ENGL 83SFirst-Year Seminar in English

3 credits · English · Penn State

Each section of the course will focus on a well-defined body of scholarship that is topical in the discipline, such as "Ethical Dilemmas in Literature," "Individual Freedom and Social Constraint in Literature," "Global Cultures, Local Identities," "American Landscapes, American Literatures," "Shakespeare," "Vital Rhetorics," and "Turning 2000: Nostalgia and Popular Culture at the Turn of the Century." In addition to the academic topic and issues of this course, students can expect to gain a general introduction to the University as an academic community and have the opportunity to explore their responsibilities as members of that community. Students will develop an understanding of the learning tools and resources available to them, including the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty and other students who share their academic interests. Each section of 83S will require active class participation from all students and a minimum of three substantial written assignments. Each of these written assignments will take one of the following forms: essay, essay exam, or a semester long reading journal. The course fulfills a General Education humanities requirement or a bachelor of arts humanities requirement.