Department of English
Advanced Courses
Summer 2015
Summer I
ENG 3303.501: Technical Writing (WI). MTWThF 10am-11:40am, FH 114; meets MTW
in class, TR/F online
Instructor:
Dr. Rebecca Jackson
Course Description: This is an advanced course designed specifically to help you become
rhetorical problem solvers and effective communicators in professional
and technical environments. This course is also designed to help you
develop core writing, social, technological, ethical, and critical thinking
skills and knowledge.
The basic idea of the course is to give you experience developing the
writing and communication skills you'll be expected to have as you make
the transition from student to professional or, if you have already made
that transition, to help you be better at them.
Books:
Evaluation:
E-Mail:
This is a problem-focused, learning‐centered, interactive class. On a daily
basis you will engage in a variety of activities and assignments that focus
on how to write and solve communication problems for specific
audiences, purposes, effects, and situations.
Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. Technical Communication Today, 4/e
Chapter quizzes; interview and analysis; recommendation report;
instructions and usability testing
rj10@txstate.edu
ENG 3303.502. Technical Writing (WI). MTWRF 10am-11:40pm, FH G14. Meets MonWed in class, Thu/Fri online.
Instructor:
Scott Mogull
Course Description: The study and practice of expository writing in technical and scientific
professions. Emphasis on planning, writing, revising, editing, and
proofreading proposals, reports, and other forms of professional
communication for a variety of audiences. Computer technology included.
Books:
Evaluation:
E-Mail:
mogull@txstate.edu
ENG 3303.503. Technical Writing (WI). MTWRF 12pm-1:40pm, FH 114.
Instructor:
Miriam Williams
Course Description: The study and practice of expository writing in technical and scientific
professions. Emphasis on planning, writing, revising, editing, and
proofreading proposals, reports, and other forms of professional
communication for a variety of audiences. Computer technology included.
Books:
Evaluation:
E-Mail:
mfw@txstate.edu
English 3303.504. Technical Writing. MTWRF 2pm-3:40pm, FH 114.
Instructor:
Dr. Pinfan Zhu
Course Description: This course prepares students for workplace writings. Specific genres
include: instructions, proposals, memos, reports, job letters and résumés,
Web design, use of graphics, and document design. Students also learn
how to analyze audiences and use rhetorical strategies to target them.
Communicating with cross-cultural audiences is also one of the focuses.
Other skills students will learn in the course are skills used throughout the
writing process from invention to editing and research skills. The course
is writing intensive but also teaches students oral presentation skills and
some application software skills. Students have to participate in group
discussion, web board response, online research, and in-class exercises.
Learning Outcomes: The Department of English has adopted student
learning outcomes for general education courses in writing and literature
and for all degree programs in English. You will find these outcomes at
www.english.txstate.edu (under the "Student Resources" menu). Please
review the outcomes for the course/program in which you are enrolled.
Books:
Evaluation:
Practical Strategies for Technical Communication by Mike Markel
Job-application materials (Individual)
10%
Instructions, definitions, and description
10%
Research Proposal (Individual)
10%
Oral presentation (Individual)
5%
Completion Report (group project)
10%
Business letters and a memo (group project) 5%
Informal reports (group project)
5%
Web Design
5%
Self-quizzes (homework)
15%
Three Quizzes
10%
Final Exam
10%
Extra points (optional) for style exercises 6%
English 3315.501: Creative Writing (online). ARR ARR ARR.
Instructor:
Roger Jones
Course Description: The introductory course of creative writing, this class focuses on the art of
writing poetry and short stories.
Books:
Contemporary American Poetry, Waters, Poulin eds. 8th edition; The Art
& Craft of Fiction, Kardos, ed.
Evaluation:
Final portfolio; online assignments
E-Mail:
RJ03@satx.rr.com
English 3321.501: The Short Story (online). ARR ARR ARR.
Instructor:
Roger Jones
Course Description:
A study in the short story form, from Gogol and Poe to contemporary
practitioners
Books:
Fiction 100, Pickering ed. 13th edition
Evaluation:
Online assignments; final exam; two essays
E-Mail:
RJ03@txstate.edu
English 3329.501: Mythology (Emphasis on Native American Mythology). MTWRF 2pm3:40pm, FH 255.
Instructor:
Robin Cohen
Course Description:
This course will begin with an introduction to the nature of myths,
mythic archetypes, and the historical role of myth in society. After a
brief overview of creation myths from various cultures, the course will
focus primarily on Native American mythology and its use and
adaptation by contemporary Native American writers.
