ENGLISH 1102

Building on English 1101`s WOVEN (Written, Oral, Visual, Electronic, and Nonverbal) communication foundation, English 1102 continues to help students learn how to communicate more effectively, but with a greater emphasis on research, argument, and applied theory. Instructors of English 1102 construct courses around intellectually engaging and relevant themes from science, technology, literature, and popular culture.

Themes from previous sections of English 1102 include "Writing Multimedia in the Age of the Book," "Contemporary World Cinema," "As Time Goes By: Literature, Music, and Recording Technology," "Machine Politics: Democracy, Participation and Production in the American Imagination," and "Spiritual Bondage: Witchcraft and Piracy in the Age of Shakespeare."

Whether students are studying Mexican cinema or learning to read Macbeth in a new way, the ultimate goal of these theme-based courses is to provide students with an interesting, provocative starting point for formulating their own theories about culture, society, science, and technology. In English 1102, students learn how to apply theory, a critical skill to both academic and professional success. Using literary and cultural theory as a starting point, English 1102 instructors encourage students to delve deeply into literary and cultural texts. Whether the subject is biotechnology or space exploration, students learn how to articulate related cultural, social, and economic issues that surround it. By applying theory in this way, students begin to see how "big ideas" permeate everyday life; students also gain the confidence to frame and defend unique arguments.

Research is another important aspect of English 1102. Students complete a major research project related to the course theme. Their final project might be a Web site, poster project, or research paper, but in every case, students have thoroughly explored a subject using various forms of inquiry. Instructors in English 1102 emphasize the importance of intellectual property and the proper citation of sources, but more important, they help students learn the role that research plays in formulating social and cultural ideas. When students finish English 1102, they have learned how research lends authority to the formulation of arguments and to the construction of ideas.