John H. Fisher, (2) "The Study and Teaching of English" by William C
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1 DOCUMEN T RF S UM F. 1 ED 021 877 TE 500 178 By-Gerber, John C., Ed THE COLLEGE TEACHING OF ENGLISH American Studies Association, Philadelphia, Pa.; College English Association:Inc.; Modern Language Association of America New York, IV.; National Council of Teachersof Englith Champaign, II!. Spons Agency-National Council of Teachers of English, Champaign,III. Pub Date 65 Note- 321p. Available from- Appleton-Century-Croft% 440 Park Ave. South, NewYork, N.Y. 4,6.001 EDRS Price MF-$1.25 HC Not Available from EDRS. Descriptors- ADMINISTRATION ARTICULATION (PROGRAM), COLLEGEINSTRUCTION, COLLEGE STUDENIS, COMPOSITION (LITERARY), *COURSE DESCRIPTIONS, CREATIVEWRITING, *CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL TRENDS, *ENGLISH INSTRUCTIOR *ENGLISHPROGRAMS GRADUATE STUDY, *HIGHER EDUCATION, LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION. LITERARY CRITICISM LITERATURE PROGRAMS PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS PROGRAM EVALUATION. UNDERGRADUATESTUDY Thirteen essays on the teaching of college English areincluded--(1) "Prospect" by John H. Fisher, (2) "The Study and Teachingof English" by WilliamC. De Vane, (3) Introductory Literature Courses" by Hoyt Trowbridge,(4) "General and Interdisciplinary Courses" by Robert C. Pooley, (5) "Freshman Composition"by Robert M. Gorrell, (6) "Advanced Composition" by Richard Lloyd-Jones,(7) "Courses in Creative Writing" by Richard Scowcroft, (8) "Courses in Language and Linguistics"by Albert H. Marckwardt, (9) "The Discipline of Literary Criticism" by Murray Krieger,Programs in English" by Roger P. McCutcheon, (12) "Articulation Between Programs inEnglishby Roger P. McCutcheon, (1 2)"Articulation Between High School and CollegeEnglish" by Donald J. Gray, and (13) "The Department of English: Organization and Administration"by Robert W. Rogers. Each author surveys the activities in his area and, in most cases, suggestsneeded reforms. (BN) THE COLLEGETEACHING OF ENGLISH _ - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE Of EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING II.POINTS Of VIEW OR OPINIONS RATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE Of EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. _ ti Prepared by THE COMMISSION ON THE ENGLISHCURRICULUM Vol. I The English Language Arts Vol. IILanguage Arts for Today's Children Vol. IIIThe English Language Arts in theSecondary School Vol. IVThe College Teaching of English Vol. V The Education of Teachers ofEnglish for American Schools and Colleges ne College Teaching of English GENERAL EDITOR John C. Gerber ASSOCIATE EDITORS John H. Fisher Curt A. Zimansky SPONSORED BY The National Council of Teachers of English The Modern Language Association The College English Association The American Studies Association NEW YORK: APPLETON-CENTURY-CROFTS Division of Meredith Publishing Company Copyright © 1965 by THE NATIONAL COUNCILOF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH All rights reserved. Thisbook, or parts thereof, must not be used orreproduced in any manner without writtenpermission. For information addressthe publisher, Appleton-Century-Crofts, Division of Mer- edithPublishing Company, 440Park Avenue South, New York,N. Y. 10016 635-1 Library of Congress CardNumber: 65-15628 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE MIS COPYRIGHTED MA1ERNL kY,MICROf ICHEANLY HAS BED GRANTED Bypa710 Oct 4,,i-r7e47 "Alwe_hevs TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WIN ME U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION. FURTHER REPRODUCTION OUTSIDE ME ERIC SYSTEM REQUIRES PERMISSION OF ME COPYRIGHT OWNER." PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATESOF AMERICA E35706 Dedicated to JAMES A. WORK 1 PREFACE WE HERE PRESENT a collection of essays on some of the most important aspects of the teaching of col- lege English. The authors of these essays are qualified by dedica- tion to teaching as well as by productive scholarship. Allwere asked to survey the activity in their areas and to suggest the cru- cial needs for the future. They were encouraged to affirm their convictions in their own way, and no attempt has been made to impose uniformity in either opinion or method. As a result,some have spoken from their own rich experience, others primarily from hours of research. Some urbanely survey the passing scene, some plead for reform, and still others demand it. On the funda- mental point of faith in our profession, everyone is in agreement. No one has questioned whether the teaching in college of our language and literature is worth doing; the problem has been, how we can do it well. Admittedly, these essays do not comprehend all possible aspects of teaching English in colleges and universities. We explored only incidentally such fields as American Civilization and Com- parative Literature where