the major | the minor | charting your courses | honors
Advisers: Members of the Department
Study Abroad Adviser: Cornelia Pearsall
- ENG 118, Colloquia in Writing
Intensive practice in writing, mostly on non-literary subjects. Sections
of 15. Does not count toward English major.
- ENG 120, Colloquia in Literature
Intensive practice in reading, discussing, and writing about literature.
Sections of 18. Counts toward the English major. Most English majors at
Smith begin with this course.
- ENG 199, Methods of Literary Study
Intensive study of ways of approaching literature. Open to entering
first-years with a SAT verbal of 710 or above, or a literature AP score
of 4 or 5. Sections of 20. May be taken in the spring, when it is open
to students who have taken ENG 120, ENG 200, or ENG 202/203. Required for the
English major
- ENG 200, The English Literary Tradition
Survey of English literature from the Middle Ages to the end of the
18th century. Taught in sections and occasional lectures. Open to entering
first- years with a SAT verbal of 710 or above, or a literature AP score
of 4 or 5. Counts toward the English major.
- ENG 202/203, Western Classics in Translation
Homer, Plato, Virgil, Dante in translation. Sections of 20 with occasional
lectures. Open to entering first-years with a SAT verbal of 710 or above,
or a literature AP score of 4 or 5. Counts toward the English major.
All of these courses, with the exception of ENG 200, are writing intensive.
Requirements:
Twelve semester courses are required for the major:
- Two of the following: 199, 200, 201, or 231;
- Two courses concentrating on literature written before 1832;
- Semester courses on two of three major figures: Chaucer (250),
Shakespeare (256 or 257), and Milton (260);
- A seminar
- Five additional courses.
Up to two courses in
film, a foreign or comparative literature, or dramatic literature
offered through the theatre department may count toward the major. Up
to three advanced writing courses may count toward the major. Only one
colloquium (120) may count toward the major. ENG 118 does not count. No
course counting toward the major may be taken for an S/U grade.
We strongly recommend that all majors take
at least one historical survey sequence: English 200, 20l; English 202, 203; or English
231, 233.. We recommend that students
interested in graduate school in English literature or in high school
English teaching take both the British (200,201) and the American (231,
232) surveys. Those considering graduate school should be aware that
most doctoral programs in English require a reading knowledge of two
foreign languages, and that preparation in literary theory will be extremely useful.
the major | the minor | charting your courses | honors
Advisers: Same as for the major.
The minor in English consists
of six courses: English 199; a two-semester survey (ENG 200,201, ENG 202, 203,or ENG 231,233); plus three additional English courses chosen
in consultation with the minor adviser, two of which must be above the
100 level.
the major | the minor | charting your courses | honors
The department of English offers a variety of courses in British, American and postcolonial literature; a few courses that include foreign language works in translation; and courses in writing and in film. All these courses encourage careful reading, informed interpretation and effective writing.
First-year students may begin with one of six courses. Two of them are open to all entering students: ENG 118-Colloquia in Writing and ENG 120-Colloquia in Literature. Each course serves to fulfill the College's writing requirement.. ENG 118 develops skills in writing clear expository prose and in arguing logically and convincingly. It is particularly recommended for students who have not had much practice writing analytic prose or who are uncertain of their writing skills. It serves students planning to major in many fields and does not count toward the English major. Special sections of ENG 118 are offered for bilingual and non-
native speakers of English.
ENG 120 provides practice in the critical analysis of literary texts, with emphasis on writing interpretive essays. Each colloquium deals with a different theme or literary genre; for example, the student can choose among "Fiction," "Modern Drama," "Shakespeare and Film," "Mysteries and Investigations" and five or six other topics. One colloquium may be counted toward the English major. For most students a section of ENG 120 will be the best place to begin.
Four other courses are open in the fall to first-year students who have a score of 710 or over on the Critical Reading section of the SAT, or a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam: ENG 199, 200, 202, and 231. Three of these courses--199, 200, and 231--serve as gateway courses for the English major, as does our spring offering, ENG 201.
