English Learning Objectives

Upon graduation, students who major in English will be able to:

• Persuasively interpret subtext and significance by connecting literary texts with relevant contexts (cultural, historical, generic, critical)
• Demonstrate the ability to gain insight through close reading as well as the application of literary theory. 
• Demonstrate insight into the ways that power relations shape and are shaped by literature, particularly in the case of social justice issues concerning race, gender, class, religion, and nationality.
• Be able to trace key movements and issues in British, American, and Anglophone literary and linguistic history (including the history of literary theory) from foundational texts to current texts.
• Clearly communicate how his/her research and arguments relate to existing arguments and contribute something of significance.
• Produce focused, graceful, insightful, well-supported and documented literary criticism in written and oral form.