All writing is creative, including the writing you do for school, internet posts to social media, and text/email messages. Where there was a blank page–virtual or otherwise–and you fill it with your words, you have, in fact, drawn on your intellectual resources to create patterns of meaning with those words.
“Creative writing,” however, generally refers to poetry, fiction, drama, and some forms of non-fiction–memoirs and narratives that use the techniques of story-telling.
We will focus on understanding how form and meaning work together and on understanding the types and complexities of each genre–notably, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and cross-genres–so each student can begin to develop their unique, individual voice.
Together, we will explore and write within new genres, conduct research, and reflect on our writing practices. By the end of this semester, you’ll be able to analyze and participate in genres inside and outside of higher education. The aim is to build skills that will be useful in future coursework, the workplace, and in your personal lives. In other words, this course isn’t self-contained—we’re aiming to give you a toolbox of skills that you can apply to other classes and situations.
Together, we will explore and write within new genres, conduct research, and reflect on our writing practices. By the end of this semester, you’ll be able to analyze and participate in genres inside and outside of higher education. The aim is to build skills that will be useful in future coursework, the workplace, and in your personal lives. In other words, this course isn’t self-contained—we’re aiming to give you a toolbox of skills that you can apply to other classes and situations.
English 1101CO is a writing-intensive course designed to strengthen your composition skills. Writing a variety of essays, in addition to a research project, will help you develop skills such as building an argument, adapting writing for different needs and situations, interpreting and responding to a text, incorporating secondary source material effectively, and mastering the mechanics of quoting, citing, and documenting sources. We will be reading pieces both for their inherent literary value and also as models of composition that you may employ in your writing assignments.
The “CO” in English 1101CO stands for corequisite, which means that in addition to the English 1101 coursework, we will dedicate time to strengthening fundamental reading and writing skills. We will focus on enhancing vocabulary and critical reading skills, using step-by-step approaches to writing assignments, improving grammar and punctuation skills, and cultivating positive habits for college success, including note-taking and study skills.
Reading Effectively Across Disciplines
Reading is essential to college learning in every content area. The READ program supports faculty professional development for implementation and assessment of teaching strategies to improve their students’ reading comprehension, analysis, context and evaluation skills in the disciplines.
Each year, the English Department at New York City College of Technology organizes the Literary Arts Festival. This event highlights the work of students, staff, and faculty, as well as accomplished writers outside of the City Tech community. There is also a writing competition that awards prizes to students in a variety of writing categories, as well as to faculty and staff in their own category.
Online space for faculty members of the English Department to collaborate, share resources, have conversations, and archive departmental materials.
*Avatar Photo Credit: magnetic fridge poetry, Steve Johnson, July 3, 2007: https://flic.kr/p/86hhuk
A student led Christian club that talks about the gospel and the relevance of Christ in our daily lives . It is nondenominational and welcome to any who will come.
