Professors: Wesley Beal and Terrell Tebbetts
Assistant Professor: Melissa Johnson and Melissa Merte
Instructor: Rebecca Sharp, '05

Students majoring in English love language because they understand its power to reflect and to shape human experience, and they work hard at mastering it. As readers, they become good analysts of style and content, character, and theme, with an understanding of the traditions and tools of writing and an ability to develop their own disciplined and creative responses to whatever they read—whether they are reading Shakespeare’s Othello or a corporate annual report. As writers, they become masters of the principal tool of thought—language—sometimes becoming published writers before they graduate. This mastery of the written word—both as a critical and insightful reader and as an adept and creative writer—provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of professions and for a fulfilling life of continued learning.

NOTE

  • ENG 105 can also be used to satisfy core requirements.
  • At least 9 credits must be above the 200 level.
  • Three credits must be at the 400 level.
  • Six credits may be taken in the foreign language above the 100 level.

NOTE: To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Lyon College, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours comprised of our required Core curriculum (44-48 hours), the requirements of at least one major (credit hours vary per major), and a selection of our Liberal Arts electives. They must also earn at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all work taken at Lyon College and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in their major, minor, and concentration.

Degrees

Courses

ENG 001: College English

Class Program
Credits 3

This course focuses on basic rules of grammar and usage, as well as on skills for reading college-level material. Students will gain practice in writing sentences and paragraphs, focusing especially on common errors. They will learn to distinguish between main and supporting ideas. The course will prepare students for success in ENG 101 and 102 and across the curriculum. As a developmental course, this course does not satisfy proficiency requirements. It does not count toward any degree requirement including elective credit. It does count toward the students GPA courseload.

ENG 102: English Composition II

Class Program
Credits 3

Essay-writing emphasizing stylistic development through more difficult expository tasks: argumentation, persuasion, textual analysis, and a research paper.

Prerequisite Courses

ENG 103: Oral Presentation

Class Program
Credits 3

An experiential course covering basic approaches to a variety of formal and informal oral presentations, including informative lectures, persuasive speeches, verbal presentations of texts, and other forms of public communications, ENG 103 focuses attention on non-verbal as well as verbal skills and builds skill and confidence through practice in a workshop format.

Prerequisite Courses

ENG 105: Introduction to World Literature

Class Program
Credits 3

Through reading and analysis of literary works spanning a range of world histories, cultures, traditions, and canons, the course explores literary forms with an emphasis on transnationalism and encountering the Other.

Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisites

Or ENG 101 proficiency

ENG 140: Writing in the Sciences

Class Program
Credits 1

The course teaches scientists to become more effective writers, using practical examples and exercises. Topics will include general principles of good writing, tips to improve writing efficiency and reduce anxiety, instructions in scientific formatting, and guidelines for publication and peer review. Students from non-science disciplines can also benefit from the exposure to science-specific writing experiences. 

ENG 205: Environment and Literature

Class Program
Credits 3

The course will explore literature on environment-related topics, drawing from studies of nature writing, ecocriticism, environmental humanities, environmental justice, and ecocinema. Literature, media, and scholarship on specific environmental topics and social justice issues may be introduced. For students interested in biology, anthropology, social justice, and environmental studies. 

Prerequisite Courses

ENG 212: Topics in Literature

Class Program
Credits 3

An introductory course designed to teach students how to read and analyze literature through the study of a particular theme. Readings may include a variety of genres such as poetry, fiction, drama, and the essay.

Prerequisite Courses
Corequisite Courses

ENG 290: Survey of British Literature I

Class Program
Credits 3

Survey of major British literary works fromBeowulfthrough to the 18th century, with emphasis on the British interpretation and appropriation of the Western literary tradition. Readings include Beowulf; Chaucer; medieval romance; Renaissance epic, drama, and poetry; and Restoration and 18th century satire.

Prerequisites

ENG 102 and 105

ENG 291: Survey of British Literature II

Class Program
Credits 3

The sequel to ENG 290. Readings include major works of Romantic, Victorian, and twentieth-century British literature, including poetry, fiction, and the essay.

Prerequisites

ENG 102 and 105

ENG 320: Methods of Teaching English

Class Program
Credits 2

Materials, methods, and latest trends in teaching literature and writing. Analysis of test assessments, NCTE standards, and state-mandated requirements, including Arkansas Frameworks and ACTAAP.

Prerequisites

Teaching internship (or corequisite)

ENG 323: Nineteenth Century British Poetry

Class Program
Credits 3

Survey of either Romantic or Victorian poetry, adding more detail and depth to the basic coverage of these periods provided in the general British Survey (ENG 291). Romantic poets will include Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Keats, and Shelley. The Victorian offering will cover major poets from Tennyson through Hardy and Hopkins.

Prerequisites

ENG 290 or 291 (or corequisite)

ENG 330: American Literature to 1900

Class Program
Credits 3

Survey of American literature until 1900, focusing on the development of romanticism, realism, and naturalism. Readings may also include studies of colonists’ writing as well as documents from the founding of the republic.

