English 101 teaches the social and situated nature of writing—that is, the ways in which writing is tied to purpose, audience, community, and content. Both courses emphasize community, genre, and awareness of the rhetorical situation. You will write in several genres and analyze how purpose, audience, and context help shape research, organization, and language choices. In addition, the course introduces primary research methods, including interviews and observations. You'll reflect on your writing and writing process throughout the course, and you will submit a final portfolio reflecting on all of your work from the semester.

Pre-requisites: ENGL 101, 101A, or 107 OR equivalent credit for these courses.

ENGL 102 and 108 build on the close-reading and research strategies introduced in English 101/107/101A but focus more on researching, analyzing, and developing arguments.

While ENGL 108 has same curriculum and student learning outcomes as ENGL 102, the student population and teacher feedback are often different. ENGL 108 is designed for international students and English language learners, but all students may choose this course. ENGL 108 instructors typically have a background in teaching English as a Second Language, which allows for an understanding of grammar and writing that emphasizes language awareness.

In ENGL 102 and 108, you will research an issue that interests you, analyzing the positions and rhetorical strategies of those who take a stand on that issue. You will develop effective research strategies that help locate, evaluate, and integrate sources into your analyses and arguments. In crafting your own arguments, you will learn to draft and revise with a specific purpose, audience, and context in mind and to write within and across different academic, professional, and personal communities.

View sample assignment sheets and activities from ENGL 102 and 108 below: