Faculty

Michael G. Aronson, assistant professor (film studies). B.A., 1994, Pennsylvania; M.A., 1997, Ph.D., 2002, Pittsburgh. (2003)

Martha J. Bayless, associate professor (Middle English literature). B.A., 1980, Bryn Mawr; M.A., 1984, Ph.D., 1990, Cambridge. (1989)

Elizabeth A. Bohls, associate professor (18th-century literature); director, graduate studies. B.A., 1979, Mount Holyoke; Ph.D., 1989, Stanford. (1998)

Suzanne Clark, professor (modernist studies, rhetoric, theory). B.A., 1961, M.A., 1965, Oregon; Ph.D., 1980, California, Irvine. (1990)

James R. Crosswhite, associate professor (rhetoric, writing, critical theory); director, composition program. B.A., 1975, California, Santa Cruz; M.A., 1979, Ph.D., 1987, California, San Diego. (1989)

Dianne M. Dugaw, professor (18th-century literature). B.A., 1971, Portland; M.A., 1976, Ph.D., 1982, California, Los Angeles. (1990)

James W. Earl, professor (Anglo-Saxon literature). B.A., 1967, Bucknell; Ph.D., 1971, Cornell. (1987)

Karen J. Ford, professor (poetry and poetics, modern poetry, American literature). B.A., 1978, California State, Sacramento; M.A., 1981, California, Davis; Ph.D., 1989, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. On leave fall 2006. (1992)

Lisa Freinkel, associate professor (Renaissance literature). B.A., 1987, Harvard; M.A., 1989, Ph.D., 1993, California, Berkeley. (1995)

John T. Gage, professor (rhetoric, writing, modern poetry). B.A., 1969, M.A., 1971, Ph.D., 1976, California, Berkeley. (1980)

Lisa M. Gilman, assistant professor (folklore). B.A., 1993, Oregon; M.A., 1996, Ph.D., 2001, Indiana. (2005)

Warren Ginsberg, College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor (medieval literature). M.A., 1971, State University of New York, Stony Brook; Ph.D., 1975, Yale. (2000)

Sangita Gopal, assistant professor (postcolonial literature). B.A., 1990, Calcutta; M.A., 1995, Ph.D., 2000, Rochester. (2004)

Michael Hames-García, associate professor (prison studies; Chicano, U.S. Latino, and African American literatures and cultures; race and sexuality). See Ethnic Studies.

Shari M. Huhndorf, associate professor (Native American literature, ethnic studies, cultural studies). B.A., 1985, Redlands; M.A., 1991, Ph.D., 1996, New York University. On leave fall 2007. (1996)

Kathleen Rowe Karlyn, associate professor (film studies). B.A., 1969, Connecticut; M.L.A., 1973, Johns Hopkins; Ph.D., 1992, Oregon. On leave fall and winter 2007–8. (1994)

Linda Kintz, professor (20th-century literature). B.A., 1967, Texas Tech; M.A., 1969, Southern Methodist; Ph.D., 1982, Oregon. (1988)

C. Anne Laskaya, associate professor (medieval literature, women writers, composition). B.A., 1976, Lawrence; B.Mus., Lawrence Conservatory of Music; M.A., 1978, Ph.D., 1989, Rochester. (1983)

David Leiwei Li, Collins Professor of English; associate professor (Asian American literature and culture). B.A., 1982, Shanghai Foreign Languages Institute; M.A., 1986, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Ph.D., 1991, Texas at Austin. (1999)

Enrique Lima, assistant professor (literature of the Americas). B.A., 2000, Oregon; Ph.D., 2006, Stanford. (2006)

Joan K. Mariner, senior instructor (developmental expository writing). B.A., 1984, M.A., 1987, Oregon. (1988)

Margaret L. McBride, senior instructor (business communications, expository writing, science fiction). M.A., 1975, Oregon. (1981)

Priscilla P. Ovalle, assistant professor (film, Latino cinema). B.S., 1998, Emerson College; M.A., 2001, California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., 2006, Southern California. (2006)

Paul W. Peppis, associate professor (modern British literature); associate department head. B.A., 1984, Williams; M.A., 1987, Ph.D., 1993, Chicago. (1995)

Forest Pyle, associate professor (romanticism, literary theory). B.A., 1980, M.A., 1983, Ph.D., 1988, Texas at Austin. (1988)

Mark Quigley, assistant professor (Irish literature, 20th-century literature). B.A., 1992, Stanford; M.A., 1997, Ph.D., 2003, California, Los Angeles. (2006)

William Rossi, associate professor (19th-century American literature); director of undergraduate studies. B.A., 1972, M.A., 1979, Missouri; Ph.D., 1986, Minnesota. (1989)

George Rowe, professor (Renaissance literature); editor, Comparative Literature. B.A., 1969, Brandeis; M.A., 1971, Ph.D., 1973, Johns Hopkins. (1985)

Benjamin D. Saunders, associate professor (Renaissance literature). B.A., 1991, East Anglia; M.Phil., 1992, Cambridge; Ph.D., 2000, Duke. On leave 2007–8. (2000)

Gordon M. Sayre, professor (early American literature, 18th-century literature); director, graduate studies. B.A., 1988, Brown; Ph.D., 1993, State University of New York, Buffalo. (1993)

Steven Shankman, College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor (18th-century literature, the classical tradition, comparative literature); director, Oregon Humanities Center. B.A., 1969, Texas at Austin; B.A., 1971, M.A., 1976, Cambridge; Ph.D., 1977, Stanford. (1984)

Deborah L. Shapple, assistant professor (19th-century literature). B.A., 1993, Rochester; Ph.D., 2002, Pennsylvania. (2005)

Sharon R. Sherman, professor (film, folklore, popular culture). Ph.B., 1965, Wayne State; M.A., 1971, California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., 1978, Indiana. (1976)

Richard L. Stein, professor (Victorian literature, literature and the fine arts). B.A., 1965, Amherst; A.M., 1966, Ph.D., 1970, California, Berkeley. (1976)

Richard C. Stevenson, professor (English novel, Victorian literature). A.B., 1961, A.M., 1963, Ph.D., 1969, Harvard. (1968)

Cynthia H. Tolentino, assistant professor (Asian American, African American, 20th-century literature). B.A., 1992, Hampshire; M.A., 1993, Ph.D., 2001, Brown. (2002)

David J. Vázquez, assistant professor (Latino literature, 20th-century literature, ethnic studies). B.A., 1988, South Florida; M.A., 1998, Ph.D., 2004, California, Santa Barbara. (2003)

Louise Westling, professor (20th-century American literature). B.A., 1964, Randolph-Macon Woman’s; M.A., 1965, Iowa; Ph.D., 1974, Oregon. (1985)

Elizabeth A. Wheeler, associate professor (post-1945 literature, cultural studies). A.B., 1982, Bowdoin; M.A., 1988, City University of New York; Ph.D., 1996, California, Berkeley. (1996)

John C. Witte, senior instructor (creative writing); editor, Northwest Review. B.A., 1971, Colby; M.F.A., 1977, Oregon. (1979)

Daniel N. Wojcik, associate professor (folklore, popular culture). B.A., 1978, California, Santa Barbara; M.A., 1986, Ph.D., 1992, California, Los Angeles. (1991)

Henry B. Wonham, professor (19th- and 20th-century American literature). B.A., 1983, Princeton; Ph.D., 1991, Virginia. (1995)

Mary E. Wood, associate professor (19th-century American literature). B.A., 1978, Yale; M.A., 1980, Ph.D., 1987, Stanford. (1987)

Emeriti

Roland Bartel, professor emeritus. B.A., 1947, Bethel; Ph.D., 1951, Indiana. (1951)

James L. Boren, professor emeritus. B.A., 1965, San Francisco State; M.A., 1967, Ph.D., 1970, Iowa. (1970)

William Cadbury, professor emeritus. B.A., 1956, Harvard; M.S., 1957, Ph.D., 1961, Wisconsin, Madison. (1961)

Edwin L. Coleman II, professor emeritus. B.A., 1961, M.A., 1962, San Francisco State; Ph.D., 1971, Oregon. (1971)

Marilyn Farwell, professor emerita. A.B., 1963, MacMurray; M.A., 1966, Ph.D., 1971, Illinois. (1971)

Thelma Greenfield, professor emerita. B.A., 1944, M.A., 1947, Oregon; Ph.D., 1952, Wisconsin, Madison. (1963)

Robert Grudin, professor emeritus. B.A., 1960, Harvard; M.A., 1963, Ph.D., 1969, California, Berkeley. (1971)

John A. Haislip, professor emeritus. B.A., 1950, Ph.D., 1965, Washington (Seattle). (1966)

Joseph A. Hynes Jr., professor emeritus. A.B., 1951, Detroit; A.M., 1952, Ph.D., 1961, Michigan. (1957)

Ruth F. Jackson, senior instructor emerita. B.A., 1929, M.A., 1933, Oregon. (1955)

Gloria E. Johnson, professor emerita. B.A., 1944, Barnard; M.A., 1946, Ph.D., 1954, Columbia. (1959)

Julia Lesage, professor emerita. M.A., 1962, Ph.D., 1972, Indiana. (1988)

Glen A. Love, professor emeritus. B.A., 1954, M.A., 1959, Ph.D., 1964, Washington (Seattle). (1965)

William Rockett, associate professor emeritus. B.A., 1961, M.A., 1963, Oklahoma; Ph.D., 1969, Wisconsin, Madison. (1966)

Ralph J. Salisbury, professor emeritus. B.A., 1949, M.F.A., 1951, Iowa. (1961)

Donald S. Taylor, professor emeritus. B.A., 1947, M.A., 1948, Ph.D., 1950, California, Berkeley. (1968)

Nathaniel Teich, professor emeritus. B.S., 1960, Carnegie-Mellon; M.A., 1962, Columbia; Ph.D., 1970, California, Riverside. (1969)

A. Kingsley Weatherhead, professor emeritus. M.A., 1949, Cambridge; M.A., 1949, Edinburgh; Ph.D., 1958, Washington (Seattle). (1960)

George Wickes, professor emeritus. B.A., 1944, Toronto; M.A., 1949, Columbia; Ph.D., 1954, California, Berkeley. (1970)

The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.

Participating

Scott DeLancey, linguistics

David A. Frank, honors college

Russell S. Tomlin, linguistics

Undergraduate Studies [back to top]

The Department of English offers instruction in English literature, American literature, writing, English linguistics, folklore, and the literature of ethnic minorities. Its lower-division courses provide training in writing and introduce the student to literature as a humanistic discipline. Its upper-division courses emphasize the humanistic values that emerge from studying literature and allied disciplines analytically and in depth.

Careers. The study of English opens doors to many careers. All fields of endeavor place high value on the ability to read intelligently and to write clearly. The English major may lead most directly to careers in education, journalism, or communications; it is also highly regarded as undergraduate training for law, government, social work, community service, and business. Indeed, the ability to handle the language with clarity and cogency is the skill most frequently cited by business professionals as desirable. A major in English, with judiciously selected electives, prepares students not only to find that essential first job but also to possess the breadth of outlook and depth of perspective that become increasingly important in subsequent phases of their careers. A student preparing for graduate study in English should construct an appropriate course of undergraduate study in consultation with a faculty adviser.

Major Requirements

The Department of English expects its majors to acquire knowledge of English and American literature. In addition, it expects them to gain a sense of history and a reading knowledge of at least one second language. Majors should construct their programs in consultation with an adviser. The major requirements for the degree of bachelor of arts (B.A.) in the Department of English are listed below.

Course work required for the English major, both lower division and upper division, must be passed with grades of mid-C or better. Majors must complete the university foreign-language requirement for the B.A. degree. At least 28 of the required 36 upper-division credits must be taken at the University of Oregon.