Prerequisites

ENG 290 or ENG 291

ENG 331: American Literature from 1900

Class Program
Credits 3

Survey of American writers of the 20th century, including those of the Lost Generation, the Fugitive Movement, the Harlem Renaissance, the Depression era, modernism, and the contemporary scene.

Prerequisites

ENG 102 and either 105, 203, 210, 211, 212 or 215

ENG 333: Modern Poetry

Class Program
Credits 3

Examination of 20th-century poetry in English. Usually focusing on poetry written since World War II, the course varies in its approach, sometimes surveying the works of influential poets, sometimes looking in depth at a few of these poets and their contributions to the art and craft of poetry.

Prerequisites

ENG 290 or 291 (or corequisite)

ENG 334: American Fiction of the 20th Century

Class Program
Credits 3

Study of selected 20th-century American novels and short stories. Course focus varies from a historical survey of 20th-century American fiction writers to in-depth study of a theme or themes. 

Prerequisites

ENG 290 or 291

ENG 337: Advanced Grammar

Class Program
Credits 3

Study of both traditional and modern grammar, with some emphasis on philology and the teaching of English in multi-cultural schools.

ENG 340: Film Studies

Class Program
Credits 3

An introduction to the basic vocabulary necessary to analyze film as a visual medium and narrative discourse. Various classic and noncanonical films will be examined through close visual and diegetic analysis. Major critical approaches to film will be examined through readings in secondary scholarship. Attendance at weekly evening screenings is required. (Same as ART 340)

Prerequisites

ART 101, ENG 105, or THE 101, or permission of instructor.

ENG 360: Creative Writing Workshop in Poetry

Class Program
Credits 3

An intensive workshop in the art and discipline of writing poetry, concentrating on the process of writing poems from perception and inspiration through the rigors and satisfaction of revision. Experience in writing poetry expected.

Prerequisites

ENG 211 and permission of instructor.

ENG 363: Advanced Composition

Class Program
Credits 3

For students from any major planning to attend graduate and professional schools. Extended writing in the students’ own fields of study. Open only to students with a “B” or “A” in English 102; others should seek permission of instructor.

ENG 365: Introduction to Contemporary Critical Theory

Class Program
Credits 3

An introduction to the theory and practice of several vital critical approaches to literature, including cultural-historical, psychoanalytic, deconstructive, and feminist methodologies. Readings will include selections from primary theoretical texts by such figures as Freud, Lacan, Kristeva, Irigaray, Barthes, Derrida, Saussure, and Foucault, as well as selected literary texts to be interpreted through the various critical methods. This course is highly recommended for students interested in attending graduate school in literature, arts, and humanities. (Same as RPH 360)

Prerequisites

ENG 290 or 291 OR any 300-level foreign-language literature course. Students in other disciplines who are interested in critical theory may enroll with permission of instructor.

ENG 366: Topics in Critical Theory

Class Program
Credits 3

This course offers an in-depth study of one of the fields of critical theory. Whether on feminisms, historical materialism, psychoanalysis, film theory, the digital humanities, or other subfields, this course will deepen students’ exposure to critical theory and will provide further practice in applied reading. This course is therefore highly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in the arts or humanities.

Prerequisites

Junior or Senior standing

ENG 402: Seminar in Global Anglophone Literature

Class Program
Credits 3

This seminar may offer a comparative study of the Anglophone traditions or isolate its focus to a particular regional tradition, whether African, Latin American, East Asian, so forth. The course may explore relationships between English and other languages, as well as relationships between literature and the visual or other arts.

Prerequisites

One 300-level English course and either junior standing or permission of the instructor.

ENG 433: Nineteenth-century British Literature

Class Program
Credits 3

Varying studies of the Romantic or Victorian periods or of selected topics. This course may explore comparisons between British and continental works, or between literature and the visual arts.

Prerequisites

ENG 291 and junior standing

ENG 441: Shakespeare

Class Program
Credits 3

Survey of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories, and tragedies using a variety of critical approaches to develop rich and cohesive understandings of the texts. Theatre majors who have completed THE 232 are exempt from the ENG 290 prerequisite.

Prerequisites

One 300-level ENG literature course and junior standing. Prerequisite/corequisite: ENG 363

ENG 442: Faulkner

Class Program
Credits 3

This seminar involves reading and discussing the novels and short fiction of William Faulkner, using several critical approaches to enrich discussion. Students have the opportunity to take a short excursion to Mississippi to visit sites used in the fiction and tour Faulkner’s home.

Prerequisites

One 300-level ENG literature course and junior standing. Prerequisite/corequisite: ENG 363

ENG 443: Major Writers

Class Program
Credits 3

Concentrated reading and study of the works of one or two of the great writers of European, English, and American literature.

Prerequisites

One 300-level ENG literature course and junior standing. Prerequisite/ corequisite: ENG 363

ENG 448: Advanced Creative Writing Intensive

Class Program
Credits 3

An intensive writing seminar, including a final project, for advanced students in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, or screenwriting.

Prerequisites

One of the following (must be in the same genre as the advanced course): ENG 360 (for poetry), ENG 361 (for fiction),

ENG 363 (for creative nonfiction), THE 340 (for playwriting or screenwriting), or consent of the writer-in-residence.