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English About the Department The main purpose of general course offerings in English is to acquaint students with the power of literature to enrich and inform our lives. These courses are designed to help students read, write, think and speak more effectively. Writings from different genres, periods and cultures are often compared and connections are made with other disciplines such as psychology, religion, anthropology, philosophy and history. The English Major introduces students to the most influential works of the English and American literary traditions, and, from the start of the major, students are also introduced to voices that have been silenced throughout history. The Department strives for maximum inclusion of works by women, minorities and writers from underprivileged classes. The student who majors in English at Earlham recognizes the intertextual nature of literature — that is, the way that all writing is affected by other writings. The Major in English is designed for students who wish to become sophisticated readers of literature, attentive to the ways imaginative works are made and the impact those works have on the lives of human beings. The Department hopes to serve equally well those preparing for graduate work in English; those planning further study in areas such as philosophy, law, religion, business or history; and those not intending to continue formal education beyond the Bachelor of Arts degree. Most Earlham English majors go into such professions as teaching, publishing, journalism, writing, business or law. The Department intends that all Earlham English majors be lifelong readers and confident writers. To achieve these ends, the English Major is tightly constructed, proceeding from simple beginnings to levels of increasing complexity. Every analysis in every course begins with attention to the text itself. Students learn how to interpret the text in its own terms and how to describe its stylistic features. As they become more skilled, students pay more attention to the social and historical contexts of literary works. They learn to employ a variety of critical approaches and research strategies. The men and women who teach in the English Department often share their research interests with students; these include such individual authors as Geoffrey Chaucer, George Eliot, Toni Morrison and Denise Levertov; and such broad subject areas as feminist theory, fiction of the Middle East and Irish poetry. There is no dominant mode of teaching in the English Department, although especially frequent use is made of discussions. Whether lecturing or leading discussions, teachers seek maximum student participation. The goal is a pedagogy that does not silence but, rather, helps students speak with integrity and listen with respect. |
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Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |