ENGL – English
Courses Offered
Lower Divison | Upper Divison | Graduate
While the courses listed below are generally offered in the scheduling patterns indicated, factors such as staffing or demand result in some courses being offered at irregular intervals.
Lower Division
ENGL 090 DEVELOPMENTAL WRITING (3-0-0). Introduction to college writing with attention to fluency, development, organization, revision, and editing/proofreading. Required if writing sample or placement tests demonstrate need. Also for basic review.
ENGL 101 INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE WRITING (3-0-3)(Core). Introduction to critical reading and to writing processes, including invention, revision, and editing. Emphasis on writing thoughtful explorations of readings, observations, ideas, and experiences; developing the author’s voice and inventiveness; editing for style and conventions of standard usage. PREREQ: Any one of the following: (1) ACT score of 18-24; (2) SAT score of 450-560; (3) COMPASS exam score of 68-94; (4) P (Pass) in ENGL 90; (5) P (Pass) in ENGL 123.
ENGL 102 INTRO TO COLLEGE WRITING AND RESEARCH (3-0-3)(Core). An inquiry-based course that continues work with critical reading and writing processes and provides experiences with methods and genres of researched writing. Students will initiate research projects, gather information from a range of sources, and demonstrate they can write about that information purposefully, using appropriate documentation. PREREQ: Any one of the following: (1) Grade of C- or above in ENGL 101; (2) ACT score of 25-30; (3) SAT score of 570-690; (4) COMPASS exam score of 95-99.
ENGL 112 HONORS COMPOSITION (3-0-3)(Core). Provides students with practice in writing as an act of inquiry. Students will develop writing projects that influence or explore some aspect of community, investigating its languages and conventions, and sharing their findings or discoveries. Emphasizes critical reading, research methodologies, rhetorical principles, persuasion, genre, and advanced writing techniques. PREREQ: Admission to the Honors College and SAT or ACT score of 80th percentile or above; or PERM/CHAIR.
ENGL 121 ACADEMIC ENGLISH WRITING FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES, LEVEL I (3-0-3)(F/S). Introduction to writing essays and other genres in English. Special attention given to basic paragraph and essay development. Individual students’ grammatical and vocabulary difficulties will be addressed in the context of their own writing. (Pass/Fail.) PREREQ: English-as-a-Second-Language placement exam.
ENGL 122 ACADEMIC ENGLISH WRITING FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES, LEVEL II (3-0-3)(F/S). Practice in English composition with an emphasis on writing processes (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing) and concepts such as audience, purpose, and thesis. Special emphasis placed on the connections between reading and writing and on developing vocabulary and grammatical complexity. (Pass/Fail.) PREREQ: English-as-a-Second-Language placement exam recommendation or a grade of Pass (P) in ENGL 121.
ENGL 123 ACADEMIC ENGLISH WRITING FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES, LEVEL III (3-0-3)(F/S). Preparation for the demands of academic writing in English. Refining communicative strategies through reading and revision. Successful completion of ENGL 123 qualifies the student for entrance into ENGL 101. (Pass/Fail.) PREREQ: English-as-a-Second-Language placement exam recommendation or a grade of Pass (P) in ENGL 122.
ENGL 198 INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH STUDIES (1-0-1)(F/S). Introduction to the disciplines that make up English studies: creative writing, English education, linguistics, literature, rhetoric and composition, and technical communication. Topics include the principles, theoretical underpinnings, methods, and practical applications of English studies. (Pass/Fail.)
ENGL 201 NONFICTION WRITING (3-0-3)(F,S). Further development of skills and strategies learned in ENGL 102. Student will study and write nonfiction prose, particularly research and persuasive writing. Writing practice will stress the writer’s awareness of his or her own style and the manipulation of stylistic elements. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 202 INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION (3-0-3)(F/S)(DLS). An introduction to the principles and applications of technical communication, with an emphasis on audience characteristics and methods of performing research, analyzing data, and writing persuasive documents. Topics include audience analysis, the writing process, graphics, document design, the ethics of technical communication, and problem-solving research, as well as applications such as memos, letters, instructions, proposals, and reports. PREREQ: ENGL 102 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 204 WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION (3-0-3)(F/S). Focuses on genres of creative nonfiction. Workshop format with frequent writing exercises. Readings and discussion of published nonfiction with particular attention to voice, genre, and style. May be repeated for a total of nine credit hours. PREREQ: ENGL 102 or ENGL 112.
