ENGL 490 A: Looking Forward: Professionalization and Public Life

Enrollment and Meeting Times

Note on enrollment: The requirement to enroll in an English senior capstone has been removed from the English 490. All junior and senior English majors now have the opportunity to take a course that helps them look back at knowledge, skills, and modes of thought developed via the major to look forward to future professional, personal, and civic life.

Note on meeting days and time: Instructor will contact enrolled students in week 1 to arrange a schedule. Course typically meets two hours per week, with some class meetings cancelled in lieu of conferences or individual project work time.

Description

This course offers methods for students to identify, highlight, and present transferrable skills and proficiencies gleaned while completing the English major. By drawing connections between specific skills of literary/theoretical and critical reading, writing, dialogue and analysis and the larger demands of contemporary workplaces and civic life, this class offers students the opportunity to consider their post-college goals. It provides a venue in which students can reflect on their experience at UW, while also developing an e-portfolio (or “e-vita”) to help present their skills to potential employers. It will focus on the relevance of the English major beyond the university, both in terms of professional development and civic engagement, helping students articulate how their studies have prepared them to be successful and productive citizens.

Learning Goals

• Articulate skills acquired across various English courses
• Relate the study of English to professional goals
• Discuss the public relevance of the humanities
• Produce a e-portfolio, e-vita and/or digital narrative showcasing skills and expertise
• Gather, edit, and showcase a range of writing samples