Live Chat with an Advisor!
Contact Us
forgrad@plymouth.edu
Tel: (800) FOR-GRAD or
(603) 535-2636
Fax: (603) 535-2572
Plymouth State University
MSC 11
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264-1595
Course Descriptions
For a full list of graduate course descriptions, go to our course descriptions page.
EN 5000 Teacher Action Research - 3 credits
This course is designed to provide a background in qualitative classroom-based research. Students design a research project in which they find and frame a research question that they will investigate through interview, observations, participant observations and/or analysis of artifacts. They will write up and present the results of this limited study.
EN 5050 Theory and Practice in the Teaching of Writing Middle/Secondary - 6 credits This is a summer institute for teachers of grades K-16 sponsored by the Plymouth Writing Project. Teachers work on their own writing, conduct research into an aspect of teaching writing, participate in reflective practice and in critical teaching demonstrations. This is an intensive, full time, summer experience. Available through application only.
EN 5100 Using Film to Teach Literature in Secondary Schools - 3 credits
The study of the basic elements and techniques of filmmaking and the exploration of methods through which the study of film might be used in the literature class, primarily with the visual elements inherent in literature. The course will culminate with each student teaching a session on a scene from a film.
EN 5150 Teaching Early Modern Literature - 3 credits
This course will emphasize multi-disciplinary, cultural studies approaches to teaching English literature from the early modern period (roughly 1500–1700) in secondary schools. We will read and discuss canonical English writers from this period, but we will also pay much attention to marginalized writers and cultural, political and historical texts that inform readings of these authors. We will also study performance pedagogy in teaching drama.
EN 5200 Teaching Literature in a Global Context - 3 credits
Students will focus on comparing points of view from first and third world countries. Four novels will be taught in pairs. One novel will be from a first-world perspective, the second from a third-world. Students will be enjoined to see how perspective determines narrative. The emphasis is on the range of perspectives.
EN 5230 Teaching Literature: The Memoir - 3 credits
This course will focus on the memoir as a literary form. Students will read and discuss memoirs and devise a memoir unit for their classes.
EN 5240 Study of Language and Grammar - 3 credits
Selected reading and research in the nature and development of language, history of the English language, dialects, levels of uses and purposes of language. The structure of American English. Recent developments in language study.
EN 5300 Poetry Workshop for Teachers - 3 credits
This course is designed to help teachers develop their own poetry and to learn ways of working with poetry with their students. They will compile a portfolio of their own original poetry and design a poetry-writing program for use in their classes. They will also learn techniques for integrating the study of poetry throughout the curriculum.
EN 5320 Teaching Literature: The Short Story - 3 credits
This course focuses on critical reading of short fiction and how to approach discussion of story elements.
EN 5350 Non-Fiction Workshop for Teachers - 3 credits
Students will become familiar with the genre of creative non-fiction. They will consider questions like: What is an essay? What are some of the forms that it takes? How do these forms complement your interests as teachers and writers? Students will prepare a portfolio of their non- fiction work.
EN 5360 Fiction Writing Workshop for Teachers - 3 credits
This course is designed to help teachers develop their own fiction and to learn ways of working with their students. They will compile a portfolio of their own original fiction and design a fiction-writing program for use in their classes. They will also learn techniques for integrating the study of fiction throughout the curriculum.
EN 5400 Journalism Workshop - 3 credits
Students will learn how to edit and put together a small newspaper/magazine. They will learn how to edit and tailor stories to different news outlets. They will work to understand and to help their students to understand how the news media shape how they and their students think about the world.
EN 5450 Leadership in Writing - 3–6 credits
This is an advanced course for teachers who are ready to assume leadership positions relative to staff development in the teaching of writing. The course will provide an in-depth background in the teaching of writing, including process based teaching, planning for instruction, assessment, writing across the curriculum, staff development, and how to help teachers become reflective practitioners in all areas of the teaching of writing. Available through application only.
EN 5500 Topics in Teaching Literature - 1–3 credits
Various topics in literature at the graduate level, not covered in other English courses. May be repeated with different topics.
EN 5560 Topics in Teaching Writing - 1–3 credits
Various topics related to the teaching of writing not covered in other English courses. May be repeated with different topics.
EN 5600 Technical Writing Across Disciplines - 3 credits
This course is designed to encourage critical thought and to teach students to analyze and write for an audience whose technical understanding is less than the writer’s own.
EN 5620 Promising Practices in the Teaching of Writing - 1-3 credits
An introduction to various promising practices in the teaching of writing. Participants will attend workshops and follow up sessions after applying promising practices in their classrooms. They will then write a culminating paper in which they reflect on their experience and what they have learned from implementing the practices with their students.
EN 5630 Writing Workshop for Teachers - 3 credits
Structure and implementation of classroom writing workshops, including conferences and portfolio assessment. Students will study writing process history and theory, and work with their own writing. They will create a personal literature anthology exploring their relationship to various literary genres. Analysis of student writing samples, evaluation criteria for writing and their implication for teaching will be discussed.
EN 5640 Theory and Practice: Teaching Writing at the Secondary Level - 3 credits
An introduction to methods and philosophies of the teaching of writing, with a focus on grades 5–12. Students will explore philosophical elements of a process/environmental approach to teaching writing for responsive teaching in a democratic and pluralistic society. They will use constructivist learning theory to set up and practice writing conferences and in-depth assessment of student writing, and have practiced using that assessment to guide instruction. Observation and participation in secondary or middle schools required.
EN 5750 Advanced Writing Workshop for Teachers: Editing and Publishing - 3 credits
This course is designed for teachers with some experience teaching writing using a process methodology, or those who have had training in that area. The course provides an opportunity for them to work at their own writing and to learn about the compilation of a literary anthology.
EN 5760 Personal Writing to Learn - 1–3 credits
This course focuses on writing in the disciplines and on using one’s own experience writing in the course as a springboard for integrating writing assignments into teaching.
EN 5800 Internship in the Secondary School - 3 credits
This course involves the planning and implementation of a specific unit of study involving the teaching of writing in the secondary school. Students will design and implement the unit of study, which will end in a culminating event such as a public reading, a literary magazine, an oral history or travel writing project. Students should begin this course with a specific idea to develop into a unit with their classes.
EN 5820 Writing for Young Adults - 3 credits
This course centers around writing for an adolescent audience. Participants will write and workshop fiction for young adults.
EN 5830 Teaching Literature for Cultural Understanding - 1–3 credits
This course provides an introduction to the use of multicultural literature appropriate for K–12 classes to increase cultural understanding. Students will apply a spectrum of intercultural sensitivity as a guide for working with their students. The course involves the planning and implementation of a unit of study involving the teaching of multicultural literature in the K–12 school and integrating writing and the arts.
EN 5860 Young Adult Literature - 3 credits
This course is designed to prepare pre-service teachers at the secondary level in the teaching of young adult literature at the middle school level. We will explore the historical and cultural contexts of Young Adult Literature and its major genres. We will review and evaluate books, relate adolescent literature to adolescent development and explore the major approaches to teaching literature at the middle school level.
EN 5870 Teaching Literature in Secondary School - 3 credits
Instructional methods and materials used in teaching literature at the secondary (5–12) level. Observation and participation in local schools is required.
EN 5910 Independent Study - 1–3 credits
Enrichment of the background of students in education through the pursuit of a special topic pertinent to their interests and abilities. A chance for an in-depth study of a problem in the field of English. Consent of a faculty supervisor, department chair and the Associate Vice President is required.