English blends with other disciplines. Similarly, we gave only slight consideration to problems of teach- ing or methodology. Other topics have had formaltreatment denied them on grounds of repetition. Such repetition inargu- ment and recommendation as still remains we hope will not be unwelcome. This book has been a long time on the way. Initially itwas to have appeared prior to the recently published Volume V in the series of works on the teaching of English sponsored by the Curriculum Commission of the National Council of Teachers of English. Under this plan Professor Porter Perrin of the Uni- vii I viii Preface versity of Washington collected descriptions of courses and cur- ricula in English from colleges and universities throughout the country. Well into the enormous task of studying this material, Professor Perrin became ill and had to abandon the plan. When in 1957 Professor James A. Work of Indiana University accepted the editorship, the project was expanded in both scope and sponsorship. Under his guidance the volume became a joint venture of the National Council of Teachers of English, the Modern Language Association, the American Studies Association, and the College English Association. Professor Work and repre- sentatives of these four organizations agreed that the book should not be simply a report on the more promising programs, as had been originally planned, but should be one which pointed beyond the best of today to the possibilities of tomorrow. With this new objective in mind, Professor Work selected his authors from lists prepared by the four organizations. Unhappily, writing on the several chapters had not been completed when the untimely death of Professor Work again brought activity to a stop. The present editors took over in 1961. It would be impossible for us to name all those who inone way or another have contributed to the making of this volume. Among others the list would include the executive secretaries and members of the boards of the four sponsoring organizations; Professor Dora Smith, Professor Porter Perrin, and othermem- bers of the National Council's Curriculum Commission; and all of those who over the years have sent in descriptions of their courses and programs. Especially, however, we wish to thank those whose names appear in the table of contents. The authors of the various chapters have been more understanding and long- suffering than any group of writers should ever have to be. Still, our greatest debt is to Professor Work who planned this volume but did not live to see its completion. Without his wis- dom, enthusiasm, and firm but friendly direction this book would not exist. JCG JHF CA Z EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS Wayne C. Booth, George M. Pullman Professor of English and Dean of the College, University of Chicago William C. DeVane, Dean, Yale College, and Professor of English, Yale University John H. Fisher, Professor of English, New York University, and Execu- tive Secretary, Modern Language Association of America John C. Gerber, Professor and Chairman of English, University of Iowa Robert M. Gorrell, Professor and Chairman of English, University of Nevada Donald J. Gray, Associate Professor of English, Indiana University Murray Krieger, M. F. Carpenter Professor of Literary Criticism,Uni- versity of Iowa Richard Lloyd-Jones, Associate Professor of English, University ofIowa Roger P. McCutcheon, Professor of English, VanderbiltUniversity; Dean Emeritus, Graduate School, Tulane University; Visiting Pro- fessor of English, University of Texas Albert H. Marckwardt, Professor of English andLinguistics, Princeton University Robert C. Poo ley, Professor of English, Universityof Wisconsin Robert W. Rogers, Professor of English and Dean,College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Richard Scowcroft, Professor of English, StanfordUniversity Hoyt Trowbridge, Professor of English andActing Academic Vice Presi- dent, University of New Mexico Curt A. Zimansky, Professor of English, Universityof Iowa CONSULTANT READERS Robert F. Lucid, Executive Secretary, American Studies Association, Wesleyan University Henry W. Sams, Professor and Head of English, The Pennsylvania State University Donald A. Sears, Executive Secretary, College English Association; Project Director, American Council on Education, Skidmore Col- lege George Winchester Stone, Jr., Professor of English and Dean of Gradu- ate Studies, New York University AND MEMBERS OF THE LIAISON COMMITTEE WITH THE FORMER NCTE COMMISSION ON THE ENGLISH CURRICULUM Angela M. Broening, Baltimore City Schools Alfred H. Grommon, Stanford University Helen K. Mackintosh, United States Office of Education Robert C. Poo ley, University of Wisconsin Dora V. Smith, University of Minnesota AND MEMBERS OF THE NCTE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS James R. Squire, NCTE Executive Secretary, University of Illinois, Chairman Jarvis E. Bush, Wisconsin State UniversityOshkosh