ENG 199--Introduction to Literary Study, offers intensive practice in techniques of literary analysis and in strategies of literary interpretation. It is a designed to give students what one might call a tool kit of critical terms and methodologies. Students in the class experiment with a variety of texts, from medieval poems to Hitchcock's Vertigo; the aim of the course is to help students become more perceptive readers and convincing writers, and to give them some training in the use of such secondary materials as critical essays and historical sources. This course will fulfill the college's writing requirement, but should not be chosen by students whose primary interest in it is the fact that it does meet that requirement. It is offered in each semester. Some entering students may choose to take both ENG 199 and ENG 200 or 202 in their first semester. Others may take ENG 199 in the spring, after ENG 120 in the fall.
ENG 200-The English Literary Tradition, provides a historical survey of the development of English literature from its beginnings in the oral poetry of Germanic tribes to its explosion in the twentieth century as a vast international heritage of many genres, cultures and peoples. It also allows students to discover authors, periods or genres that they can explore further in other, more advanced English courses. ENG 200 moves from Beowulf up to the 18th century. It is continued in the spring with ENG 201, which starts with the Romantic poets and runs forward into the 20th century. We recommend, but do not require, that these courses be taken in sequence. ENG 201 is taught as a writing-intensive course.
ENG 202-Western Classics in Translation: From Homer to Dante provides intensive study of some of the major texts of Western culture, from the Iliad to the Divine Comedy. It is continued in the spring with ENG 203, which moves from the Arthurian romances of the middle ages to War and Peace. These are an interdepartmental courses, taught by members of the English department and professors from other literature departments; 202 is required for the major in Comparative Literature. Both this sequence and ENG 200/201 offer an opportunity to read and discuss important texts. They should be of interest to students planning to major in quite different fields, as well as to prospective English majors. Since these courses do not overlap at all, some students choose to take both in successive years.
ENG 231--American Literature Before 1865, is an historical survey that focuses on the role of literature in the new nation, as it sought to establish a culture of its own. It is the first part of our American literature sequence.
ENG 200 and 231 are taught as lectures; our other entry-level courses run as small discussion sections. Advanced writing courses are closed to first-year students, but those interested in creative writing should consider ENG 120-Reading and Writing Short Poems or ENG 120-Reading and Writing Short Stories.
the major | the minor | charting your courses | honors
Director: Ambreen Hai 2007-2008
430d Thesis
8 credits
Applicants to honors must have an average of B+ or above in the courses they count toward the major, and an average of B or above in all other courses. The English honors program is a full year, 8-credit course; 4 credits may be counted as a semester course toward the English major. Most honors theses are analytical studies of literature in English. In exceptional cases, students may apply to write a collection of poems, short stories, or non-fictional literary prose as an honors project. During the senior year they will present a thesis, of which the first complete formal draft will be due on the first day of the second semester. After the readers of the thesis have provided students with their evaluations of this draft, the student will have time to revise her work in response to their suggestions. The final completed version of the thesis will be due a week after spring vacation, to be followed during April by the student's oral presentation and discussion of her work. Students in honors will normally be given priority in seminars.
Who qualifies for Honors?
To qualify for Honors you need to have a B average (3.0) and a B+ average (3.3) in the English major by your junior year. Only Smith College (including Picker and Smithsonian), Five College and Smith College Junior Year Abroad courses are counted. You must also have a strong academic background in general and be able to work independently. In March or April, the Director of Honors invites qualified juniors to apply for Honors. If you think you qualify but have not received a letter, please contact the Director of Honors.
What does an Honors student do?
Honors students write a thesis over the course of two semesters and meet regularly with their thesis advisors during the fall term, when they are reading, thinking, and writing the first draft of the thesis. A completed draft of the thesis is due on the first day of the second semester. It is read by the thesis advisor and a second reader, who provide extensive comments. On the basis of these comments, Honors students work independently to revise their drafts into finished theses, due mid-April. The final draft is normally about 40-50 double-spaced pages. Finally, at the end of term, each Honors student makes an informal (oral) presentation of her thesis to a group of other Honors students, faculty, and friends.
