Chapter 2: Majoring
II: Majoring in English
THE NATURE OF THE ENGLISH MAJOR
English is the perfect major for students who love books and reading and who want to know more about the forms, history, and functions of literature. But English is also a great major for anyone interested in language, in writing, in the history of ideas, in the questions that have always challenged and fascinated humans, and in the interaction of history, philosophy, religion, psychology, art, and the other major disciplines. The major provides an excellent preparation for careers in business, public service, education, law, and many other areas. Some students major in English because they plan to become teachers; but most English majors pursue other career paths.
Majoring in English lets you:
- explore the English and American literary traditions
- develop your abilities as a reader and interpreter of literature
- understand the role of critical perspective in any analytical situation
- enhance your pleasure in the enjoyment of literature
- improve your abilities as a writer
Whether you select the writing emphasis or the literature emphasis, you will graduate having met each of these goals.
The benefits of majoring in English are numerous and important. Throughout history, works of literature can be counted among humanity's greatest achievements, products of the thoughts, emotions, beliefs, aspirations, joys, doubts, fears, and dreams of countless writers, both known and unknown. The beauty, power, mystery, and vision that we experience in literature are in themselves sufficient justification for the prolonged study of literature. Knowledge of American and English literature inevitably provides insight into the major intellectual traditions of western culture. The knowledge and understanding that you develop provide a foundation for addressing a multitude of fundamental questions about the nature and meaning of human experience.
And literary study has some more directly practical benefits as well. In learning how to analyze literature and write effectively, English majors learn how to decode symbol systems of many sorts. You will be able to "read" not only conventional texts but also other arrangements of symbols, data, and behaviors; for instance, you might "read" and analyze urban landscapes, fashion trends, or work behaviors of employees at a specific company. Furthermore, literature students are constantly testing their analytical and critical thinking skills, confronting ambiguity, and justifying conclusions in the face of reasonable alternatives--activities that prepare you to meet challenges in the world of work and the world of personal experience.
English majors are required to develop sophisticated writing skills. Writing persuasive prose and imaginative literature will enable you to understand and use the power of language to move, inform, and influence your readers. It will develop your aesthetic appreciation of skillfully used language and your scepticism towards dishonest, manipulative uses of language.
By majoring in English, you will develop your historic and aesthetic knowledge, your writing and analytical skills, your aesthetic sensibilities, your powers of empathizing, and your understanding of how people have responded to some of the most fundamental challenges faced by humans.
Literature Emphasis and Writing Emphasis
English majors choose an emphasis in either literature or writing. In the literature emphasis, you'll concentrate on English and American literary history, genres (e.g.: poetry, drama, fiction), and the study and analysis of literary texts. In the writing emphasis, you'll still study a good deal of literary history, but you will also take at least six writing courses (beyond Freshman English), as you work to develop and refine your writing skills.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
We have designed our curriculum so that you'll have specific knowledge and skills when you complete the program. The following list describes what you ought to be able to do by the time you graduate. Of course, each English major will have learned many other things besides these, but these are the things we want all English majors to know and do.
The goals are the same for both the literature emphasis and the writing emphasis; however, as the names imply, some of their objectives receive different emphases.
Goal 1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of literary history (including the development of genres) in their creation and analysis of literary texts.
Objectives: Students will
- Use literary history in analyzing and creating texts
- Show familiarity with major figures and works from diverse literary periods
Goal 2. Students will read, interpret, and produce texts that reflect an understanding of the nature, form, and craft of literature.
Objectives: Students will
- Understand major literary forms (e.g.: tragedy, comedy, allegory), techniques (e.g.: irony, metaphor, rhyme), and theories
- Use their Knowledge of literary form and technique in the creation and analysis of texts
Goal 3. Students will write at an appropriate level of sophistication.
Objectives: Students will
- Produce competent written interpretations of literary texts
- Produce capable and effective written work besides literary analysis: e.g., essays, poems, stories, plays
THE ENGLISH MAJOR AND THE COLLEGE MISSION
In its first paragraph, the Mission Statement of Lynchburg College states: "Throughout its history, the College has maintained strong commitments to the importance of the liberal arts and sciences. . . ." The English curriculum is an essential part of that commitment to the liberal arts.
The Mission Statement also notes the importance of "Co-curricular activities, which extend the educational setting beyond the classroom. . . ." Sigma Tau Delta (the honor society for English majors) and the English Club are co-curricular elements of the major that offer students opportunities for personal growth, the development of leadership skills, and the further consideration and enjoyment of literature and literary matters. The English Listserv provides co-curricular discussion of literary topics while bringing together majors, minors, faculty, alumni, and other subscribers who might never otherwise connect. And the many public presentations over the years by visiting writers brought to campus by the Richard H. Thornton Endowment are a significant part of the College's cultural life that reaches beyond the campus to the larger Lynchburg community.
Of the twelve "Goals of Lynchburg College" included in the "Mission Statement," the English major serves to meet nine; only the goals regarding dorms, service, and wellness are not served by the major. In most cases, the ways in which English can meet a specific goal should be plainly evident, so explanations are offered only where there may be any doubt. The English major helps students:
- To build intellectual competencies--reading, writing, speaking . . .
- To develop a general understanding of the nature and scope of the liberal arts and sciences . . .
- Although this goal specifically addresses general education, the English major extends and deepens that understanding by increasing students' knowledge of literature, history, religious studies, philosophy, sociology, politics, art, and even science.
- To gain a depth of understanding of at least one academic field through completion of the requirements for a major
- To appreciate the diversity of other cultures . . .
- The study of literature involves the study of cultures, the elements and forces that shape them, the effects of cultures upon their populations, and the differences among cultures.
- To build self-confidence, self-esteem, and respect for others through participation in a community that values each student as an individual
- To understand and enjoy teamwork through . . . collaborative academic learning activities
- To develop the capacity for recreation and self-fulfillment through exposure to popular and classical culture
- To acquire the habit of intellectual curiosity, independent learning, and the tolerance of new and different ideas through participation in the intellectual life of the College
- To develop an integrated world view through the impact of all the above goals
Furthermore, the English major contributes to two of the additional six College goals adopted for the fulfillment of the College mission:
- To provide a supportive and challenging environment for its students
- To serve the community by offering cultural and educational opportunities . . .
Fulfilling the College mission requires the efforts and activities of all areas of the campus community, of course. The major in English is central to the process.