ENGL 205 POETRY WRITING (3-0-3)(F). Based on evaluation of student’s original work. May be repeated for a total of nine credit hours. PREREQ: ENGL 102 (or its equivalent).
ENGL 206 FICTION WRITING (3-0-3)(S). Introduction to fiction writing with a concentration on descriptive technique. Readings in the short story. May be repeated for a total of nine credit hours. PREREQ: ENGL 102 (or its equivalent).
ENGL 210 INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S)(DLL). An exploration of multiple literary genres and styles and an introduction to literary terminology. Emphasis on interpreting texts expressive of the human condition. PREREQ: ENGL 102 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 211 THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE (3-0-3)(S). Examines selected historical, biographical, poetic, dramatic teaching, and letter-writing portions of Hebrew-Christian testaments. Emphasis on literary aspects with discussions of notable concepts in major writings. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 216 CULTURAL EXCHANGE IN TRANSNATIONAL LITERATURES (3-0-3)(F/S). Multiethnic and global literatures with an emphasis on cross-cultural exchange. Addresses relationships between literature and the formation of national and ethnic identities, with special emphasis on the anthropological, historical and political contexts that contribute to the production of transnational literatures. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 217 MYTHOLOGY (3-0-3)(F). Mythologies and mythological concepts having most influence on Western civilization. Emphasis on Greek, Norse, and Judeo-Christian mythologies and their relation to religion, literature, art, and modern psychology. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 257 WESTERN WORLD LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F). Introduction to writings of the great minds in the Western tradition which have shaped our cultural and literary past and present. Reading includes selections from ancient Greece, Imperial Rome, and medieval and renaissance Europe. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 258 WESTERN WORLD LITERATURE (3-0-3)(S). An introduction to the Western literary tradition as it has developed during the last four centuries. Attention will be paid to the way in which the older values and attitudes are challenged by the new spirit of skepticism and rebellion. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 267 SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE TO 1790 (3-0-3)(F). Examines the dominant cultural movements and literary forms in England from the middle ages through the 18th century. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 268 SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE: 1790 TO PRESENT (3-0-3)(S). The reflection of social and cultural changes in the poetry and prose of Romantic, Victorian, and modern England. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 275 METHODS OF LITERARY STUDIES (3-0-3)(F/S)(CID). Preparation for upper division literature courses. Engagement with principal types of literature, central questions in literary studies, and ways of conducting literary research. Emphasis on critical thinking and writing. PREREQ: ENGL 102 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 277 SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: BEGINNINGS TO CIVIL WAR (3-0-3)(F/S). Survey of selected texts from the breadth of traditions in early American literature, with its often contradictory, competing ideals and identities. Emphasizing critical reading and written analysis, the course traces the emergence of American literary thought and culture from the period of European contact up to the Civil War. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
ENGL 278 SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: CIVIL WAR TO PRESENT (3-0-3)(F/S). Survey of selected texts from the breadth of traditions in later American literature, with its diversity of texts from the period’s major literary movements. Emphasizing critical reading and written analysis, the course traces the continued development of American literary thought and culture. PREREQ: ENGL 102.
Upper Division
ENGL 301 TEACHING ENGLISH COMPOSITION (3-0-3)(F,S). Theories and techniques for teaching English composition in secondary schools. Intended for English teaching students; should be taken during teaching block I. PREREQ: Upper-division standing or PERM/INST. COREQ: ENGL 481.
ENGL 302 TECHNICAL RHETORIC (3-0-3)(F/S). An introduction to the rhetoric of technical communication for technical communication emphasis students and others who are considering a career in the field. Topics include information design, technical communication ethics, instructional writing, and strategies of visual and verbal rhetoric. PREREQ: ENGL 102 and Technical Communication Emphasis, or PERM/INST.
ENGL 303 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TUTORING WRITING (3-0-3)(F). Preparation for tutoring for the Boise State Writing Center. Emphasis on writing processes, interpersonal dynamics, questioning techniques, evaluation of writing-in-progress, and rhetorical theory as it pertains to tutoring. PREREQ: ENGL 102 and PERM/INST. COREQ: ENGL 493: Internship in Writing Center.