Additional upper-division course work in literature or writing or a combination of both to total 36 credits. No more than 8 credits of ENG 401, 403, 405 or WR 408 or CRWR 405, 408 can be used to fulfill this requirement

Honors Program in English

The program provides qualified undergraduate majors with special educational opportunities. During the sophomore and junior years, honors students enroll in Seminar (ENG 407) on a topic announced at the beginning of each academic year. During the senior year, honors students work on an extended writing project of their own choosing, under the supervision of two faculty members. The honors program is fully compatible with courses and requirements in the department.

Honors Program Admission. Students are recommended by a faculty member for admission to the honors program during their sophomore year. However, admission is possible as late as the junior year. Entry into the program is determined by the honors program director after a review of the student’s achievement in literature courses and other evidence of superior academic ability.

Honors Degree Requirements. Two or three honors seminars should be taken during the sophomore and junior years.

By the end of the junior year, a prospectus for the senior honors project should be submitted to the program director. Honors seniors enroll in Thesis (ENG 403) during the first two terms of their senior year. The senior honors project consists of a thirty- to forty-page essay, creative work, or the equivalent, and is due at the end of the second term of ENG 403. The thesis must be approved by the faculty adviser and a second faculty member after a formal presentation.

Minor in English

The English minor requires 24 credits of approved course work selected from the documents titled University of Oregon English Major Requirements and Advising Supplement, which is updated each year. Both documents are available in the Department of English office. Only courses with the ENG subject code and writing courses numbered WR 320, 321, or 423 may be used for the minor. Introduction to Literature (ENG 104, 105, 106) and transfer equivalents may not be used to satisfy minor requirements. A maximum of 8 credits may be taken in lower-division courses, and all upper-division courses must be taken in residence at the University of Oregon. Course work must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of mid-C or better. Courses applied to another major or minor may not be used to satisfy requirements for the minor in English.

Minor in Writing, Public Speaking, and Critical Reasoning

The minor in writing, public speaking, and critical reasoning prepares undergraduates for active and effective participation in the complex, diverse, and ever-changing communicative situations they will face after graduation. The minor requires 24 credits of approved course work, as follows:

• Two courses (8 credits) in writing selected from WR 123, 320, 321, 423; ENG 404, 413

• Two courses (8 credits) in rhetoric (at least one of which must be ENG 200 or 330) and selected from ENG 200, 330, 491, 492, 493

• Two courses (8 credits) in reasoning selected from PHIL 103, 325; ENG 335

• A capstone course, ENG 494, may be taken to satisfy one of the writing, rhetoric, or reasoning course requirements

Certificate in Film Studies

The certificate requires 36 credits: 12 credits in Group 1 and 24 upper-division credits in Groups 2, 3, and 4. Students must earn a grade of mid-C or better in required courses, including independent studies.

Group 1: Introduction to Film Studies. Media Aesthetics (ENG 260) and History of the Motion Picture I,II (ENG 265, 266)

Group 2: Aesthetics, Theory, and Methods of Film Studies. At least one course from English, music, journalism and communication, or other schools or departments on media production and industries, film history, music, genres, and other topics emphasizing the aesthetic aspects of film.

Group 3: Film and Society. At least two courses from foreign-language departments, English, the social sciences, journalism and communication, or other departments and schools on national cinemas-China, France, Germany, Russia or other nations-and other topics emphasizing the social aspects of film.

Group 4: Electives. At least two electives selected in consultation with an adviser in the film studies area. These courses can be in a related field, such as theater arts, or another film course.

Up to four credits in independent study can be applied to any one of the group requirements except Group 1.

Kindergarten through Secondary Teaching Careers

Students who complete a degree in English are eligible to apply to the College of Education’s fifth-year licensure program in middle-secondary teaching or the fifth-year licensure program in elementary teaching. More information is available from the department’s education advisers, Suzanne Clark and Elizabeth Wheeler; see also the College of Education section of this catalog.

Graduate Studies [back to top]

The Department of English offers graduate study in English and American literature, film studies, folklore, critical theory, rhetoric and composition, cultural studies. It offers the master of arts (M.A.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in English. Detailed descriptions of these programs and instructions about how to apply to the English graduate program are available on the department’s website.

Master of Arts Degree

The Department of English offers an M.A. for students who want to study beyond the B.A. but who do not plan to complete a Ph.D. Students whose goal is a doctorate should apply for admission to the department’s doctoral program (described below). Students who complete the M.A. program at the University of Oregon and want to enter the Ph.D. program must reapply to the department for admission into that program.

1. An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.50 or, if the student has 12 or more credits of graduate work in English, a graduate GPA of 3.50 or better

2. A minimum score of 550 on the verbal section of the general test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

3. For nonnative speakers: a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 250 on the computer-based test

1. Obtain a Graduate Admission Application online; links are on the department’s website under Graduate Studies. For those with limited online access, telephone the Graduate School, (541) 346-5129

2. Arrange to have two official copies of graduate and undergraduate transcripts sent, one to the UO Office of Admissions, the other to the graduate secretary

3. Submit or have sent to the graduate secretary

a. An official record of GRE scores

b. Letters of recommendation from three people familiar with the applicant’s academic background and intellectual ­abilities

c. A personal statement of background and objectives in pursuing the course of study

d. A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s ability in literary or cultural studies

The application deadline for admission is January 15. Candidates are admitted only for fall term.

The completed file is reviewed by the department’s graduate admissions committee, which notifies the applicant of its decision. All admissions are conditional.

Completion of the degree requires reading competence in one foreign language. Reading competence may be demonstrated by a B+ average in the yearlong Old English sequence; a grade of mid-B or better in the last term of a second-year language course or an approved 300-, 400-, or 600-level literature course with readings in the target language; scoring at the 25th percentile or better on the Graduate Student Foreign Language Test (GSFLT); or passing the Toronto Medieval Latin examination at the master’s level.

Students must take twelve formal 600-level seminars for the M.A. degree. A master’s thesis may be substituted for one of these seminars, with the prior approval of the director of graduate studies in consultation with the faculty thesis adviser. The M.A. thesis is a substantial scholarly essay.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 in all graduate course work at the UO is required for completion of the M.A. degree. At least nine courses must be taken in residence at the University of Oregon.

