English

Courses in our Department of English are  designed to help you think critically, read closely, and write effectively.

You will read some of the best literature and culture, and engage in provocative conversations about their meaning, literary history, human identity, and our place in the world.  

English Electives

Below is a list of all English electives that anyone can register for, because they have no or just 1 prerequisite. For a complete list of our eEnglish courses, see the university calendar. 

Writing for Second Language Students I
(ENGL 1020) 

An introduction to the use of English with emphasis on composition. This course is for students whose first language is not English and who have attained a standard acceptable to the University on an approved language proficiency exam such as IELTS, TOEFL or CAEL. Students completing this course may elect to use it with ENGL 1021 to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Language Study Requirement.

Note: Same as the former ENGL 1030, and cannot be used as credit to fulfill the requirements for the major, minor, and honours in English programs

Writing for Second Language Students II
(ENGL 1021)

Develops skills in critical reading and writing of academic English, with emphasis on research and writing syntheses from sources, for non-native English-speaking students. Students successfully completing this course may elect to use it with ENGL 1020 to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Language Study Requirement.

Note: cannot be used as credit to fulfill the requirements for the major, minor, and honours in English programs

Prerequisite: ENGL 1020

Critical Reading and Writing: Telling Stories
(ENGL 1090)

A foundational course for all university programs undertaken at Memorial University of Newfoundland, since understanding how stories work is fundamental to all disciplines. This course focuses on the language we encounter in our reading and use to record our reading experiences. Emphasis is placed on critical reading and writing: analyzing texts, framing and using questions, constructing essays, organizing paragraphs, conducting research, quoting and documenting, revising and editing. All sections of this course follow Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw.

Note: Same as ENGL 1000, or the former ENGL 1030, or the former ENGL 1080

Critical Reading and Writing in Rhetoric
(ENGL 1110)

An examination of prose texts such as essays, articles and reviews. Students write for different purposes and audiences. Emphasis is placed on critical reading and writing: analyzing texts, framing and using questions, constructing essays, organizing paragraphs, conducting research, quoting and documenting, revising and editing. All sections of this course follow Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw and build on foundational Critical Reading and Writing content delivered in ENGL 1090.

Prerequisite: ENGL 1000, or 1020, or 1090, or the former ENGL 1030, or the former ENGL 1080

Critical Reading and Writing: Self and Society
(ENGL 1191)

Studies a variety of texts that explore the interaction between individual desires and social identities. Building on foundational critical reading and writing skills acquired in English 1090, students gain further experience with analyzing texts, framing and using questions, constructing essays, organizing paragraphs, conducting research, quoting and documenting, revising and editing. All sections of this course follow Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw and build on foundational CRW content delivered in ENGL 1090. Bachelor of Arts students should normally choose the second Critical Reading and Writing course from a discipline listed in the Breadth of Knowledge Requirement, unless pursuing a Major or Minor in English.

Note: Same as ENGL 1001, the former ENGL 1101, 1102, 1103

Prerequisite: ENGL 1000, or 1020, or 1090, or the former ENGL 1030, or the former ENGL 1080

Critical Reading and Writing: Imagined Places
(ENGL 1192)

Studies a variety of texts that explore imaginary (or imaginatively reconstructed) places and the responses of the humans who inhabit them. Building on foundational critical reading and writing skills acquired in English 1090, students gain further experience with analyzing texts, framing and using questions, constructing essays, organizing paragraphs, conducting research, quoting and documenting, revising and editing. All sections of this course follow Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw. Bachelor of Arts students should normally choose the second Critical Reading and Writing course from a discipline listed in the Breadth of Knowledge Requirement, unless pursuing a Major or Minor in English.

Note: Same as ENGL 1001, and the former ENGL 1101, 1102, 1103

Prerequisite: ENGL 1000, or 1020, or 1090, or the former 1030, or the former 1080 

Critical Reading and Writing: Ways of Reading
(ENGL 1193)

Focuses on the process of reading, on specific strategies and approaches that we take in our encounters with texts and on the ways we report those encounters. Building on foundational critical reading and writing skills acquired in English 1090, students gain further experience analyzing texts, framing and using questions, constructing essays, organizing paragraphs, conducting research, quoting and documenting, revising and editing. All sections of this course follow Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw. Bachelor of Arts students should normally choose the second Critical Reading and Writing course from a discipline listed in the Breadth of Knowledge Requirement, unless pursuing a Major or Minor in English.

Note: Same as ENGL 1001 and the former ENGL 1101, 1102, 1103

Prerequisite: ENGL 1000 or 1020, or 1090, or the former 1030 or the former 1080

2905 Introduction to Creative Writing
(ENGL 2905)

Will introduce students to the basic techniques and tools in the writer’s tool box in order to write original fiction, non-fiction and poetry. This course will explore examples of literature from these three genres and give students the opportunity to participate in peer-assessment and workshop critiques in order to develop the necessary skills for critical reading and creative writing.

