In this independent 5 credit writing course, students will practice how to read and think critically, as well as how to deepen their learning through writings and discussions. In particular, we will build a learning community where students will develop various skills of reading, doing research, revising, and editing. As this course is a writing link to Drama 101: Introduction to Theater, students will mainly read, discuss, and write about drama pieces and concepts taught in the lecture. Yet, we will also read and inquire into different artistic styles and genre conventions across the diverse interpretations of the same narrative (or story), namely adaptations. In other words, we will read and discuss not only a drama piece taught in your Drama 101 class, but also the live performance of the play, dance version of the play, and the film adaptation.

In addition to the two plays required by the lecture, we will read and watch several academic and non-academic articles as well as short films. By carefully reading and applying these academic, literary, and cinematic texts to the main texts, students will have opportunity to learn about the strategies, audience, complexity, intensity level, and goal of their writing, not to speak of certain writing conventions and decorum in style, tone, and structure. With these writing skills and experiences, students are expected to become a confident, thoughtful, and critical academic writer.

Along with the lecture as well as in-class debates and activities, this class will be structured mostly by your own writing. Your writing will be conducted either with specific guidance or with your own creativity. In both cases, you will be prepared and backed up by the skills you will learn and the texts as well as sources you will get in class. Each writing assignment of yours will be reviewed carefully by the instructor, and sometimes by your peers. Through this interactive and cooperative process, you will be able to revise and edit your writing more effectively.

Please keep in mind that although we will be drawing on material discussed in Drama 101, ENGL 197B is a separate course with its own learning goals, reading, writing assignments, expectations, and grades.