Courses

2007

Nature in Literature English 288-081: The natural world has offered fertile imaginative ground for as long as people have been aware of it. In this course we will study various literary expressions of the relationship between people and nature, with special emphasis on medieval and early modern attitudes toward and representations of the world around them. We shall address such concerns as how we idealize, encounter, and contend with nature and more “natural” ways of living. While the focus of this course is on literature, it will also be interdisciplinary in scope: students are encouraged to enrich the class with their own interest in and experience with ecological and environmental issues.; Loyola University Chicago, Fall

Writing is thinking. In this course we will develop our ability to clearly and effectively convey our thoughts, ideas, and concerns, by means of the written word. Because writing is as challenging as any other acquired skill, we will concentrate our efforts on various writing assignments (both in and out of class) and on reading and analyzing the work of others. This course should help to demystify the writing process (in academic and other settings) and enable you to become more skillful—and confident—writers.

Loyola University Chicago, Fall

2006

Introduction to Shakespeare English 274-086: William Shakespeare has remained a cultural and literary force for over 400 years. In this course we will study eight of his plays—King Lear, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Richard III, Titus Andronicus, and The Winter’s Tale—and his poetry, in order to develop a greater critical understanding of and familiarity with Shakespeare’s writing and its influence. Of special concern in this course will be his portrayal of community and social relations. We will examine the ways in which outsiders are incorporated into and expelled by society, the use of social standing or rank to advance one’s goals, attitudes concerning disability and difference, the function of magic on the mundane, and so on.; Loyola University Chicago, Spring

2004

Writing II English 106-053: Our goal in this course is to have you write clear, perceptive, and sophisticated essays in which your own voice and authority are well established. In our writing we often rely on topics of immediate concern and interest to us; for the purpose of this course we will concentrate on topics that revolve around the idea of “community.” Through assigned reading and responsive writing, we will explore such ideas as what makes something a community, what things strengthen a community, and what things threaten a community’s existence. We will read essays, comics, and fiction in an attempt to come to terms with these and other large ideas. In the process, we will develop analytical and research skills that will help one succeed in a university education and in a lifetime of active learning.; Loyola University Chicago, Spring

2003

Writing I English 105-053: In everyday life, we write not only to communicate, but also to learn. These principles will be fundamental to everything we do in this class. Much of our time will be spent writing: either in “freewriting” or in responding to what we have read. We will also discuss your writing, so that you can learn to discern what your readers may expect from you. Through regular short assignments and a few longer essays, I hope that you will become more comfortable—and more fluent—writers and that you will be prepared to face the rigors of the university.; Loyola University Chicago, Fall