UNDERGRADUATE COURSES AT OU

[CRN – 16588] 2123/240 Creative Writing (W) M-F, 1:00-3:10PM Jeffers

This course is an introductory course to creative writing (fiction and poetry) and is a prerequisite for 3000 and 4000 creative writing courses within the English Department. This course will not include genre writing (i.e., sci fi, fantasy, romance, mystery, etc.) and since this course is considered “writing intensive,” frequent written assignments will be required of each student throughout the semester.

[CRN – 18548] 2133/140 Autobiographical Writing (W) M-F, 1:00-3:10PM Kates

This course is designed to help you develop your skills as a writer: in increase your control over the process of writing and to hone your awareness of how a sense of audience, persona, tone and other elements of style can influence the ways that readers make sense of and respond to your writing.

[CRN – 16960] 4283/140 Hip Hop as Poetry (AF, MC) M-F, 10:30AM-12:40PM John

In this class we will examine the phenomenon known as Hip Hop from three different angles. First, we will examine the social and political context that has produced the music and made it into a cultural phenomenon. To this end, we will go back as far as the 1950’s and 60’s and watch and discuss documentaries that give us an historical context for understanding the politics, race relations, and social concerns that shaped the U.S. at that time and the Black population within it. The texts by Chang and Fricke as well as our Wednesday night film screenings will be useful in this regard. Secondly, we will read several key essays that will help us to understand culture, identity, and language formation as it relates to the African diaspora (Black populations dispersed throughout the Americas). As part of this segment we will analyze the lyrics from assigned songs and albums, looking at the philosophical worldview, notions of culture, identity, metaphor, proverbial speech and the social commentary at stake. Finally, we will deal with the poetics of the form through active performance. Here we will engage the orality of this mode of cultural expression from three angles: inspiration, technique and improvisation. Attendance and participation is a huge part of the course grade in this class in general, and participation will count for extra on these days.

PLEASE NOTE:

ENGL 3023, 3403, and 4383 will be taught in Ireland, France, and New Mexico, respectively.