English R1A

Other Readings and Media

"Austen, J.: Emma

Austen, J.: Persuasion

Hacker, D.: Rules for Writers: A Brief Handbook

Shakespeare, W.: The Merry Wives of Windsor

Shakespeare, W.: Othello

Tydeman, W. (editor): Four Tudor Comedies

A xeroxed course reader "

Description

This course will train you to write grammatical, concise, stylistically sophisticated, and convincing expository and analytic prose. We will develop your ability to close-read a text, develop a thesis, and marshal and analyze evidence in logically coherent arguments. Class discussions will require participation based on your careful and active reading at home. Class time will also include group work, quizzes, in-class writing, and oral presentations. Our attention will be addressed to novels and plays that represent gossip as a constructive or destructive social force. You will write four or five essays, each of which will incorporate exploratory writing, initial drafts, peer editing, and significant revision. Some of these texts are difficult and long, and all of them are challenging; you must be prepared to keep up with the reading. Constant attendance and frequent participation in class are required.