ENGL 304 ARGUMENT (3-0-3)(F/S)(CID). Study of various kinds of arguments and overview of the history and terminology of argument. Allows students to workshop their own argumentative writing and develop communication skills in the field of English, specifically the field of rhetoric and composition. PREREQ: ENGL 102 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 305 INTERMEDIATE POETRY WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Exploration of poetic technique and the study of how poets read and learn from other poets. Students will write original poetry and discuss it in a workshop format. May be taken twice for credit. PREREQ: ENGL 205.
ENGL 306 INTERMEDIATE FICTION WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Exploration of narrative technique, dialogue form, and the short story. Students will write original fiction and discuss it in a workshop format. May be taken twice for credit. PREREQ: ENGL 206.
ENGL 312 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS (3-0-3)(F/S)(CID). Advanced study of technical communication for those students who are considering a career in the field. Assignments are related to each student’s background and field of interest. Topics include in-depth work in technical style, technical presentations, and the common kinds of documents produced in business and industry, including proposals, progress reports, formal reports, and oral presentations. PREREQ: ENGL 302 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 324 TOPICS IN RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION (3-0-3)(F/S). Draws from areas such as composition theory; rhetorical theory/history; cultural studies; literacy, media, and race/gender/class/ethnicity studies. May be repeated for a total of nine credits. PREREQ: ENGL 102, or PERM/INST.
ENGL 326 (ART 326) BOOK ARTS (3-0-3)(F/S). A practical exploration of the history of books as conduits of meaning and as physical objects. Papermaking, typography, printing, binding, authorship, and contemporary bookworks will be examined on both theoretical and practical levels. Students produce a classroom edition. May be taken for ENGL or ART credit, but not both. PREREQ for ART 326: ART 108. PREREQ for ENGL 326: ENGL 102.
ENGL 329 GRAMMAR, STYLE, AND WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Explores grammar, structure, and style through classical and modern rhetorical texts and student writing. Students compose and revise their own academic and creative work. Workshop format. PREREQ: ENGL 102 or ENGL 112, or PERM/INST.
ENGL 338 LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of literature in translation into English. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 340 CHAUCER (3-0-3)(F)(Alternate years). Emphasis on The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde. Also representative minor works. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 341 MEDIEVAL LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of medieval European literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 345 SHAKESPEARE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of selected works of Shakespeare. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 350 BRITISH RENAISSANCE LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century British literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 351 MILTON (3-0-3)(S)(Alternate years). A study of John Milton’s major poetry and prose, with special emphasis on Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 358 EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY BRITISH LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of eighteenth-century British literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 360 BRITISH ROMANTIC LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of nineteenth-century British Romantic literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 365 VICTORIAN LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of nineteenth-century Victorian literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 375 EARLY AMERICAN LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of early American literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 377 AMERICAN RENAISSANCE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of literature from the period of the American Renaissance. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 378 AMERICAN REALISM (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of literature from the period of American Realism. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 381 ENGLISH TEACHING: WRITING, READING, AND LANGUAGE (3-0-3)(F/S)(CID). Theories and methods of teaching secondary school English language arts, including integration of composition, literature, and language. Students compose instructional planning documents and teach lessons. PREREQ: ENGL 275, ENGL 301, and ENGL 481. COREQ: ED-CIFS 401 and ED-LTCY 444.
ENGL 383 STUDIES IN FICTION (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of fiction. Topic and focus vary. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 384 LITERATURE OF THE AMERICAN WEST (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of literature inspired by contact of various peoples with the American West. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 385 STUDIES IN POETRY (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of poetry. Topic and focus vary. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 386 MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY BRITISH LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of twentieth- and twenty-first-century British literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 387 MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of twentieth- and twenty-first-century American literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 388 STUDIES IN NONFICTION (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of nonfiction texts. Topic and focus vary. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 389 STUDIES IN DRAMA (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of dramatic texts. Topic and focus vary. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 390 ETHNIC LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of the roles of ethnic and racial consciousness in literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 392 FILM AND LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Comparative study of literature and cinema as aesthetic media. Topics vary each time the course is taught and may be focused on period, genre, style/technique, or cultural context. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 393 LITERARY CRITICISM AND THEORY (3-0-3)(F/S). Study, analysis, and application of a range of critical theories and their historical antecedents. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 394 LITERATURE AND ENVIRONMENT (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of the interplay between humans, non-humans, and their environments in literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 395 WOMEN WRITERS (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of literature by women. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 396 POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Study and analysis of colonial and postcolonial cultures in literature. PREREQ: ENGL 275 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 401 ADVANCED NONFICTION WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Advanced practice in nonfiction genres, and study of how writers read and learn from other writers. Experimentation with subjects, voice, organization, and style. Students may take the course twice, for a total of 6 credits. Students seeking graduate credit will produce a greater quantity and high quality of original work, will have a separate and more extensive reading list, and will be expected to participate more fully in class activities. PREREQ: ENGL 201.
