Benjamin Burt

In this advanced ELA course, learners will read and consider texts by a diverse selection of creative writers while composing their own creative texts. Learners will further strengthen their English abilities by building analytical and critical skills, connecting class materials with their own experiences, and using their imaginations to craft original works. The course will focus primarily on three genres of writing: contemporary short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Learners will become familiar with major techniques, structures, and conventions in each genre and write short texts integrating the new information they have learned. The course will include frequent writing workshops where learners can offer constructive criticism to their colleagues and receive feedback on their own production. After learners integrate this criticism and edit their work, they will choose their strongest texts in each genre to include in a creative writing portfolio that will highlight their growth throughout the year.

Academic writing is a key factor in a successful university education and in many professional careers. In this course, learners employ their English language skills throughout the process of academic composition in several genres. Learners will read and analyze an array of academic writing while considering factors like audience, tone, syntax, and structure. The course will cover best practices in research, writing, and critiquing the work of others. Each learner will compose original texts in genres like persuasive essays, literary analysis, scientific reporting, and research papers. They will also have opportunities to offer constructive criticism about their peers’ work and integrate feedback as they revise their initial drafts. The course will also discuss the opportunities and drawbacks of AI-based research and writing, as well as the ongoing importance of human creativity and intellectuality in academic publishing.

After Chinese, Spanish has the most native speakers of any language and serves as the primary language spoken in twenty countries across North America, South America, and Africa. It is also an increasingly essential minority language in the United States and Canada. In an increasingly interconnected global society with major flows of human migration, the importance of Spanish worldwide will only continue to grow. SPAN 1001 introduces learners to the Spanish language, building basic skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and solidifying core vocabulary. The teaching approach is proficiency-oriented, communicative, and task-based, all of which are intended to facilitate communicative competence in the key language skill areas. The course will interweave authentic documents that encourage learners to develop cultural awareness of the heterogeneous Spanish-speaking community. By the course’s conclusion, learners will have built a strong foundation of self-expression, comprehension, and respectful interaction with the various cultures of the Hispanic world.