Course Descriptions

This course meets MnTC Goal Area 6F. The creative writing course focuses on the writing of short fiction, poetry and plays. It is a course designed to offer students practice in the composition of these three modes, with room for exploration of each genre's sub-categories. Emphasis will be on writing original work and on learning the skills needed to revise this work in order to achieve a desired response from an audience. This course will emphasize helping students learn to develop their creative voice and incorporate study of published works to aid students in this goal. This course counts as a fine arts course; it places emphasis on the creation of fine arts as opposed to the formal, critical analysis of them. Course delivery will include a traditional class format as well as workshop settings, where students' work will be read, analyzed and critiqued by others in the class. The course may include the following: presenting and submitting manuscripts, analyzing the motivation for writers, editing and criticism, techniques for reading work aloud and analyzing masterpiece models. Evaluation of course competencies may be based on writing journals, portfolios, presentations, large and small group discussions, collaborative tasks, manuscripts (completed or works in progress) and/or public readings of student works.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 6F and 7. This course focuses on the writing of personal memoir as well as an in-depth study of the literary genre of memoir; it may also include creative essay writing. It is a workshop designed to offer students practice in the composition of memoir and other narrative modes of writing, as well as a study of the memoir as literature. This course places emphasis on the creation of fine arts as well as the formal, critical analysis of them.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 2, 6 and 10. This course will focus on responding to texts that inspire greater awareness of and appreciation for the environment and that explore environmental challenges. Students will gain experience with critical thinking and reading as they examine perspectives, explore attitudes and analyze current problems/solutions through discussions, writings and other activities.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 2, 6 and 8. This literature course will introduce students to the growing interdependence of the people of the world through a close study of drama. Studying drama written by various writers around the world will allow students to develop an understanding of and an appreciation for the human condition and culture. The course will also cover the basic elements and concepts of drama.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 2, 6 and 7. This literature course will involve students in a close reading of selected novels that focus on individual and group differences in both the U.S. and abroad. Attention will be paid to the traditions and values of the writers and as portrayed in the literature. Basic concepts and elements of the novel also will be studied.

This course meets MnTC Goal Areas 6 and 9. Students will read fiction and nonfiction literary texts as a means for understanding issues related to health, illness and the human condition. Through discussions, writings and projects, students will analyze the readings in order to learn about the literary genres, explore the range of responses to the issues (including their own) and identify and reflect about ways people exercise their roles as responsible members of their communities and citizens of the world.

This course meets MnTC Goal Areas 2, 6 and 10. This course will focus on texts written by great nature writers. While special emphasis will be placed on those works that stress conservation and ecology, others will enable students to see the human struggle with the environment as protagonist. Material may also include travel writing, as well as the more recent directions toward urban nature and nontraditional/multicultural perspectives. Texts may include nonfiction, novels, poetry and plays. Students will gain experience in reading critically and writing logical, sound papers that deal with environmental issues and text analysis.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 6 and 7. This multi-genre literature course is a study of significant writers and selected works presenting diverse groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, class, culture, etc. The origins, contributions and changing dynamics of specific groups in the United States will be studied through reading, analysis and discussion.

Meets MnTC Goal Area 6. This course introduces students to the major myths of Greece and Rome. The course will cover myths, mythological and heroic figures, and how mythology influences culture and literature. The course may also include an introduction to other world mythologies (Norse, Celtic, Native American or others).

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 6 and 7. This course examines the ways in which culture, ethnicity, religion, class and sexuality distinguish literature written by female authors from different countries and historical periods. Texts will cover a variety of authors and genres, as well as themes, issues and theories specific to literature written by women.

Meets MnTC Goal Area 2, 6 and 7. This course is an in-depth study of literature that has been banned or challenged. The course focuses primarily on the study of literature, but part of the lectures, discussions and student responses will address the topic of censorship. Students will read from a variety of genres.

This course meets MnTC Goal Areas 2 and 6. This course is an in-depth study of literary texts that fall under the category of horror and/or supernatural fiction. While the focus is on this genre, the course may also address sub-categories of detective fiction, science fiction and fantasy.

This course meets Goal Areas 2, 6 and 10. The course is an in-depth study of travel literature. It focuses primarily on modern travel literature, but some readings of early explorers will establish context for changes within the genre; for example, from medieval pilgrimages and the Victorian Grand Tour to travelogues and road narratives. The course will also address various purposes for travel, such as adventure, exploration and spirituality, as well as trends in modern travel writing including blogs and ecotourism.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 6 and 8. This course provides students an opportunity to read, discuss and analyze contemporary literature from around the world. The focus of the course is on fiction, although students may also be introduced to other contemporary world literature such as poetry, non-fiction and drama.

Meets MnTC Goal Areas 2, 6 and 7. This course introduces students to children's literature. Students read and respond to diverse, traditional and contemporary texts. Emphasis is placed on reading, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating children's literature from various contextual frameworks, such as the development of the genre, cognitive development, censorship and depictions of family, race and gender.