English Writing

A workshop approach to writing that gives the student opportunities to write and critique fiction and nonfiction prose, poetry, and drama. Primarily, but not exclusively, for potential English writing majors. 

Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0020 or permission of instructor.

Introduces undergraduates to creative nonfiction, a genre that often borrows from fiction writer's techniques while sticking to the facts. Genre includes personal essay, new journalism, memoir and quality feature writing. 

Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0020.

Teaches techniques for writing effective description of persons, places, and action from set and shifting points of view; emphasizes clear, concrete expression; extensive class discussion. 

Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0020.

Emphasis is placed on discussion of student writing and readings in contemporary American poetry. There are weekly student writing assignments and a reading list. 

Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0020.

Explores fundamentals of newspaper writing including the news and feature stories; also examines techniques of writing articles for magazine publications. 

Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0020 or permission of instructor.

Assumes students know the basics of fiction. Students work on writing short stories and read a wide range of stories. Students can expect to revise their work regularly. Class sessions will address problems in fiction writing—from plot to characterization, from point-of-view to style. 

Prerequisite: None.

Explores psychological aspects of creativity, including theoretical, psychodynamic, psychopathological, and constructive aspects. Also examines the manner in which contemporary poets and painters view and experience both the content and form of their work. 

Prerequisites: PSY 0010 and at least one ENGWRT course. Cross-listed as PSY 1089.

Concerns itself with matters of interest in fiction writing, form and technique, contemporary production, and the relation of the fiction writer to his/her society.

Prerequisite: None.

This option permits students to design their own course with the approval of a department faculty member. 

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0520.

Families and Small Towns - Critically examines short fiction whose primary settings are small towns and whose primary characters are family members. Perfect class for any writer coming from a small town or for any writer coming from a larger one who still wants to write about family relationships. Looks at such classic authors as Sherwood Anderson, Flannery O'Connor, and Alice Walker, and such contemporary authors as Jhumpa Lahiri, Gary Fincke, and Jim Daniels. Students will write two short stories and one short critical paper. 

Prerequisites: Sophomore or permission of the instructor.

Emphasis is placed on workshop critiques and discussion of student writing and readings in contemporary American poetry. Weekly writing assignments and a reading list, plus vigorous discussion of student work, are required. May be repeated; a student may take a total of six hours of ENGWRT 1210. 

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0530 or ENGWRT 0531.

Reviews free verse and then will introduce the student to various verse forms of poetry. While examples from many time periods will be studied, the primary focus will be on the poets of the new formalism. Students will write in free verse and then in various other rhymed and unrhymed forms (e.g., the haiku, sonnet, sestina, and villanelle). Emphasis will be on the experimentation with and potential of verse form, not on its perfection. 

Prerequisite: None.

Essentially a reading course, this course for writing majors assumes a general background in 20th-century American poetry, and topics vary. A reading list and critical papers are required. May be repeated. 

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0530 or ENGWRT 0531.

Offers intensive practice in the principles of reportage, with primary emphasis on the inverted pyramid form, interviewing and researching techniques, and other essential aspects of journalism. 

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0550.

Offers practice in writing for commercial magazines. Students will be asked to write articles of varying lengths on different topics and points of focus.  

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0550.

Provide computer training for the UPG Press word processing and layout.

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0550.

Helps the students to develop more refined editorial skills.

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 1380.

Topics may vary from term to term; they include professional writing applications, beat reporting, writing about nature, the literature of journalism, memoir, and others. May be repeated. 

Prerequisites: ENGWRT 0550 or 0411 and ENGWRT 1310 or 1331 are strongly suggested.

Studies the ways an organization communicates with its public through news releases, speeches, brochures, feature stories, annual reports, etc. Examines the stylistic choices each writer makes and develops a critical language to describe how meaning is created through the way information is arranged. Issues of the media, ethics, propaganda, and the uses of ambiguity will also be addressed. 

Prerequisite: None.

Students will read a series of memoirs, both classic and contemporary, and examine the ways writers construct the "truths" of their lives on the page. In conjunction with the assigned readings—which will include work by writers ranging from Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, David Sedaris, Annie Dillard, and Denis Johnson—students will draw from their own life experiences and write a series of essay-length memoirs. 

Prerequisite: One ENGWRT course.

Requires students to study contemporary blogs -- both good and bad. We'll trace the history of non-traditional reportage and examine the impact bloggers have on other forms of journalism, the quality of blog reportage, how technology is affecting the quality and quantity of traditional reportage, and the problematic and/or empowering position of the "I" in reportage. We'll also examine information overload in the 21st century and work on developing the critical skills necessary to distinguish what is and isn't news, what is and isn't valuable, what is and isn't fair and/or accurate in cyberspace and beyond. As part of the course, students will also create and maintain their own blogs and participate in blogging communities. 

Prerequisite: ENGWRT 0550 or 0411.

This course will introduce students to the art and craft of literary and online publishing. Students will research independent literary magazines and small presses, both online and in print. They will learn the basics of literary publishing from both an editorial and an authorial perspective. They will use what they learn to produce an online site featuring the work of Pitt-Greensburg writing program graduates, as well as individual print chapbook-length collections from the English Writing Program Capstone.

Prerequisite:  ENGWRT 0410 or 0411 or 0520 or 0530 or 0550.

A beginning course in writing for the stage. Starting with short scenes, students will work towards understanding the craft and art of constructing theatre stories to be performed by actors. The final project will be a one-act play. Throughout, there will be emphasis on the stage effectiveness of the writing and opportunity for informal performance of student scripts. 

Prerequisite: None.

Three-credit internship is required of all writing majors who have taken 12 or more credits in journalism/creative nonfiction. Internships are available on and off campus, and offer students the opportunity for practical, hands-on application of their writing skills. Internship opportunities include writing-centered positions in various media venues, on-campus organizations, public relations firms, nonprofit organizations and more. Students complete 120 hours for three credits and build a portfolio of work that can be useful in future job searches and beyond. 

Prerequisite: None

Capstone course for English Writing majors.                         

Prerequisite: Senior.