At Graduate Level

English 5500: Studies in Medieval Literature

This course takes several major and minor works of literature from the European medieval world and uses them to introduce European culture as a fertile growth area between the fifth and the fifteenth centuries. Introduces students to early Germanic, Celtic, Hispanic, Italian, Scandinavian, and Arabic literatures and how they lay the foundations for modern Western literature.

English 6380: Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer is the Father of English Literature. His Canterbury Tales is not just medieval, but modern in its social commentary, metatextuality, linguistic genius, and literary awareness. This course gives students an understanding of fourteenth century English literature and society, demonstrating how that period, and this work, defined literature for centuries to come.

English 6140: Applied English Linguistics

This course takes the four major strands of theoretical linguistics and situates them firmly in modern linguistic situations such as the language classroom, the language laboratory, the library, and the virtual world of the Internet. Gives students valuable skills in language technology, stylistics, language pedagogy, linguistics, and grammar.

English 6180: Modern English and its Backgrounds

This is a linguistics course providing students with a solid basic grounding in the grammar, phonetics, lexicon, and cultural background of Old, Middle, and Modern English. Gives students a solid, highly-applicable foundation in the formal structure of the English language.

At Undergraduate Level

English 4100 "Chaucer and His World"

This course locates Chaucer and his major works in the literary, political, and social world of the late fourteenth century. This course asks (and hopefully answers) several important questions surrounding literature of this period:

1) How was this world different to our own? How was it similar?

2) How did Chaucer deal with the social, political, and religious issues around him?

3) How did literary styles change during this period?

4) What sources was Chaucer drawing on? What influences did he leave on the writers who followed him?

English 4020 "Development of the English Language"

This course is an in-depth examination of the English language's development from earliest times right up to variant dialects of the modern day. The course examines how English vocabulary, syntax, grammar, and phonology have changed from pre-Old English times to the present day..

English 4800 "Tolkien and His Medieval Sources"

Analyzes the influence that medieval literature had on Tolkien and other writers of the twentieth century, particularly with the understanding that Tolkien saw himself as recreating a national literature and mythology. Students will learn the importance of kingship, particularly in the United Kingdom at a time of great uncertainty, and the moral use to which national literature was put during times of crisis. Students gain close familiarity with the medieval "greats," particularly those of Northwestern Europe, and their place in Indo-European mythologizing of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Students will also learn the significance of Tolkien as founder of the "fantasy" genre of modern literature.

English 3010 "English Literature Medieval to Neoclassical"

Familiarizes students with earlier English literature through close textual analysis of pivotal texts up to c.1780. Students are expected to become highly conversant with the major authors and texts. The ultimate goal is to understand the significance of these texts in their own context as well as in the developmental arc of English-language literature from earliest times right up to the modern day.

English 2020 "Language and Technology"

This course introduces students to the basic concepts and vocabulary of linguistics and technology, particularly as they pertain to the recording, transcription, and analysis of natural human language. Students examine technology's impact on human language, and the role that technology has taken in changing society. Students develop an understanding of ethical issues, and use technology to locate, evaluate, and present linguistic information.

English 3050 "Western Literature through the Renaissance"

Familiarizes students with the “Greats” of Western Literature through thorough textual analysis of pivotal and influential texts written in Europe and the Middle East before the Renaissance. Students are expected to become conversant with the major authors and texts, showing knowledge of how they influenced each other and all consequent literature.

English 4010 "Linguistics and Grammars"

Examines contemporary linguistic theory and applies it with a view to understanding the structures and functions of English in all its varieties, with a very thorough look at "prescriptivist" grammar. The course revolves mostly around standard American English, particularly looking at phonetics, phonology, syntax, morphology, and language acquisition.

English 4030 "Grammar and Style"

A thorough analysis of contemporary English grammar with particular emphasis on Standard and "Prescriptivist" language, as particularly applied to the stylistics of formal modern English prose. Grammar analysis will revolve mostly around Standard American and British English, particularly looking at phrase categories, and generative- and post-generative linguistics. Students will understand how grammar and stylistics can combine to generate sophisticated sentences.

English 1500 "Experiences in Literature"

Concentrating mostly on British and American 'greats' this course analyzes English literature from Shakespearean times right up to the modern age. On their journey students improve their ability to write papers and use the English language critically. Students gain an enhanced knowledge of English-language literature and greatly improve their writing skills.

English 1100 "Writing Effective Prose"

Students finish this course with improved skills in discursive, critical, and academic reading and writing. Writing and revising three papers (and numerous minor assignments) over the course of the semester, students will learn to critically examine important texts and assemble their opinions on these texts into competently-written papers.

British Literature (at Marquette University)

British Literature Survey.

Introduction to Literature (at Marquette University)

Basic Literature Introduction.

Linguistic Theory (at University of Wisconsin, Madison)

Senior-Level linguistics course, with a particular emphasis on Syntax.

Introduction to Fiction (at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

Freshman-Level Introduction to Fiction.

Introduction to Poetry (at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

Freshman-Level Introduction to Poetry.

Introduction to Drama (at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

Freshman-Level Introduction to Drama.

Modern Irish Gaelic (at the Humboldt University, Berlin)

Beginning-Level Language class.

I have also taught Irish Gaelic at all levels in Ireland, Germany, Canada, and the United States.

Modern Irish Gaelic Literature (at the Humboldt University, Berlin)

Literature Class for Advanced Students of Irish (Gaelic).

Medieval Religion and Magic (at the Humboldt University, Berlin)

Advanced Class in Medieval English and Irish Religious and Magical Texts.

Tutor of Old English Literature (at University College, Cork)

Teaching Assistant for Senior-Level Old English Literature Classes.