The emphasis in film studies is a way to focus course work for the M.A. in English. The emphasis is oriented toward students who want a career in the media or who plan advanced graduate work in film studies. Candidates work closely with a faculty adviser whose specialty is film studies. The adviser helps the student develop an individual plan of study, which must be approved by the director of graduate studies, and directs the master’s thesis during the final term of study.

• Media aesthetics and film theory
• Three 500-level film courses
• One 600-level film seminar
• Two 600-level seminars in theory, criticism, folklore, or 20th-century literature
• Two 600-level seminars in the School of Journalism and Communication
• Two or more graduate courses in film studies or related courses in other departments
• Thesis (ENG 503)

See the description of the Interdisciplinary Studies: Individualized Program (IS:IP) in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Students who want to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Oregon should apply directly to the doctoral program. Students in the doctoral program who have not earned an M.A. prior to being admitted may receive the M.A. at the appropriate stage of their course of study, typically at the end of the second year (subject to the fulfillment of department and university M.A. requirements listed in the Graduate School section of this catalog).

The number of places in the Ph.D. program is limited, and admission is competitive.

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor of arts (B.A.) or a master of arts (M.A.) in English or a related field, with at least a 3.50 graduate grade point average (GPA)

2. A combined Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score of 1250 on the verbal section of the general test and the literature in English test

3. For nonnative speakers: a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 250 on the computer-based version

Admission procedures are the same as for M.A. degrees. The application deadline is January 15; candidates are admitted only for fall term.

Residency Requirements

The Graduate School requires at least three years of full-time work beyond the bachelor’s degree for the doctorate with at least one year spent in continuous residence on the Eugene campus. The Graduate School requires three consecutive terms (fall, winter, spring) with a minimum of 9 graduate credits of formal course work per term for the Ph.D. year of residency; graduate teaching fellows must also enroll for a minimum of 9 graduate credits each term they hold a GTF appointment.

Degree Requirements

The graduate language requirement for the doctoral degree is reading competence in two languages or high proficiency in one. Reading competence may be demonstrated in each of two foreign languages as specified under the language requirement for the M.A. degree. High proficiency may be demonstrated by a grade of A– or better in an approved 400-, 500-, or 600-level literature course, with readings in the target language; scoring at the 75th percentile or better on the GSFLT; or passing the Toronto Medieval Latin examination at the Ph.D. level.
Students may petition the graduate committee to test in languages that don’t fit the above criteria.

Doctoral candidates must have experience as classroom teachers in the department before they receive the degree.

The student must take eighteen seminars, six in designated distribution areas:

• Introduction to Graduate Studies in English (ENG 690)
• Pre-1500
• Renaissance
• 1660–1800
• 19th century
• Literary theory

Individual Plan of Study. The twelve remaining seminars, constituting the individual plan of study, may be distributed among any areas, and the plan must be approved by the student’s graduate faculty adviser and the director of graduate studies before the second year of study.

Structured Emphasis. Students may also define their individual plan of study according to one of seven structured emphasis options: ethnic literary studies, film studies, folklore, literature and the environment, medieval studies, poetry and poetics, or rhetoric and composition. Each emphasis has a focused set of courses and a special section on the qualifying examination.

Graduate course work should be done at the 600 level. Exceptions to this policy must be made in advance by the director of graduate studies in consultation with the individual faculty adviser.

A cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better in all graduate work at the UO is the minimum requirement for satisfactory progress toward the Ph.D.

Doctoral candidates must take the Ph.D. qualifying examination at the beginning of the second year of study. This examination, which covers English and American literature, is based on a reading list compiled by members of the faculty. This reading list may be changed periodically. A committee of faculty members administers the examination once a year in the fall term. Students who fail the qualifying examination may retake it once, the following spring term.

Students who pass the qualifying examination complete their remaining course work during the next three terms and begin preparing for the Ph.D. oral examination. Those who have completed twelve graduate-level English courses (nine taken at the university), attained reading knowledge of one second language, and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better may apply for the M.A. degree with a specialty in English or American literature.
Students whose work at this stage does not demonstrate sufficient potential for successful completion of the Ph.D. may not continue in the graduate program in English. If they have satisfactorily completed twelve graduate-level English courses (nine taken at the university), attained reading knowledge of one second language, and maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50, they may apply for the M.A. degree.

After students in the Ph.D. program have completed their course work, they must take a two-and-a-half-hour oral examination. Typically taken fall term following completion of all course work and the language requirement, the Ph.D. oral examination provides each student with the opportunity to present and defend a short paper on a topic related to the dissertation. The examination also allows the student to demonstrate expertise in his or her field of specialization. It is divided into two parts:

1. A discussion of a relatively broad field of study that provides a context for the topic or problem examined in part 2

2. A prepared presentation by the student on a topic or problem of the student’s choice that is related to the dissertation, followed by a discussion of that topic

The topic and areas covered by the oral exam are defined, in the form of a project description and reading list, by the student in consultation with an adviser or advisers and must be approved by the English department graduate committee. As a supplement to the Ph.D. oral examination, a student may choose to complete a one- to two-hour written examination on part 2. The Ph.D. oral examination may be retaken only once.

After completing all other degree requirements, the candidate should consult with a faculty adviser willing to work in the area of the student’s interest and submit a dissertation prospectus for approval by the student’s dissertation committee. Once the prospectus is approved by the committee and the director of graduate studies, the student is advanced to candidacy. A three-year period for completion of the dissertation begins when the Graduate School approves the advancement to candidacy. The department requires a considerably faster rate of progress toward completion of the degree for students holding graduate teaching fellowships. See the English department’s Appointment and Reappointment of Graduate Teaching Fellows regulations, available in the office.
The dissertation may be a work of literary or linguistic scholarship or, with the approval of the committee, a collection of three substantial essays exhibiting internal coherence though not necessarily treating a single subject. The candidate gives an oral presentation or defense of the dissertation when it is completed and found acceptable by the committee.

Expository Writing [back to top]

The English department offers required and elective courses in expository writing for all university students to help them improve their ability to write clearly and effectively. Students must fulfill the university writing requirement of two composition courses or be cleared according to established waiver and exemption policies. The requirement is WR 121 and either WR 122 or 123, or their approved equivalents. Students should complete the writing requirement-with course work, by exemption, or by waiver examination-early in their studies.

Exemptions. A score of 710 and above on the College Board (CB) recentered SAT I waives the first-term writing course. No credit is given for this waiver. A test score of 650 on the SAT I-Verbal examination taken before recentering (April 1995) also waives WR 121. A student with a CB score of 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition examination, or a 4 or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition examination, receives credit for both WR 121 and 122. A student with a score of 4 on the AP English Literature and Composition examination, or a 3 on the AP English Language and Composition examination, receives credit for WR 121 only. For students who take the American College Test (ACT), a score of 32 waives WR 121. No credit is given for this waiver.

Waiver Examinations. Waiver examinations for WR 121 and 122 are offered during the first week of classes, fall through spring terms, at the UO Testing Office, 238 University Health and Counseling Center Building; telephone (541) 346-3230. Call or visit the Testing Office to sign up for an examination. No credit is awarded for waiver examinations, and students may not take waiver examinations for both courses in the same term. The essay exams are graded pass/no pass by three members of the Department of English composition committee. Students who do not pass may not retake the examination and should register for the appropriate writing course as soon as possible. Students who pass the exam have an “exemption by exam” notation for either WR 121 or 122 placed on their transcripts. Waiver exams are not returned to students, nor are they used as a teaching device. Additional help and special tutoring is available to students through the Center for Academic Learning Services.

Placement

Students for whom English is the native language are placed in their first writing course based on their SAT or ACT verbal scores. Depending on entrance exam scores, advanced placement exams, or college transfer courses, students may be required to satisfy additional prerequisites for placement in WR 121. These may include WR 49 or AEIS 110, 111, 112 (taught in the Department of Linguistics).

Nonnative Speakers. Students for whom English is not the native or primary language are placed in their first writing course on the basis of a placement test, which is administered before registration. Nonnative speakers should inquire at the Academic English for International Students office in the American English Institute, 112C Pacific Hall, for placement test dates.

Transfer Students. Transfer students in doubt about the equivalency of courses taken elsewhere should bring transcripts and catalog descriptions to the composition office, Department of English, for evaluation.

English Courses (ENG) [back to top]

Not every course listed here can be offered every year; students should consult the class schedule.

104, 105, 106 Introduction to Literature (4,4,4) Works representing the principal literary genres. 104: fiction. 105: drama. 106: poetry. Bayless, Bohls, Dugaw, Gopal, Quigley, Wheeler, Witte, Wonham, Wood.

107, 108, 109 World Literature (4,4,4) Reading and analysis of selected works in a global survey from ancient to modern. 107: ancient literatures, 2500 b.c.e.–300 c.e. 108: middle period, 300 c.e.–mid-17th century. 109: late 17th century–present. Earl, Laskaya, Shankman.

110 Introduction to Film and Media (4) Basic critical approaches to film and media studies. Analysis and interpretation of film and media.

199 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

200 Public Speaking as a Liberal Art (4) Study and practice of public speaking as grounded in the five rhetorical canons of invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory. Prereq: WR 122 or equivalent.

207, 208 Shakespeare (4,4) The major plays in chronological order with emphasis in the first term on the early and middle plays through Hamlet and in the second term on the later plays beginning with Twelfth Night. Freinkel, Rockett, Rowe, Saunders.

210, 211 Survey of English Literature (4,4) The principal works of English literature selected to represent major writers, literary forms, and significant currents of thought. 210: to 1789. 211: 1789 to the present. Dugaw, Earl, Peppis, Stein.

215, 216 Survey of American Literature (4,4) American literature from its beginnings to the present. 215: to 1850. 216: 1850 to the present. Gage, Li, Rossi, Sayre, Wonham, Wood.

220, 221, 222 Introduction to the English Major (4,4,4) Chronological study of literary works in English considered in the context of cultural histories. 220: beginnings to 17th century. 221: 17th to 19th centuries. 222: 19th century to present. Freinkel, Laskaya, Peppis.

230 Introduction to Environmental Literature (4) Introduction to writing in the major literary genres of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction that examines the human place in the natural world. Sayre, Rossi, Westling.

245 Ethnic American Literature: [Topic] (4R) Introduction to American ethnic literature from the 1800s to the present, including selections from African, Native, Chicano, and Asian American texts. R once when topic changes for a maximum of 8 credits. Ford, Gopal, Huhndorf, Li, Sayre, Tolentino, Vázquez.

246 Global Literature in English: [Topic] (4R) World Anglophone literature presented as literary responses to colonial history, displacement, and exile in order to understand English as a global language of literary expression. R once when topic changes for a maximum of 8 credits. Gopal, Li.

250 Introduction to Folklore (4) The process and genres of traditional (i.e., folk) patterning; the relations between these forms of expression and other arts, especially English and American literature. Gilman, Sherman, Wojcik.

255 Folklore and U.S. Popular Culture (4) Explores the relationship between folklore and popular culture, with special emphasis on the analysis of legends, myths, icons, stereotypes, heroes, celebrities, rituals, and celebrations. Wojcik.

260 Media Aesthetics (4) Conventions of visual representation in still photography, motion pictures, and video. Aronson, Karlyn.

265, 266 History of the Motion Picture (4,4) History of the motion picture as an art form. 265: beginnings to 1945. 266: 1945 to present. Aronson, Karlyn.

Sophomore standing is a prerequisite for 300-level courses.

300 Introduction to Literary Criticism (4) Various techniques and approaches to literary criticism (e.g., historical, feminist, formalist, deconstructionist, Freudian, Marxist, semiotic) and their applications. Clark, Crosswhite, Laskaya, Pyle.

313 Teen and Children’s Literature (4) Books for young readers, their social implications and historical context, from the 19th century to the present. Coreq: ENG 404 Community Literacy. Wheeler.

315 Women Writers’ Cultures: [Topic] (4R) Women’s writing in a particular cultural matrix (race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, region, religion) examined in the context of feminist literary theories. R thrice for a maximum of 16 credits. Clark, Dugaw, Karlyn, Kintz, Laskaya, Wood.

316 Women Writers’ Forms: [Topic] (4R) Women’s writing in a particular genre or form (prose, fiction, drama, poetry, autobiography, folksong) examined in the context of current feminist literary theories. R thrice for a maximum of 16 credits. Dugaw, Ford, Gopal, Kintz, Westling, Wood.

321, 322, 323 English Novel (4,4,4) 321: rise of the novel from Defoe to Austen. 322: Scott to Hardy. 323: Conrad to the present. Bohls, Shapple, Stevenson.

325 Literature of the Northwest (4) Survey of significant Pacific Northwest literature as set against the principles of literary regionalism. Clark.

326 Western American Literature (4) Major literary works of the American West from frontier times to the present. Huhndorf, Pyle.

330 Oral Controversy and Advocacy (4) In-depth study of the habits of research, reasoning, selection, and presentation necessary for ethical and effective oral advocacy on contested topics. Not open to freshmen. Prereq: WR 122 or equivalent.

335 Inventing Arguments (4) Analysis and use of patterns of reasoning derived from the disciplines of rhetoric, informal logic, cognitive science, and the theory of argumentation. Prereq: WR 122 or equivalent.

340 Jewish Writers (4) Forms and varieties of fiction, poetry, and drama by Jewish writers from the 19th century to the present. Stein.

352 Shakespeare on Page and Stage (4) Intermediate-level study of Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Supplements traditional lectures and texts with acting workshops, film, live theater viewings, and student performances. Freinkel.

360 African American Writers (4) Examines the origins and development of African American writing in relevant cultural, social, and historical contexts. Ford, Tolentino.

361 Native American Writers (4) Examines the origins and development of Native American writing in relevant cultural, social, and historical contexts. Huhndorf, Sayre.

362 Asian American Writers (4) Examines the origins and development of Asian American writing in relevant cultural, social and historical contexts. Li, Tolentino.

363 Chicano and Latino Writers (4) Examines the origins and development of Chicano and Latino writing in relevant cultural, social, and historical contexts. Vázquez.

364 Comparative Ethnic American Literatures (4) Comparative examination of major issues in African, Asian, Chicano, and Native American writing in relevant contexts. Huhndorf, Li, Sayre, Tolentino, Vázquez.

365 Anglophone Literature (4) Examination of non-U.S. and non-British authors writing in English in relation to the historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts of their native countries. Gopal.

380 Film, Media, and History (4) Study of the history of institutions and industries that shape production and reception of film and media.

381 Film, Media, and Culture (4) Study of film and media as aesthetic objects that engage with communities identified by class, gender, race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

391, 392 American Novel (4,4) Development of the American novel from its beginnings to the present. 391: beginnings to 1900. 392: 1900 to present. Dresman. Lima, Rossi, Sayre, Wonham, Wood.

394, 395 20th-Century Literature (4,4) Modern literature from American, British, and European cultures. Significant works of poetry, fiction, drama, and nonfiction in relation to intellectual and historical developments. 394: 1890 to 1945. 395: 1945 to present. Dresman, Gage, Peppis, Pyle, Quigley, Stein.

399 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

Junior standing is a prerequisite for 400-level courses.

401 Research: [Topic] (1–21R)

403 Thesis (1–12R)

404 Internship: [Topic] (1–6R) On- or off-campus internship in a variety of writing or literacy-related settings in connection with designated courses.

405 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–21R)

407/507 Seminar: [Topic] (1–5R)

408/508 Workshop: [Topic] (1–21R)

410/510 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–5R)

411/511 Dramatic Screenwriting (4) Writing of dramatic screenplays for film and television. Prereq: ENG 260.

412/512 Literary Editing (4) Study of principles and practices of editing contemporary literature. Includes observation of editorial activities at Northwest Review.

413/513 Theories of Literacy (4) Approaches to literacy through literary theory, rhetoric, and cultural studies. Examines issues involved with school and community literacy. Pre- or coreq: ENG 404, 604 Community Literacy. Clark.

414/514 Classical and Medieval Literary Theory (4) Origins of Eastern and Western literary theory beginning with Plato and Confucius through Plotinus and the Middle Ages, with attention to its importance for understanding the assumptions of later literary theory including contemporary. Shankman.

417/517 History of Literary Criticism (4) Studies in the theory and practice of literary criticism from Plato and Aristotle through the New Critics. Clark, Crosswhite, Pyle, Shankman.

419/519 Contemporary Literary Theory (4) Developments in critical thinking after the New Criticism. Crosswhite, Kintz, Pyle.

421/521 The Bible and Literature (4) The Bible, Old and New Testaments, as a model for and influence on secular literature. Earl.

423 The Age of Beowulf (4) A reading of Anglo-Saxon literature and culture as the intersection of Germanic, Celtic, and Christian traditions. Readings include Irish epic, Welsh romance, Norse mythology, and Icelandic saga. Earl.

425 Medieval Romance (4) Study of selected romances in the context of European intellectual and social history. May include elementary linguistic introduction to Middle English. Laskaya.

427 Chaucer (4) Close textual study of selected Canterbury Tales in Middle English; instruction in the grammar and pronunciation of Chaucer’s language. Bayless, Earl, Ginsberg, Laskaya.

428/528 Old English I (4) Introduction to the Old English language. Bayless, Earl.

429/529, 430/530 Old English II,III: [Topic] (4,4) 429/529: study of Old English prose or poetry in the original language. 430/530: study of Beowulf or works by other major Old English authors in the original language. Pre- or coreq for 429: ENG 428/528. Pre- or coreq for 430: ENG 429/529. R twice when topic changes. Bayless, Earl.

431/531 Renaissance Thought (4) Major Continental and British theorists in aesthetics, metaphysics, theology, and statecraft such as Petrarch, Pico della Mirandola, Machiavelli, Castiglione, Boccaccio, Erasmus, Montaigne, More, and Francis Bacon. Freinkel, Rowe.