ENGL 403 TECHNICAL EDITING (3-0-3)(F). An introduction to the role of the technical editor in organizational settings. Topics include copyediting, comprehensive editing, proofreading, working with authors, and preparing documents for publication. PREREQ: ENGL 312 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 405 PRINT DOCUMENT PRODUCTION (3-0-3)(F/S). An advanced study and application of the principles of producing effective technical documents. Topics include the relationship between layout and readability, techniques for combining textual and nontextual information, and the use of desktop publishing and graphics software. Students will produce basic print documents, such as brochures, data sheets, flyers, and manuals. PREREQ: ENGL 312 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 406 ADVANCED POETRY WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Intensive work in writing and critiquing poetry. Students seeking graduate credit will produce a greater quantity and higher quality of original work, will have a separate and more extensive reading list, and will be expected to participate more fully in class activities. May be repeated for up to six credit hours. PREREQ: ENGL 305 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 407 ADVANCED FICTION WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Intensive work in writing and critiquing fiction. Students seeking graduate credit will produce a greater quantity and higher quality of original work, will have a separate and more extensive reading list, and will be expected to participate more fully in class activities. May be repeated for up to six credit hours. PREREQ: ENGL 306 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 415 ON-SCREEN DOCUMENT PRODUCTION (3-0-3)(F/S). An advanced study and application of the principles involved in designing, creating, and managing information on the screen. Topics include the relationship between screen layout and readability; techniques for integrating text, graphics, and multimedia; principles of writing and indexing on-screen instructional materials; and the use of online help and Web-authoring software. Students will practice effective hypertext and screen-design techniques in producing basic electronic documents, such as online help and websites. PREREQ: ENGL 312 or PERM/INST.
ENGL 424 ADVANCED TOPICS IN LITERATURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Topic and focus vary. May be repeated for a total of six credits. PREREQ: ENGL 393 and six credits of 300-level literature courses or PERM/INST.
ENGL 481 LITERATURE FOR USE IN JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (3-0-3)(F,S). Study of literature taught in secondary school and approaches for teaching this literature. Intended for English teaching students; should be taken during teaching block I. PREREQ: ENGL 275 and two literature courses, or PERM/INST. COREQ: ENGL 301.
ENGL 491 FINAL PORTFOLIO IN CREATIVE WRITING (1-0-1)(F/S)(FF). Extensive revision of previous written work in creative writing courses and creation of portfolio. Taken concurrently with an advanced workshop in the same genre. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
ENGL 492 CAPSTONE IN WRITING: RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION EMPHASIS (2-0-2)(F/S)(FF). Extensive revision of previous written work in rhetoric and composition courses and creation of portfolio. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
ENGL 495 ENGLISH STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR (1-0-1)(F/S)(FF). Seminar supporting student teaching in English grades 6-12. Students compose and share teaching documents and reflect on teaching experiences. COREQ: ED-CIFS 484 or ED-CIFS 485.
ENGL 498 SENIOR SEMINAR IN LITERATURE (1-0-1)(F/S)(FF). Capstone course for literature majors. Organize a student conference with panels of discussants and respondents, and revise a research paper from an upper-division literature course for oral presentation at the conference. PREREQ: a minimum of 3 credits in ENGL 424.
ENGL 499 CAPSTONE IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION (3-0-3)(F/S)(FF). A culminating experience course that focuses on writing, critical inquiry, and teamwork. This course covers the study and application of principles for creating a portfolio consisting of print and on-screen documents. Addresses strategies for working successfully as a technical communicator in industry. Topics include content design and organization, collaboration, writing style, graphic design, principles of Web design, online help systems, and usability testing. PREREQ: ENGL 415 or PERM/INST.