University of St. Thomas

4 Credit Hours

Metaphors like Emily Dickinson's "'Hope' is the thing with feathers," or Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" stay with us. Far from the merely decorative literary conception many people believe it to be, metaphor--saying one thing in terms of another--is part of the very fabric of our thought, a powerful aspect of our neurological functioning and intellectual capacities. It underpins literary and popular culture alike, and understanding metaphor's role in language is intimately tied to understanding how it informs and transforms perception, shapes learning, and arouses pleasures. In this course, we'll read James Geary's I IS AN OTHER: THE SECRET LIFE OF METAPHOR AND HOW IT SHAPES THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD as a guide to the history and functions of metaphor across a variety of disciplines and apply what we learn there to a selection of texts in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by writers celebrated for their capacity to make memorable metaphors, including Emily Dickinson, C.S. Lewis, Larry Levis, Lorrie Moore, Sylvia Plath, Mark Doty, and Shakespeare. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.

4 Credit Hours

Metaphors like Emily Dickinson's "'Hope' is the thing with feathers," or Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" stay with us. Far from the merely decorative literary conception many people believe it to be, metaphor--saying one thing in terms of another--is part of the very fabric of our thought, a powerful aspect of our neurological functioning and intellectual capacities. It underpins literary and popular culture alike, and understanding metaphor's role in language is intimately tied to understanding how it informs and transforms perception, shapes learning, and arouses pleasures. In this course, we'll read James Geary's I IS AN OTHER: THE SECRET LIFE OF METAPHOR AND HOW IT SHAPES THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD as a guide to the history and functions of metaphor across a variety of disciplines and apply what we learn there to a selection of texts in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by writers celebrated for their capacity to make memorable metaphors, including Emily Dickinson, C.S. Lewis, Larry Levis, Lorrie Moore, Sylvia Plath, Mark Doty, and Shakespeare. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.

4 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to skills necessary for imaginative writing. It includes close readings of literary texts that model basic techniques, weekly writing exercises that encourage exploration and development of craft, and workshop discussions to develop students' critical skills. This course will include instruction in setting, character, voice, point of view, literal and figurative imagery, rhythm and sound patterns, and literary structures. Prerequisites: ENGL 201, 202, 203, or 204

4 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to skills necessary for imaginative writing. It includes close readings of literary texts that model basic techniques, weekly writing exercises that encourage exploration and development of craft, and workshop discussions to develop students' critical skills. This course will include instruction in setting, character, voice, point of view, literal and figurative imagery, rhythm and sound patterns, and literary structures. Prerequisites: ENGL 201, 202, 203, or 204

4 Credit Hours

This intermediate course explores traditional and innovative patterns of poetry writing. Emphasis on experimentation with a variety of techniques and development of individual voice. This course will include critique sessions, readings to broaden possibilities of form and subject, and individual instruction. Open to students with some previous experience in writing poetry. Prerequisite: ENGL 255 or permission of instructor.

4 Credit Hours

This intermediate course explores traditional and innovative patterns of poetry writing. Emphasis on experimentation with a variety of techniques and development of individual voice. This course will include critique sessions, readings to broaden possibilities of form and subject, and individual instruction. Open to students with some previous experience in writing poetry. Prerequisite: ENGL 255 or permission of instructor.

4 Credit Hours

Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 12 pages of formal revised writing.

4 Credit Hours

Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 12 pages of formal revised writing.

4 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to skills necessary for imaginative writing. It includes close readings of literary texts that model basic techniques, weekly writing exercises that encourage exploration and development of craft, and workshop discussions to develop students' critical skills. This course will include instruction in setting, character, voice, point of view, literal and figurative imagery, rhythm and sounds patterns, and literary structures. Prerequisites: ENGL 201, 202, 203, or 204. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CREATIVE WRITING COURSE DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE CORE LITERATURE AND WRITING REQUIREMENT.

4 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to skills necessary for imaginative writing. It includes close readings of literary texts that model basic techniques, weekly writing exercises that encourage exploration and development of craft, and workshop discussions to develop students' critical skills. This course will include instruction in setting, character, voice, point of view, literal and figurative imagery, rhythm and sounds patterns, and literary structures. Prerequisites: ENGL 201, 202, 203, or 204. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CREATIVE WRITING COURSE DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE CORE LITERATURE AND WRITING REQUIREMENT.

4 Credit Hours

This advanced course focuses on the student's development of a substantial body of work in a chosen genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Students will review their previous writing, do further exploration of a chosen genre, and produce significant new work in that genre. Readings will include theoretical and creative texts. Prerequisite: ENGL 321 or 322 or 323 or permission of instructor based on examination of a portfolio

4 Credit Hours

This advanced course focuses on the student's development of a substantial body of work in a chosen genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Students will review their previous writing, do further exploration of a chosen genre, and produce significant new work in that genre. Readings will include theoretical and creative texts. Prerequisite: ENGL 321 or 322 or 323 or permission of instructor based on examination of a portfolio