Books:
Evaluation:
E-Mail:
American Indian Myths and Legends, Erdoes and Ortiz
The Way To Rainy Mountain, Momaday
Storyteller, Silko
Green Grass, Running Water, King
Films: The Power of Myth, Part 1; (60 min.) Medicine River (96 min),
Smoke Signals (89 min.), Stolen Rain (approx. 60 min.)
2 short papers (30% each); midterm exam (15%); final exam (25%)
rc08@txstate.edu
English 3336.501: American Literature, 1930 to the Present: From Modernism to
Contemporary Forms (WI). 12:00-1:40 MTWThF, FH 255
Instructor:
Jaime Armin Mejía
Course Description: The readings for this course include novels, novellas, and short stories, all
of which cover a wide range of themes American writers have treated
since WWI. Since most of the writers are well known among scholars of
American Literature, reading these works will provide student an
understanding of the wide range of topics writers from this era covered
during the better part of the 20th century and early 21st century. While I’ve
included works by males and females, these writers’ works also provide a
historical overview of the lives people have had to endure as US citizens,
within as well as outside of the United States.
Classes will primarily be conducted through class discussions of the
assigned literary works. I’ll provide a few short lectures for the purpose of
contextualization.
Books:
Evaluation:
Objectives: The objectives of this course are to have students gain a
wider understanding of how Americans have chosen to portray the
circumstances of their lives in works of imaginative writing. Also,
because this is an English class, the readings for this class are intended to
enhance the reading, writing, and analytical skills of the students.
There will be 7 books of short stories, novels, and novels. Authors include
Faulkner, Hemingway, Wright, Salinger, Morrison, Viramontes,
McCarthy.
Two essays, final exam, attendance and class participation, each worth
25%
English 3386.501: Adolescent Literature (WI). 10am-11:40am MTWRF, FH 113.
Instructor:
Katie Kapurch
Course Description: This course is premised on the idea that adolescent literature is a
“borrowing” genre. Throughout the semester, we will ask: How does a
canonical or classic text influence the social construction of adolescence?
And, how does a YA text borrow from, integrate, or allude to a canonical
text or narrative pattern in order to address issues of contemporary
adolescence, especially issues related to age, class, race, gender, sexuality,
and the body? Why does a work “hang onto” certain themes, forms, and
motifs while radically transforming others available in the source text? To
address these questions, we will use critical theory to deepen our
conversations about each novel, especially its relevance to a historical
moment. Spotlighting individual authors will enhance our understanding
of a YA texts’ expression of their cultural context. And, given film’s
import to the study of youth culture, as well as the popularity of YA
cinematic adaptations, we will consistently consider movies that offer
applicable tie-ins to our YA text/author.
Format: primarily lecture with some discussion
Books:
The reading list MAY include the following titles:
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Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Meyer, Twilight
Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street
Myers, Walter Dean. Monster
Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Tantalize
Block, Francesca Lia. Love in the Time of Global Warming
Supplemental reading: “Perseus,” The Homeric Hymn to Demeter,
Hamlet, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Frankenstein, The
Vampyre, “Cinderella,” Seventeenth Summer
This course may also require you to view at least a couple of films outside
of class.
Evaluation:
2 exams, 2 essays
Summer II
English 3303.751: Technical Writing. MTWRF 10am-11:40am, FH G14
English 3303.752: Technical Writing. MTWRF 2pm-3:40pm, FH G14
Instructor: Beverley Flowers Hall M20
Braud
Office times, Spring 2015: MW- 11:00-12:20; TTh- 11:00-12:20
bb08@txstate.edu
This course offers instruction and practice in the various writing
techniques and forms required by most technical positions. The course
covers writing style and mechanics, document design principles, editing
principles, and research skills. The course calendar changes from semester
to semester, but the major goals of this technical writing course remain
the same. Previous assignments have included some (but not all) of the
following documents: Memo re major field & goals; analysis of a
technical document; memo re ethics; memo re audience, process, & terms
for user manual; user manual, grammar / style worksheet, process
instruction with graphic, proposal for fact sheet; fact sheet; website; letter
with résumé; final. This course is writing-intensive.
Books:
Markel, M. Technical Communication, 11th ed.
ISBN: 978-1-4576-8847-8 (Book only)
Evaluation:
Students will be assessed on how well their writing conforms to the
stylistic, mechanical, and formatting conventions for professional writing
and design covered in class as well as on the completeness of their writing
assignments. This class does have an attendance policy.
A Typical Summer Schedule
Impromptu Writing 05
Tech Doc Analysis 20
Ethics Analysis
25
Informational Report 50
Memo re Report Topics10
Def/Descr Exercise 05
Graphics Exercise 05
Report Edits 2x5
10
Instructions
50
Impromptu Writing 05
Tech Doc Analysis 20
Ethics Analysis
25
Informational Report 50
Memo re Report Topics10
Def/Descr Exercise 05
Graphics Exercise 05
Report Edits 2x5
10
Instructions
50
Total points
355
English 3303.753: Technical Writing (WI). TUE 6:30pm-9:20pm, AVRY RR.
