English Minor

English uses program-specific student learning outcomes separated into two categories: Skills and Knowledge.

Skills

• Understand analyze and interpret literary texts especially through close and critical reading

• Place literature in relation to its historical,  cultural,  intellectual,  theoretical,  aesthetic,  social,  and political contexts;

• Locate evaluate and use relevant scholarship literary criticism and cultural commentary both in print and online

• Formulate a focused well organized and stylistically appropriate argument that supports its claims with evidence and demonstrates an awareness of audience purpose and context

• Engage in public discourse through careful listening respectful questioning and thoughtful speaking in both formal and informal settings

• Collaborate with others to identify define and solve problems related to the production publication and interpretation of literature

Knowledge

• Recognize literature as a vehicle for both individual and cultural expression that can engage the imagination elicit feeling express value and enable inquiry

• Identify the major historical periods of literature written in English including British American and Anglophone authors movements and styles

• Identify the characteristics of different  forms of literature including their major genres (fiction nonfiction poetry drama) and hybrid forms

• Demonstrate familiarity with literary terms themes and techniques both traditional and experimental

• Understand the relationship between language authorship publication audience and power

• Appreciate the importance in producing publishing and interpreting literature including racial ethnic gender sexual religious economic and ideological differences

• Appreciate the relationship of literature to other arts such as dance music photography theater visual art and performance