Practicing Theory: Reading, Writing, and Meaning (ENGL 350)
Term: 2023-24 Academic Year Fall
Description
This course introduces students to major questions and approaches in literary and rhetorical theory by treating theory as an active practice rather than an abstract body of ideas. Students examine how texts are made, how meaning is produced and contested, and how language shapes experience, identity, and culture. Through close reading, discussion, and sustained writing, the course explores debates about authorship, interpretation, representation, value, and responsibility—along with their relevance to contemporary media, digital culture, and AI-mediated communication. Emphasis is placed on applying theoretical perspectives to a range of texts.