English majors will find these files useful when selecting courses.
English Major Requirement Worksheet (updated for 2013-2014)
A worksheet for English Majors for successfully completing all requirements. Please note the change in "additional courses" requirements to allow all CW courses and EN142. Downloads: PDF| Word
A worksheet for those considering the Creative Writing concentration or minor. Downloads: PDF| Word
Designing the Strongest English Major and Careers in English
How to select courses that will maximize your future opportunities based on your personal interests and aspirations. Updated April 16, 2013
Downloads:PDF|Word
Pre-1800 Courses
The English Major requires at least three pre-1800 literature courses. These documents contain the courses that fulfill the pre-1800 requirement for each academic year listed.
Pre-1800 Courses for 2010-2011 Downloads:PDF | Word
Pre-1800 Courses for 2011-2012 Downloads:PDF | Word
Pre-1800 Courses for 2012-2013 updated 4/17/2012 Downloads: PDF | Word
Pre-1800 Courses for 2013-2014 updated 4/16/13 Downloads:PDF | Word
Possible Foreign Language Literature Electives
The English Major allows for two electives, which may be any upper-level courses in English or American literature, creative writing, or a foreign language literature course (original language or in translation).
This document lists the 2010-2011 foreign language courses that will fulfill the elective requirement.
Downloads:PDF | Word
This document lists the 2011-2012 foreign language courses that will fulfill the elective requirement.
Downloads:PDF | Word
This document lists the 2012-2013 foreign language courses that will fulfill the elective requirement. Downloads:PDF | Word
This document lists the 2013-2014 foreign language courses that will fulfill the elective requirement.
Downloads:PDF | Word
W1 courses offered by the English Department
W1 courses are a requirement for first-year students. The English department offers four types of W1 courses.
1.EN115 is a general English composition course designed for non-English majors.
EN115 English Composition Four credit hours.W1.
Frequent practice in expository writing to foster clarity of organization and expression in the development of ideas. Assigned reading will vary from section to section, but all sections will discuss student writing. Required for first-year students. Descriptions of the individual sections can be found on the registrar's website and in this document.
2.EN120 is a composition course with a focus on critical reading of literature and the writing of critical essays. This course is recommended for students who are prospective English majors. This course and a 200 level English course (not a creative writing or rhetoric course) will fulfill the English major's gateway course requirement of EN172. See** below.
EN120 Language, Thought, and Writing Four credit hours.W1.
A small seminar teaching writing through instruction in critical reading of literature and writing of critical essays. Multi-genre and writing-intensive, it focuses on different ways of conceptualizing the connections between thought and linguistic expression. Topics include developing skills for reading metaphorically and symbolically, using poetic and narrative models; investigating literature as a form of persuasion; and engaging different historical and critical approaches that enlarge ways of writing about literature and representation. Students will be introduced to some of the primary critical modes of thought in literary and cultural studies.
3.EN126 and EN135 are composition and literature courses as part of a three course Integrated Studies cluster. These courses fulfill the literature (L) requirement. Please see IS126 and IS135 for further details.
4.EN151 This course differs from EN115 in that works of literature are closely read and written about, thus it fulfills the literature (L) requirement for non-English majors.
EN151J Reading and Writing About Literature Four credit hours.L, W1.
Writing intensive. Students will have the opportunity to develop expository writing skills through frequent writing and revision and through conferences with the professor. Because close reading is such a crucial component of clear thinking and cogent writing, class discussions will model how reading carefully, thinking clearly, and writing convincingly are all key elements in the study of literary texts. Particular topics and readings will vary from section to section. Descriptions of the individual sections can be found on the registrar's website and in this document.
Students who are considering majoring in English are encouraged to take EN120 and a 200 level English course as your first courses in the major. If you take any other W1 course, you will need to take EN172 as the first course in your English major.
**Students taking EN120 as their W1 may waive EN172 but must take an additional 200-level survey course (i.e. 251, 252, 255, 256, 265, 266, 268, 297, 298).
The following download files have descriptions for specific sections that are being offered in these semesters
W1 English Department Courses Fall 2012 Downloads: PDF | Word
W1 English Department Courses Jan Plan 2013 Downloads: PDF | Word
W1 English Department Courses Spring 2013 Downloads: PDF | Word
EasyBib is an online resource for helping students create correctly formated works cited pages.
Meet With a Librarian
Sara Prahl is available to meet with students, either one-on-one or in small groups, who are looking for information or doing research in English.
Plagiarism.org
Plagiarism.org is a resource for both students and professors on plagiarism. This site covers not only how to identify when a paper has been plagiarized, but also how to correctly cite sources and other frequently asked question to prevent accidental plagiarism.
This is a list of a few programs that may be useful for reading pdf files, and for formating your bibliographies.
Endnote
Endnote is one of the suggested bibliographic tools for citing sources. Note: after the download, you must extract the file before clicking on the installer (otherwise you will be prompted for a product key). If you have questions about the software and its use, contact Sara Prahl, Miller Library 101, x5147, slprahl@colby.edu
Downloads: Mac | Windows
Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader is a free program designed to read - but not edit - PDF files. This is useful for students who do not already have a PDF file reader on their computer. Macintosh users can use Preview to read PDF files. Download: Adobe Reader
The Farnham Writers’ Center is a resource for all Colby students, faculty members, staff, and members of their families. Trained Colby Students operate the center with the philosophy that writing is not a discrete skill but rather an important part of thinking and learning. The Farnham Writers’ Center is located in Miller Library 9C and is open weekdays and Sunday through Thursday evenings. Appointments may be made online at here. Students with questions may call extension 5290 (207-859-5290). For more information please visit the Farnham Writers’ Website.