432/532 16th-Century Poetry and Prose (4) Development of Tudor poetry and prose from Wyatt and Surrey to Sir Philip Sidney and Shakespeare. Freinkel, Rowe.

434/534 Spenser (4) Examines the works of Edmund Spenser. Rowe.

436/536 Advanced Shakespeare (4) Detailed study of selected plays, poetry, or both. Freinkel, Rowe, Saunders.
437/537 Medieval and Tudor Drama (4) Development of English drama from its medieval origins to the death of Christopher Marlowe. Rowe.

438/538 Shakespeare’s Rivals (4) Representative plays by Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, John Webster, and other early 17th-century dramatists. Rowe.

440/540 17th-Century Poetry and Prose (4) Poetry from the Metaphysicals and Jonson to the Restoration; prose from Burton and Bacon to Hobbes and Milton. Rowe, Saunders.

442/542 Milton (4) Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes.

446/546, 447/547, 448/548 Restoration and 18th-Century Literature (4,4,4) 446/546: Restoration period. 447/547: primarily Swift, Gay, Defoe, and Pope. 448/548: Johnson and his circle; classic to romantic; relations between England and the Enlightenment in France. Bohls, Dugaw, Shankman.

451/551 19th-Century Studies: [Topic] (4R) Comparative studies of selected problems and figures on both sides of the Atlantic; treating topics in literature, the fine arts, and social history. R when topic changes. Pyle, Rossi, Shapple, Stein, Stevenson.

452/552 19th-Century British Fiction: [Topic] (4R) Close study of selected novels. R once when topic changes for maximum of 8 credits. Stevenson.

454/554, 455/555 English Romantic Writers (4,4) Romantic thought and expression. 454/554: the first generation including Blake, Coleridge, Dorothy and William Wordsworth. 455/555: the second generation including Byron, Keats, Mary and Percy Shelley. Pyle.

457/557 Victorian Literature and Culture: [Topic] (4R) Exploration of major works, figures, controversies, social and cultural issues. Readings in Victorian fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfictional prose; study of examples of the visual arts and popular culture. R when topic changes for maximum of 8 credits. Stein.

461/561 American Literature to 1800 (4) Readings in American poetry, nonfiction prose, drama, and fiction. Rossi, Sayre.

462/562 American Literature, 1800–1900 (4) Readings primarily in American poetry, nonfiction prose, drama, and fiction. Rossi, Wood.

466/566 Colonial and Postcolonial Literature: [Topic] (4R) Focused study of authors, genres, and literary movements related to literature written in English about and in former colonies of American or European nations. R twice when topic changes for a maximum of 12 credits.

467/567 American Literature, 1900–Present (4) Readings in American poetry, nonfiction prose, drama, and fiction. Ford, Gage, Tolentino, Westling, Wickes.

468/568 Ethnic Literature: [Topic] (4R) Advanced study of one or more authors or literary genres related to ethnic literature including African, Native, Asian, or Chicano American. R twice when topic changes for a maximum of 12 credits. Ford, Huhndorf, Li, Sayre, Tolentino, Vázquez.

469/569 Literature and the Environment: [Topic] (4) In-depth study of various topics related to literature and the environment including Nature and Myth, Idea of Wilderness, Rhetoric of Nature Writing. R thrice when topic changes for maximum of 16 credits. Crosswhite, Rossi, Westling.

471/571 Modern British Literature (4) Historical survey of dominant British genres, movements, works, and authors from 1900 to the present. Gage, Peppis, Quigley, Wickes.

475/575 Modern Poetry (4) 20th-century British and American poetry with emphasis on the modernist period, 1910–45. Representative authors include Yeats, Stein, Pound, Eliot, H. D., Williams, and Stevens. Ford.

476/576 Modern Fiction (4) Representative modern fiction writers in English, American, and Continental literatures, such as Joyce, Woolf, Stein, Faulkner, Proust, Kafka, and Mann. Peppis, Wickes.

477/577 Modern Drama (4) Growth of the modern theater in Europe, development of European and American drama and experimental theater from an international perspective. Kintz.

479/579 Major Authors: [Topic] (4R) In-depth study of one to three major authors from medieval through modern periods.

481/581 Theories of the Moving Image: [Topic] (4R) Film, television, and video theory and criticism from formative film criticism to the present. Aronson, Karlyn, Ovalle.

482/582 Studies in Mythology (4) Survey of comparative mythologies of many cultures through time, with attention to world views, theoretical schools of interpretation, and myth in literature. Sherman.

484/584 American Folklore (4) Surveys current American folklore and expressive culture, and analyzes its connections to historical periods, cultural experiences, and social identities. Gilman, Sherman, Wojcik.

485/585 Television Studies (4) Study of television’s institutional contents and representational practices, including such television genres as serials, news, and reality TV. Offered alternate years.

486/586 New Media and Digital Culture (4) Study of media emerging from computer-based and digital techniques, including digital cinema, cyborgs, interactive games, multiplayer online simulations, and viral videos. Offered alternate years.

488/588 Race and Representation in Film: [Topic] (4R) Screening, interpretation, and analysis of films from developing non-European cultures and by people of color. Mechanisms of racism in dominant U.S. media. R twice for a maximum of 12 credits. Gopal, Huhndorf, Karlyn, Ovalle.

490/590 Film Directors and Genres: [Topic] (4R) Aesthetic, historical, and theoretical analysis of films, video, and television. Aronson, Karlyn, Li, Pyle.

491/591 Rhetoric and Ethics (4) Investigation of historical and contemporary theories of ethical rhetoric in both written and oral arguments. Prereq: WR 122 or equivalent.

492/592 History of Rhetoric and Composition (4) History of rhetoric as related to the theory and practice of writing, relations between rhetoric and poetics, and rhetorical criticism through the 19th century. Crosswhite, Gage.

493/593 Modern Rhetorical Criticism (4) Theoretical topics addressed by 20th-century rhetorical critics. Varieties of rhetorical interpretation, from neo-Aristotelian to reader-response, postmodernist views of metaphor. Clark, Crosswhite, Gage, Laskaya.

