Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar CollegePrerequisite: Sophomores with permission. Aseminar focusing on 20th-century novels thathelped to shape modern literature as well as oursense of what it means to be “modern.” Readingsmay include works by American, British, Irish,and European writers (in translation). Topicsinclude the rise of mass culture and new technologies,crises of war and empire, and changingrepresentations of the self, the unconscious,gender, and sexuality. Offered alternate years inthe fall semester. III.W, V.1, V.2.Prerequisite: Open only to senior Englishmajors and minors and English/creative writingmajors. During this fall term course, astudent under the supervision of an advisor willprepare her proposal and annotated bibliographyfor her senior thesis in the spring term.She will select a topic and line of inquiry thatmatches her strengths and interests. She willhave the option to 1) re-envision and develop anearlier paper in ways that lead her into new areasof inquiry or 2) start an new project entirely.Each student should get departmental approvalfor her proposal by November 1. An annotatedcritical bibliography will be due by the end of thesemester. This course will be graded P/CR/NC.Prerequisites: ENGL 451; required of allEnglish majors. In this course, a student willwrite her senior thesis, participate in a weeklyseminar, teach at least one class session relatedto her project, and give a public presentation ofher work. The structured series of activities ofthe seminar will aid each student in building onthe preliminary work she has done as an Englishmajor. Each student will contribute to her classmates’projects by following their progress andoffering constructive criticism of their work. Thesenior seminar also involves the further study ofresearch methods, argumentation, and criticaltheory. This course cannot be taken on a P/CR/NC grading option. III.WPrerequisites: One 100-level ENGL course, one200-level ENGL course, and permission of theinstructor. Pursuit of an upper level researchproject determined in advance by the student inconsultation with a faculty member who will actas the sponsor.An introductory course in the writing of fiction andpoetry. The course may include other genres, suchas creative nonfiction or drama. III.W, V.6b.Prerequisite: ENGL 106. This course will studypoetry and place, and activities will include fieldwork in two destinations - one urban, one ruraland/or sub-rural - and will encourage studentsto consider the way that art, experience, andour common shared physical/political realityinfluence one another. Offered alternate yearsIII.W, V.6b.Prerequisite: ENGL 104. This course providesan introduction to “hard news” reporting andediting in the age of Google, Facebook, Twitter,and blogging. Emphasis will be placed on developingstory ideas, research and interviewingskills, and the ethical use of social media asnews-gathering tools. Students will be requiredto maintain a blog and submit course assignmentsto the student newspaper. Offered alternateyears. III.O, III.W, V.6b.Prerequisite: ENGL 106. The poem is a combinationof music and meaning, with each elementguided by form or structure. This coursewill teach rhyme, meter, a variety of forms,and free verse strategies. What elements ofform can amplify meaning? How can free verseavoid arbitrary lineation? Students will read,