English 143D

Other Readings and Media

All assigned texts will be in a Course Reader.

Description

This course is designed to prepare and support students who are planning to write a critical research essay as part of the English major.  We will begin by discussing various kinds of literary critical essays in order to identify models and methods to support our own practice.  Through short readings and writing exercises, we will work through the stages of the literary critical project: from formulating a question, to gathering and organizing evidence, to structuring an argument, to writing clear prose, to learning the value of revision.  Much of our class time will be devoted to workshops, in which students will read and respond to each other’s work at each stage in the writing process.  By offering as well as receiving detailed feedback, students will learn how to engage productively with the challenges of producing critical work that is complex, clear, and relevant.   A twenty-page paper will be due at the semester’s end. 

Only continuing UC Berkeley students are eligible to apply for this course. To be considered for admission, please electronically submit 5-10 double-spaced pages of your essay/expository writing by clicking on the link below; fill out the application you'll find there and attach the writing sample as a Word document or .rtf file. The deadline for completing this application process is 4 P.M., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30.

Also be sure to read the paragaph concerning creative writing courses on page 1 of the instructions area of this Announcement of Classes for further information regarding enrollment in such courses.