Who should write a thesis?
If you wish to write a thesis, the Department expects that you will have thought deeply about your topic, normally in the context of prior course work about that author, genre, or general area. It is ideal if you can locate an advisor and make your proposal by the end of the second (spring) semester. Proposals for theses must be clearly, fully, and specifically developed in about 500 words (2 pages). They should also include a completed application form and GPA calculation form, which must be requested by email from honors@smith.edu. (See the College's detailed new guidelines for Departmental Honors at http://www.smith.edu/classdeans/documents/DepartmentalHonorsGuidelinesfor2008.doc). Whether or not you apply in the late spring or the early fall, you will need to spend part of the summer reading, thinking, and clarifying your topic.
The eight credits for the thesis are in addition to the regular requirements of the major, so in thinking about whether or not to apply for Honors, you should consider also how you will complete the major itself. In fact, this is one reason why many good students choose not to do Honors; they find they just have too many other things they want to learn. The worst reason to undertake a thesis is simply for the honors designation itself; the best is that you strongly desire to do extensive independent work on a sharply defined topic. We also recommend that thesis writers take no more than 3 classes in addition to the thesis, and that they take a course in literary theory, e.g., CLT 300 or English 285.
When can I apply for Honors?
You may apply to enter the program at the earliest during the second
semester of the junior year. Your application will then be discussed
at the last department meeting of the spring semester, in May. At the latest, you may apply at the beginning of the first semester
of your senior year. Your application will then be discussed at the
first department meeting of the fall semester, usually around mid-September.
How do I apply for Honors?
In March or early April, you should request an initial interview with the Director of Honors to explain your interest and discuss procedures. If you are away for JYA, you should email the Director. It is your responsibility to interest a faculty member in your project so that he or she can volunteer to become your thesis advisor. The Departmental Honors Programs at Smith College are administered by the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs (SHIP) of the Committee on Academic Priorities (CAP) chaired by the Dean of the Senior Class. Please follow the detailed guidelines and procedures for applying to the Departmental Honors Program posted on the Class Deans web page http://www.smith.edu/classdeans/guidelines.php. You must first request via email to honors@smith.edu a "Calculation of GPA Requirements Form," to be sent to your campus box. (If you are away for JYA, you may have to give written permission for the form to be sent to you by fax or email. For reasons of confidentiality, this form will otherwise NOT be sent to you by email.) You must complete the form together with your major advisor. In addition, you must fill out the application form (also available from the website above or from the Class Deans Office, College Hall 101), and write a thesis proposal as specified above. Your completed application should be signed by your thesis advisor. You may then present the application to the departmental Director of Honors for consideration by the department. Applications are discussed by the English Department at their last meeting in the spring semester and again at the first meeting of the fall semester. In some cases, the Department may request clarification or certain changes before accepting the proposal.
The departmental Director of Honors will forward the application, with the department's recommendation, to the Chair of the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs, College Hall 101. The final decision regarding admission to the Honors program rests with the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs (SHIP).
How do I register for Honors?
A prospective Honors student may not register for the Honors course. If admitted to the Honors program, the Honors course will be added automatically to the student's registration. However, students will need to register for the second half of the yearlong course when submitting registration for the second semester. The student will be responsible for making all other changes (i.e., drops and adds) to her program before the appropriate deadlines. Register for a full program of credits and then drop the excess after notification of admission into the honors program.
Honors candidates must carry at least 12 credits each semester of the senior year (the minimum 12 credits include the credits for the Honors thesis, normally 4 for each semester). An Ada Comstock Scholar must see the Director of the Ada Comstock Program regarding credit load.
What kind of financial help is available?
The Tomlinson Memorial Fund offers up to $500 financial assistance
for research and copying expenses, but there are only a limited number
of these grants available. Your request for Tomlinson funds should accompany
your Honors application and be signed by the advisor and the Departmental Director of Honors.
What should I write in my application?
In 500 words (2 pages), describe your project so that the English Department and SHIP can evaluate its feasibility. In other words, provide the essential information that answers the key questions: What? Why? How?