Above section offered online; meets 07/07 and 07/21 RRHWC; email dp27@txstate.edu for
more info.
Instructor:
Dan Price
Course Description:
This course prepares students for writing in the workplace. Specific
genres include letters, memos, job application materials, manuals,
reports, and presentations. Specific skills developed include document
design, web page design, use of graphics, collaborative writing,
audience analysis, and project management. The course is writing and
computer intensive and requires active participation
Books:
Markel, Mike. Technical Communication, 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2015.
Evaluation:
Five major writing assignments and a final.
E-Mail:
dprice@txstate.edu
English 3307.751: Introduction to the Study of Film (WI).MTWRF 12pm-1:40pm, FH 229.
Instructor:
Victoria Smith
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the vocabulary of film,
contextualizes film historically and culturally, and situates each film
within a generic framework—German expressionism, film noir, the
western, Italian neo-realism, the melodrama, the screwball comedy,
and recent social problem films.
Books:
Corrigan and White. The Film Experience (4th. ed.—though any
edition is acceptable), Van Sijll. Cinematic Storytelling, various
readings on TRACS
Tentative list of films: M, Double Indemnity, Bonnie and Clyde, His
Girl Friday, The Searchers, Bicycle Thieves, Imitation of Life, Pan’s
Labyrinth, Seven, Dallas Buyers Club
Evaluation:
oral presentation, various short in-class and outside class written
assignments, midterm, and final
E-Mail:
vs13@txstate.edu
English 3315.751: Introduction to Creative Writing (WI). MTWRF 10am-11:40pm,
MTWRF, FH 255.
Instructor:
John Blair
Course Description:
A critical seminar for writers of fiction, poetry, and articles. Creativity,
criticism, and revision are emphasized.
Books:
Evaluation:
E-Mail:
jblair@txstate.edu
English 3316.751: Film and Prose Fiction: Jane Austen (WI). 2:00-3:20 MTWRF, FH 341
Instructor:
Course Description:
Chad Hammett
This course offers a focus on the major novels of Jane Austen and recent
films and other texts that raise the question “What is it about Austen?”
Further, the course investigates the creation and perpetuation of the
“Janeite” culture that continues to reference and reinvent her work,
particularly as it relates to film.
Books:
To be determined
Evaluation:
Participation, group presentations, exams with in-class writing, takehome essays
E-Mail:
ch34@txstate.edu
English 3385.751: Children’s Literature (WI). MTWRF 10am-11:40am, FH 256.
Instructor:
Marilynn Olson
Course Description:
A survey of mostly contemporary children’s literature. We will attempt
to understand the qualities that make it pleasurable, as well as the role
that a sheltered literature plays in our society.
Books:
Tentative: Considering Dog Friday; The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm;
perhaps Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Rain Reign; The Secret Zoo. Will use a
“classic” selection from before our own time, at the moment my choice
is Six to Sixteen by Juliana Ewing. Picturebook selections. Poetry and
video provided in class.
Evaluation:
Quizzes, journals, in-class writing, research paper
E-Mail:
Mo03@txstate.edu
English 4355.751: The Later Shakespeare. 12pm-1:40pm MTWRF, FH 113
Instructor:
Daniel Lochman & John Hood (Honors)
Course Description:
Please note that this course focuses on both reading
Shakespeare’s later plays and bringing them to life with
performance. It is cross-listed with Honors 3396M.
Understanding Shakespeare’s plays requires an appreciation of
performance and production practicalities as well as literary, historical,
political, and critical values. Shakespeare wrote his plays not just as a
dedicated writer, but also as a busy producer. Although his writing skills
were mature by 1600, he still had to attend to the financial and political
exigencies of managing an established company that could please and
appease King James and his court.
We combine the reading of texts with the study of the environment
surrounding Shakespeare’s original of three later plays: Macbeth,
Cymbeline, and the Tempest. We will read all three texts closely and
work collaboratively in three groups to develop 40-minute adaptions that
consider blocking, gestures, and expression of language. These
adaptations will be presented to an audience at the end of the term.
Books:
The Norton Shakespeare, Volume 2: Later Plays (Second Edition)
Evaluation:
Examination on conventions of the Jacobean stage (10%), quizzes on
readings (15%); report on close reading of a scene in one of the three
plays (7 double-spaced pages, 25%); solo reading of a passage from the
text (15%); ensemble performance (25%); final examination and essays
on the experience of close reading and performance (10%).
E-Mail:
Dl102@txstate.edu & jh67@txstate.edu