequisite: EN 102. Satisfies pre-major, pre-minor and general education requirement.
English 102 and Communication 101 are prerequisites for all upper division courses.
EN 302 Creative Writing: Fiction (3)
Study of the techniques of the contemporary short story and practice in writing short stories and sketches. Offered alternate years.
EN 303 Creative Writing: Poetry (3)
Study of the techniques of contemporary poetry and practice in writing metric and free verse poems. Offered alternate years.
EN 305 Multicultural Literature (3)
This course explores issues of personal and group identity through the study of modern and contemporary fiction and non- fiction. Students will examine cultural pluralism in American society through writing, discussion, reading and research. Study of authors may include Morrison, Momaday, Kingston, Tan, Angelou, Silko, and others. Fulfills Global Awareness course requirement. Offered annually. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 307 Nature Writing (3)
This is an advanced, interdisciplinary writing course focusing on environmental themes. Nature Writing centers on reading and writing non-fiction, including journals, letters and essays. Authors figuring prominently in the course include Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Annie Dillard, and Gary Snyder. Fulfills interdisciplinary course requirement. Offered alternate years.
EN 308 Climate Fiction (3)
We are now living on a planet suffering from the initial effects of climate change. Let us explore how literature may serve as our guide as we begin to imagine how we might live with, and possibly mitigate, these effects in the future. We will read a diverse set of stories from across a wide range of genres, including realism, science fiction, and fantasy. While the vast majority of futures depicted in climate fiction are dystopian, if not outright post-apocalyptic, one of our primary goals in this course will be to move from this obsession with dystopia to an understanding of the importance of imagining utopia, even when facing the bleakest of possible futures.
EN 314 Backgrounds in American Literature (3)
Foundational study of representative American literature from the 17th century to the present. Required for English majors. Offered annually. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 315 Backgrounds in British Literature (3)
Foundational study of major British literature from medieval and Elizabethan to the present. Required for English majors. Offered annually. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 319 Studies in Shakespeare (3)
This survey studies representative comedies, histories, tragedies, problem plays, and sonnets composed by Shakespeare. This course is thus asking what Shakespeare is, equally important, how we read Shakespeare, and finally, what do we do today with Shakespeare. Also central to this course is situating Shakespeare within the period of Early Modern English, and the articulation of major artists, works, and ideas of the period. Students are to define various literary critical approaches to the period and apply those to given texts. Offered annually. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 362 Advanced Expository Writing (3)
This is an advanced writing course focusing on expository essays from logical and rhetorical principles, especially modes of definition, assertion, and proof. Particular emphasis will be on clarity of expression, coherence, and style. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 371 Aulama Literary Magazine and Publication (3)
This workshop provides students with experience in graphics, layout, presentation, design and writing for publication. Open to any student working on Aulama, the student literary magazine, and other related publications. May be repeated for a maximum of six semester hours. Offered every semester.
EN 380 Special Topics (3)
This course provides selected topics in literature (to be announced). Topics include, but are not limited to the Bible and Literature, Contemporary Science Fiction, Early American Literature, and Literary Criticism and Theory. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 402 Advanced Fiction Writing (3)
Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Grade of ‘C’ or better in EN 302.
EN 403 Advanced Poetry Writing (3)
Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Grade of ‘C’ or better in EN 303.
EN 422 Modern Pacific Literature (3)
This course introduces students to significant works of contemporary literature and film produced by indigenous Pacific islanders and explores issues of anti-colonialism, modernization, and traditional culture. Works include writers from across Oceania, including a sampling of works from Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Offered annually. Fulfills Global Awareness course requirement. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 430 Women’s Literature (3)
This survey course examines various literary works and genres of writing from women around the world. Students will explore women’s changing roles in society, and analyze how female writers from different countries and different eras approach themes like multiculturalism, politics, racism, social economics, and gender relations. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 432 American Literature: 1940 to Present (3)
Areas of special interest may include Beat writers (Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder); the Vietnam War (Tim O’Brien); black American writing (Alice Walker). Examples of other writers covered include Sylvia Plath, W.S. Merwin, Daniel Berrigan, Flannery O’Connor, Lois Ann Yamanaka. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.
EN 480 Special Topics (3)
These advanced courses are designed for majors. These topics include, but are not limited to British period courses such as Romantic Poetry, and Victorian Literature. Other topics may include The Black Body in Hip Hop and American Popular culture, Language Issues and Origins, Literature and Film, and Postcolonial Gothic. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Any 200- level English offering.
EN 490 Directed Study (1 to 3)
Individualized study on a topic arranged with a program advisor. Prerequisites: EN 314 and EN 315, and Junior or Senior standing with consent of advisor.
EN 499 Senior Seminar (3)
This is the capstone seminar for English undergraduates. Offered annually. Prerequisites: EN 314 and EN 315; open only to Seniors in the major.