Prerequisite: 6 credit hours of English including ENGL 1090 or the former 1080, or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction
(ENGL 3900)

Conducted as a workshop using models of contemporary writing and the students' own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly.

Note: credit may be obtained for only two of ENGL 3900, 3901, and 3905

Prerequisite: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry
(ENGL 3901)

Conducted as a workshop using models of contemporary writing and the students' own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly.

Note: credit may be obtained for only two of ENGL 3900, 3901, and 3905

Prerequisite: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

Introduction to Creative Writing: Playwriting
(ENGL 3902)

Conducted as a workshop using models of contemporary dramatic writing and the students’ own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly.

Note: Same as the former ENGL 3842

Prerequisite: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

Introduction to Creative Writing: Nonfiction
(ENGL 3903)

Conducted as a workshop using models of contemporary writing and the students’ own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly.

Prerequisite: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

Writing Place
(ENGL 3904) 

Conducted as an online workshop for writers interested in exploring the possibilities for engaging with place through writing creative non-fiction.

Prerequisite: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

Investigative Writing
(ENGL 3910)

Will permit students to learn to draft and edit short investigative pieces; and they complete an article or essay, and an investigative project that attends to ethics guidelines, research, documentation, interviewing protocols, and writing and editing for a specific context. The course is conducted as a seminar using the students’ own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly. Some work may be done collaboratively.

Prerequisite: Normally, submission of a portfolio specified by the instructor and permission of the instructor. Class size will be limited.

Writing Satire
(ENGL 3911) 

Uses models of contemporary satire as a basis for students’ own work. Guest satirists will be invited to meet with students who will write satirical sketches, articles and/or plays based on their own experiences in response to current affairs and topical items of interest. Students will engage in at least one collaborative project.

Prerequisite: Normally, submission of a portfolio specified by the instructor and permission of the instructor. Class size will be limited.

Songwriting
(ENGL 3912)

Uses models from early ballads to contemporary hits and near-misses as a basis for students’ own work. Guest songwriters will be invited to meet with students to discuss their compositions. Students will analyse song lyrics, write their own songs and collaborate on a major class project. The ability to sing or play a musical instrument or to read or write sheet music, while desirable, is not required.

Speechwriting
(ENGL 3913)

Develops the student’s ability to speak on all occasions, formal and informal, expected and unexpected. Students will deliver speeches of varying types and lengths on a regular basis throughout the semester.

Note: Same as Communication Studies 3913

Prerequisite: 1 English course at the 1000 level

Reviewing
(ENGL 3920)

Permits students to analyse and practice reviewing of three kinds: (a) performance; (b) film, TV, video; c) books.

Prerequisite: 1 English course at the 1000 level

Directing
(ENGL 4400)

The analysis, production plans and execution of selected projects.

Note: Attendance is required, and admission priority will be given to students in the Diploma in Stage and Screen Technique.

Prerequisite: ENGL 2451 (or the former ENGL 3351) or permission of the instructor.

Producing the Play
(ENGL 4401)

A full semester working with a selected play, to culminate in public performance. Students will be required to participate fully in all aspects of the production, except direction, which will be the responsibility of the instructor.

Note: Attendance is required, and admission priority will be given to students in the Diploma in Stage and Screen Technique

Graphic Medicine
(ENGL 4844)

Examines a broad spectrum of graphic illness narratives across various media taking into account theoretical developments in comics studies, autobiographical studies, and graphic medicine.

Note: Same as Communication Studies 4844

4910 Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction
(ENGL 4910)

A workshop for students who wish to write publishable literary fiction. Students will be expected to produce at least 15,000 words during the semester. Regular participation is also required.

Prerequisites: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

4911 Advanced Creative Writing: Poetry
(ENGL 4911)

Conducted as a workshop uses models of contemporary writing and the students' own work. This course is designed to develop further the technical skill of those students who have reached a high level of achievement in the introductory creative writing course in poetry, English 3901 (or who have a body of work of exceptional accomplishment) and to help them move towards publication in literary journals and chapbooks.

Prerequisites: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

4912 Advanced Creative Writing: Playwriting
(ENGL 4912)

Conducted as a workshop using models of contemporary dramatic writing and the students' own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly.

Prerequisites: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited.

4913 Advanced Creative Writing: Nonfiction
(ENGL 4913)

Conducted as a seminar using models of contemporary writing and the students’ own work. Each student will be required to submit work regularly.

Prerequisites: Normally, admission to this course will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's writing in the form of a writing portfolio submitted in the weeks prior to the beginning of the course (refer to the Diploma in Creative Writing). Class size will be limited. 

Special Topics in Creative Writing
(ENGL 4920-4930)

Will have topics to be studied announced by the Department.

Prerequisites: Normally, submission of a portfolio specified by the instructor and permission of the instructor. Class size will be limited.