English Minor

Coordinator:
Heather Hayton

Department of English

The English minor consists of two separate tracks, literature and writing.

The literature track involves principally the study of literature, a form of art through which humankind has constantly struggled to express verbally the central concerns of the human condition as understood in each age. English concentrators at Guilford College study the literatures of the English-speaking world, primarily focusing on traditional and non-traditional American and British writers. Courses in literatures in translation, including Caribbean and African literature, are also regularly offered.

The writing trackoffers students the opportunity to focus on the skill of writing while also reflecting on the theory that underlies successful practice. Concentrators will expand their ability to write creatively and critically, thereby both enriching their Guilford experience and building skills that will benefit them in future careers. Students may pursue interests in poetry, fiction, playwriting, journalism, technical writing and/or literary non-fiction.

Concentratorsmaychoose to fulfill the requirements for one or the other track, but cannot mix the two.  

The minor in English is not available to English majors.

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements for Literature Track.  The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).

    1.  ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

    2.  One course (literature survey) from:

4 credits

         ENGL 221  British Literature I

         ENGL 222  British Literature II

         ENGL 225  American Literature Survey I

         ENGL 226 American Literature Survey II

         ENGL 230 African American Literature

         ENGL 270 World Literature

3.-4.  Two courses (300-400-level literature) from :

8 credits

         ENGL 306 Medieval Literature

         ENGL 309 Early Modern Literature

         ENGL 327 British Romantic Literature

         ENGL 328 Victorian Literature

         ENGL 331  Black Women Writers

         ENGL 332  Black Men Writers

         ENGL 334  African Women Writers

         ENGL 338/IDS 422   Harlem Renaissance

         ENGL 342  American Romanticism

         ENGL 372   Modern Poetry

         ENGL 376  Contemporary Fiction

         ENGL 377/IDS 409 Gay, Lesbian, Queer Studies

         ENGL 378  Caribbean Literature

         ENGL 400 Senior Seminar
 

Total credit hours required for English literature track minor

16 credits
 

Minor Requirements for Writing Track – The minor requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (four courses).

    1.  ENGL 200 Introduction to Literary Studies

4 credits

2.-3.  Two courses from:

8 credits

         ENGL 210 Playwriting Workshop

         ENGL 211 Poetry Workshop*

         ENGL 212 Fiction Workshop**

         ENGL 282 Journalism

         ENGL 285 Guilfordian Practicum

         ENGL 382 Technical and Professional Communication

* requires ENGL 206 or permission of instructor as prerequisite

* *requires ENGL 207 or permission of instructor as prerequisite

    4.  One course from the following (students may not repeat any course taken in #2-3 above):

4 credits

         ENGL 210 Playwriting Workshop

         ENGL 211 Poetry Workshop*

         ENGL 212 Fiction Workshop**

         ENGL 282 Journalism

         ENGL 285 Guilfordian Practicum

         ENGL 372 Modern Poetry

         ENGL 376 Contemporary Fiction

         ENGL 380 Rhetoric and Composition

         ENGL 382 Technical and Professional Communication

         ENGL 390 Internship

* requires ENGL 206 or permission of instructor as prerequisite

* *requires ENGL 207 or permission of instructor as prerequisite

       

Total credit hours required for English writing track minor

16 credits

 

NOTE: The department will periodically add courses to the above lists. Please check with the minor coordinator.

Students will develop a plan of study in ENGL 200. They will then process the coherence of the English minor via a portfolio of work done in the four courses in the minor (or three courses plus internship). Students will submit this portfolio to the English minor subcommittee of the English department.

The portfolio should include sample copies of work done in the four courses in the minor (or three courses plus internship) and a five-page reflective paper.

In this paper, which should neither summarize the four courses/internship nor the papers included in the portfolio, minors should reflect on their experience with the minor in light of the coherence plan they developed in ENG 200. They might, for example: define their personal goals in undertaking the minor; demonstrate how and why those goals have or have not been achieved in the four chosen courses/internship; provide clear examples of how their experience in the courses/internship has informed and challenged their ways of thinking; and discuss what that change in thinking has meant to them and how they expect to utilize the knowledge and analytical skills gained in their careers and/or lives in the future.

Minors must meet with a member of the English minor subcommittee before beginning the paper.

Portfolios are due by the Monday of the 14th week of the semester