Core Literature

In fall 2003, the University of New Mexico adopted a revised Core Curriculum required for all UNM undergraduate students. The courses in the Core Curriculum according to the UNM Catalog are “designed to enhance each student’s academic capabilities,” to ensure “grounding in the broad knowledge and intellectual values obtained in a liberal arts education,” and to provide a “shared academic experience.” The Department of English offers courses that satisfy two of the seven areas of study: Writing and Speaking and Humanities.

English 1410, “The Study of Literature,” and English 2650/2660 “Surveys of World Literature” count toward fulfilling the six-hour Humanities requirement for the UNM Core Curriculum. Each of these courses is designed to meet the broad objectives of the UNM Core, as well as to introduce undergraduates to the discipline of English and world literary and cultural studies. English 1410, 2650, and 2660 offer students opportunities to write about and discuss literature and literary forms in multiple genres, as well as to make connections from the literary works to the fine arts, culture, and history, All three courses also engage students in various degrees of literary analysis and writing about literature in order to hone their stylistic, analytical and critical skills.

There are no pre-requisites for English 1410, 2650 and 2660. See below for course descriptions, objectives and student learning outcomes, as well as sample syllabi.

Course Listings

100-Level

English 1410: The Study of Literature (3 Credits)

An introduction to the study and appreciation of literature for non-English majors.  Shows how understanding writers’ techniques increases the enjoyment of their works; relates these techniques to literary conventions; teaches recognition, analysis, discussion of important themes.  Meets New Mexico Lower-Division General Education Common Core Curriculum Area V: Humanities and Fine Arts (NMCCN 2213). (LL)

Fulfills 3 credits of the Humanities requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Recognize and analyze basic themes in literature [NEM HED Area V Core Competency 1].
• Recognize and describe literary conventions in the genres of poetry, fiction and drama [NEM HED Area V Core Competency 5].
• Write brief essays in response to questions about literature [NM HED Area I Core Competencies 2 and 3; Area V Core Competencies 1 and 5].

200-Level

English 2650: World Literatures - Ancient World through the 16th Century

A survey of key texts in world literature from the ancient world through the 16th century.  Meets New Mexico Lower-Division General Education Common Core Curriculum Area V: Humanities and Fine Arts (NMCCN 2613). (LL)

Fulfills 3 credits of the Humanities requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• situate key authors and literary works from the earliest literatures of Sumeria to about 1650 (Engl 2650) and from about 1650 to the present (Engl 2660) within their historical and cultural contexts (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area V Core Competencies 2 and 3].
• compare and contrast works from different cultures and historical periods to those from other cultural traditions and other historical eras examining genre, style, and content or theme (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area V Core Competencies 2 and 3];
• analyze and interpret works from different historical and cultural traditions using appropriate critical terms of literary analysis and responding to questions about genre, style, and content or theme (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area I Core Competency 1; Area V Core Competency 1];
• recognize and evaluate how some literary works reflect historical, national, cultural, and ethnic differences, even as they invoke shared human experiences that may relate to readers and the world today (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area V Core Competencies 3 and 4];
• write with increasing proficiency critical essays characterized by original and insightful theses, supported by logically integrated and sound subordinate ideas, appropriate and pertinent evidence, and good sentence structure, diction, grammar, punctuation, and spelling [NM HED Area I Core Competencies 2 and 3; Area V Core Competencies 1 and 5].

English 2660: World Literatures - 17th Century through the Present

English 2660 is a survey of key texts in world literatures from the 17th century through the present. Includes fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction from the Japan, India, China, Africa, the Arabic world, Europe, and the Americas.

Fulfills 3 credits of the Humanities requirement.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• situate key authors and literary works from the earliest literatures of Sumeria to about 1650 (Engl 2650) and from about 1650 to the present (Engl 2660) within their historical and cultural contexts (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area V Core Competencies 2 and 3].
• compare and contrast works from different cultures and historical periods to those from other cultural traditions and other historical eras examining genre, style, and content or theme (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area V Core Competencies 2 and 3];
• analyze and interpret works from different historical and cultural traditions using appropriate critical terms of literary analysis and responding to questions about genre, style, and content or theme (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area I Core Competency 1; Area V Core Competency 1];
• recognize and evaluate how some literary works reflect historical, national, cultural, and ethnic differences, even as they invoke shared human experiences that may relate to readers and the world today (in short essays and examinations) [NM HED Area V Core Competencies 3 and 4];
• write with increasing proficiency critical essays characterized by original and insightful theses, supported by logically integrated and sound subordinate ideas, appropriate and pertinent evidence, and good sentence structure, diction, grammar, punctuation, and spelling [NM HED Area I Core Competencies 2 and 3; Area V Core Competencies 1 and 5].