1. What do I want to write about? (Topics, Texts)
2. How am I qualified to undertake this project? What previous courses or training have I had in the author(s) or field(s)? (Preparation)
3.Why do I want to write about that topic, and why does it matter? Why is this worth investigating and what is at stake? (Relevance or "So What"?)
4. How do I want to write about it? What approach or steps will I take, and what parts or sequence do I imagine the project having? (Method, Preliminary Design)
The Department would also like to see a provisional bibliography. Some financial assistance is available from the Tomlinson Fund for a portion of the expenses incurred by students in carrying out their honors projects. Please see the Class Deans web page for the guidelines and application form.
Examples of successful thesis proposals are available in the English Department Office, Pierce Hall 105, to give you a sense of genre, and types of topics students have pursued in the past.
What is the second reader’s role?
The second reader, who is appointed by the Department by the end of the fall semester, will read a draft of the completed thesis, which is due in the first week of the spring semester. In a few weeks the thesis advisor and the second reader submit their comments and advice to the department's Administrative Assistant, who sends copies to the thesis writer and the Director of Honors. Advisor and second reader are allowed to consult with each other to make sure they agree on procedures and method. At the end of the spring semester, when the completed thesis is due, thesis advisor and second reader assign their grades independently. If these grades differ significantly, the department will appoint a third reader.
Are there any other
requirements once my application has been approved?
A student accepted into the Honors program must make an appointment
for “bibliographic assistance” with a reference librarian
at the libraries relevant to the project, for a personalized session
geared specifically to her thesis project. This meeting must take place
before mid-October at the latest. It will take about an hour and will
be scheduled at the mutual convenience of the reference librarian and
the student. After the library meeting, the appropriate librarian should
sign and date the yellow “Required Library Instruction Form”
and forward it to the Chair of the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent
Programs, College Hall 101.
How do I withdraw
from the program?
To withdraw from the program, you need permission from the Director of Honors, who, after consultation with the thesis advisor, relays your request to the Chair of the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs. If the student has made good progress, the thesis project may be converted into a Special Studies. After receiving approval from the Chair of the Subcommittee, you must submit a Special Studies form to the Registrar.
How do I prepare the
manuscript?
Guidelines for preparing an Honors thesis are available in the Office of the Class Deans. The Nonprint Resources Center is available for consultation and can provide equipment, some materials and guided assistance for the mounting of visual materials. You must submit two copies of your thesis to the college. One copy is given to the department's Director of Honors. The other copy (on acid-free paper) is turned in to the Senior Class Dean, College Hall 101, for later submission to the library.
Can I get an extension?
An extension of up to five days from the initial due date may be granted
at the discretion of the departmental Director of Honors. A further
extension of no longer than two weeks from the initial due date may
be granted only by the Chair of the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent
Programs upon written application from the departmental Director of
Honors.
What happens during
the thesis presentation?
At the thesis presentation, you will have fifteen minutes to explain your project to an audience that includes your thesis advisor and readers, and some English faculty members and students. You may also invite family and friends. The idea is to communicate some of what you've found out, give some useful advice to future thesis-writers, and receive some public recognition for the Honors work you've done. Somewhere in the presentation, give a summary of your purpose and your conclusions---the briefer, the better. You may want to read a paragraph from your introduction or ending. After your talk, the audience will be given an opportunity to ask you some questions. This is a friendly audience. Remember, too, that this oral presentation counts for only 10% of your over-all thesis grade.
Who will evaluate
my thesis?
Your thesis advisor and second reader each provide an Honors designation
(Highest Honors, High Honors, Honors, Pass, or Fail). If they substantially
disagree, a third reader is assigned by the department. The final Honors
designation, submitted for recommendation to the Subcommittee on Honors
and Independent Programs, is based on three separate components:
1) the evaluation of the final Honors thesis by at least two readers:
60%
2) grades for course work undertaken in the major: 30%
3) evaluation of the Honors examination by at least two faculty: 10%
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