494 Reasoning, Speaking, Writing (4) Application of advanced study in argumentation theory, particularly procedural standards of rationality developed in recent argumentation studies, to selected public policy controversies.

496/596 Feminist Film Criticism: [Topic] (4R) Critical analysis of film and television texts from a feminist perspective. R when topic changes. Karlyn.

497/597 Feminist Literary Theory (4) Current and/or historical schools of literary theory that depend primarily on gender analysis. Clark, Wood.

498/598 Studies in Women and Literature: [Topic] (4R) Topics vary from year to year. The following list is representative: African American Women Writers, Gender of Modernism, Lesbian Literature and Theory, Renaissance Women, Women’s Autobiography. Clark, Ford, Kintz, Westling, Wood.

503 Thesis (1–16R)

Instructor’s consent is required for 600-level courses.

601 Research: [Topic] (1–16R)

602 Supervised College Teaching (1–5R)

603 Dissertation (1–21R)

604 Internship: [Topic] (1–6R) On- or off-campus internship in a variety of writing or literacy-related settings.

605 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–16R)

607 Seminar: [Topic] (1–5R)

608 Workshop: [Topic] (1–16R)

609 Terminal Project (1–16R)

610 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–5R)

611 Composition Graduate Teaching Fellow Seminar I (1–3) Issues in pedagogy related to the university’s writing requirement. Crosswhite.

612 Composition Graduate Teaching Fellow Seminar II (1–3) Discussions designed to increase the effectiveness of first-year graduate teaching fellows as teachers of courses that fulfill the university’s writing requirement.

613 Graduate Teaching Fellow Composition Apprenticeship (1–3) Supervised practical experience in all aspects of teaching WR 121, 122. Prereq: ENG 611 or equivalent.

615 Advanced Studies in Literary Theory: [Topic] (5R) Intensive study of one to three major theorists or a significant theoretical problem. Clark, Crosswhite, Kintz, Li, Westling.

620 Medieval Literature: [Topic] (5R) Recent offerings include Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde, Humor and Vulgarity in Medieval Literature. Bayless, Earl, Ginsberg, Laskaya.

630 Renaissance Literature: [Topic] (5R) Recent offerings include Hamlet, Jacobean Potboilers, Renaissance Irrationalities. Freinkel, Rowe, Saunders.

645 18th-Century Literature: [Topic] (5R) Intensive study of one to three major authors or selected topics from the 18th century. Recent offerings include Enlightenment and Revolution. Bohls, Dugaw, Sayre, Shankman.

650 19th-Century Literature: [Topic] (5R) Recent topics include Scottish Fiction and Cultural Nationalism, Heroine and the English Novel. Pyle, Shapple, Stein, Stevenson.

660 American Literature: [Topic] (5R) Recent offerings include African American Women Writers, Evolutionary Theories and Narrative, Sentimental Novel, V. Deloria and Native American Cultural Values. Ford, Lima, Rossi, Vásquez, Westling, Wheeler, Wonham, Wood.

670 Modern Literature: [Topic] (5R) Recent offerings include H. James, Modernist Politics. Gage, Kintz, Peppis, Quigley, Westling.

680 Folklore: [Topic] (5R) Intensive study of selected topics in folklore. Recent offerings include Folk Art, Film and Folklore Fieldwork. Dugaw, Gilman, Sherman, Wojcik.

690 Introduction to Graduate Studies in English (5) Examination of selected professional, methodological, and theoretical issues. Bohls.

691 Composition Theory: [Topic] (5R) Intensive study of topics related to rhetorical theory and the teaching of writing. Crosswhite, Gage, Laskaya.

695 Film Studies: [Topic] (5R) Intensive study of selected topics related to film studies and literature. Recent topics include Introduction to Film Theory; Feminism, Comedy, and the Carnivalesque; Melodrama. Aronson, Karlyn, Ovalle.

Expository Writing Courses (WR) [back to top]

AEIS 110, 111, 112 Written Discourse I,II,III (4,4,4) See Linguistics

121 College Composition I (4) Written reasoning as discovery and inquiry. Frequent essays explore relationship of thesis to structure and audience. Strong focus on the process of revising. Regular work on editing. Prereq: SAT verbal score below 710 (650 if taken before April 1995), ACT verbal score below 32, or equivalent.

122 College Composition II (4) Written reasoning as a process of argument. Developing and supporting theses in response to complex questions. Attention to critical reading in academic setting. Continuing focus on revising and editing. Prereq: WR 121 or equivalent.

123 College Composition III (4) Written reasoning in the context of research. Practice in writing documented essays based on the use of sources. Continuing focus on revising and editing. Prereq: WR 121 or equivalent.

198 Independent Writing Project (1–3R) Supervised writing projects in nonfiction prose. Prereq: WR 122 or equivalent, composition director’s consent.

199 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R)

312 Principles of Tutoring Writing (4) The practice and ethics of tutoring writing in the context of writing in various academic disciplines. Theories of teaching, tutoring techniques, and assessment of writing. Dresman.

320 Scientific and Technical Writing (4) Emphasis on form, function, and style of scientific, professional, and technical writing; weekly writing assignments include proposals, reports, definitions, instructions, summaries. Use of documentation in publication. Prereq: WR 121 and 122 or equivalent, with a C– or better; junior standing.

321 Business Communications (4) Practice in writing and analyzing internal and external messages common to business, industry, and professions. Suggested for business and management students. Prereq: WR 121 and 122 or equivalent; junior standing. McBride.

399 Special Studies: [Topic] (1–5R) Prereq: sophomore standing.

408/508 Independent Writing Projects (1–3R) Supervised writing projects in nonfiction prose. Prereq: composition director’s consent.

410 Experimental Course: [Topic] (1–5R) Prereq: junior standing.

423/523 Advanced Composition (4) Emphasis on critical thinking skills and rhetorical strategies for advanced written reasoning in different academic disciplines. Prereq: WR 122 or equivalent, upper-­division standing. Crosswhite, Gage.