Sheila Maldonado’s Profile

This is a course that builds upon skills in­tro­duced in Eng­lish 101. In this course, lit­er­a­ture is the field for the de­vel­op­ment of crit­i­cal read­ing, crit­i­cal think­ing, in­de­pen­dent re­search, and writ­ing skills. Stu­dents are in­tro­duced to lit­er­ary crit­i­cisms and ac­quire basic knowl­edge nec­es­sary for the analy­sis of texts (in­clud­ing lit­er­ary terms and some lit­er­ary the­ory); they gain pro­fi­ciency in li­brary and in­ter­net re­search; and they hone their skills as read­ers and writ­ers. As­sign­ments move from close read­ings of lit­er­ary texts in a va­ri­ety of gen­res to analy­ses that in­tro­duce lit­er­ary terms and broader con­texts, cul­mi­nat­ing in an in­de­pen­dent, doc­u­mented, the­sis-dri­ven re­search paper. By the con­clu­sion of Eng­lish 201, stu­dents will be pre­pared for the an­a­lyt­i­cal and re­search-based writ­ing re­quired in up­per-level courses across the cur­ricu­lum; they will also be pre­pared for ad­vanced courses in lit­er­a­ture.

This is a course that builds upon skills introduced in English 101. In this course, literature is the field for the development of critical reading, critical thinking, independent research, and writing skills. Students are introduced to literary criticisms and acquire basic knowledge necessary for the analysis of texts (including literary terms and some literary theory); they gain proficiency in library and internet research; and they hone their skills as readers and writers. Assignments move from close readings of literary texts in a variety of genres to analyses that introduce literary terms and broader contexts, culminating in an independent, documented, thesis-driven research paper. By the conclusion of English 201, students will be prepared for the analytical and research-based writing required in upper-level courses across the curriculum; they will also be prepared for advanced courses in literature.