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FAQ: Topics
Department Prizes
Alphabet Book
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- Senior Composition is a yearlong liberal arts course in reading and writing like all other courses in the department; it is not solely a "writing workshop." Reading is drawn for the most part from the twentieth century to provide examples of various types of writing: fiction, poetry, and nonfiction outside of literary criticism. Class time is divided between discussion of this reading and discussion of student writing. The instructor of the course is also the supervisor of each student’s senior tutorial (English 300). In other words, once you are registered in English 305-306, you do not have to seek out a separate tutorial advisor. The creative work you do for the course will count toward your senior tutorial. But in addition to creative work for the tutorial, students will be expected to write critical papers for the course.
- This course is open only to senior English majors. Students interested in applying must submit samples of their writing to the English Department immediately after Spring break in their junior year. A committee of at least three faculty members reads the submissions and selects the members of this course. The course instructor is not necessarily a member of the committee. Enrollment is limited to twelve students.
- This long-standing practice in the English department is based on the theory that an English course is a conversation. The conversation takes place in class among students and teachers; it takes place in conferences and e-mail; and it takes place in the dialogue between a student’s paper and a teacher’s response. The placement of a grade on the paper puts an end to this part of the conversation. A student paper is not an exam; it is an invitation (even though it’s compulsory) to speak on a particular subject. A teacher’s response is not a grade; it is an informed response to what the student has said.
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