Dr. Wright's research focus extends from shifting conceptions of justice in British literature and culture of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries to their reverberations in today's fragmented social and political world. Beyond the theory and development of the novel, her interests include several topics pertaining to the history of ideas as reflected in literature, encompassing the history of science, the history of law, changing theories of affect and emotion, and African American fiction and poetry. Each of these interests, while apparently varied, informs her examination of politically charged representations, in contexts ranging from laboratory science to legal testimony.
keywords
eighteenth-century through Romantic British literature and culture, development and theories of the novel, history of ideas as reflected in literature, law and literature, emotion and affect, race in literature, science and literature, African American literature
ENGL 1001 - Writing, Reading, Culture
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2019
This course provides training and practice in writing and critical thinking with a focus on literary and cultural studies. We will emphasize reading, the writing process, the fundamentals of composition, and the structure of arguments. There will be varied writing assignments with opportunities for revision.
ENGL 2504 - Enlightenment and Modernity
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
Surveys key trends and works in literature after 1660, focusing on issues such as modernity; national or colonial identities; political, economic, social, technologic and scientific revolutions; and reading and media technologies. Students will be encouraged to read aloud, explore unfamiliar literary forms, and share their ideas and questions. Formerly ENGL 2512.
ENGL 3026 - Syntax, Citation, Analysis: Writing About Literature
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2021 / Spring 2023
Students hone their writing skills by closely analyzing the language in literary texts. The course will focus on the nuances of sentence structure and grammar, in order to help students become better writers and readers. Students will learn how to perform research in literary criticism and will write and revise a research paper, as well as a number of other short papers for different audiences. Students will learn and use citation methods within the discipline and will discuss the reasoning behind citational practice. Recommended prerequisite: completion of lower-division writing requirement.
ENGL 3377 - Literatures of Race, Multiculturalism, Ethnicity
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Race-related controversies are constantly in the news, and college is when many of us form opinions on these topics. Exploring the literatures of race, multiculturalism, and ethnicity alongside and beyond traditional classics can help us become more informed members of society. This course will help students understand how reading literary and cultural texts and media consumption can shape our assumptions of shared belonging or unbridgeable differences. Topics vary each semester. Check department description for details. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours for different topics.
ENGL 4039 - Capstone in Literary Studies
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
Topic varies by section, but all sections include small seminar discussions and focus on an individualized research project related to the topic. This course will draw on skills from previous courses in critical reading, thinking, and writing and will culminate in high-level discussions and in the final project. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
ENGL 4830 - Honors Thesis
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
Students accepted to English Departmental Honors are enrolled in this course.
ENGL 5029 - British Literature and Culture Before 1800
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2023
Introduces graduate level study of medieval and early modern writing through the long eighteenth century. Emphasizes a wide range of genres, forms, historical background, and secondary criticism. Cultivates research skills necessary for advanced graduate study. Topics will vary. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
ENGL 5169 - Multicultural/Postcolonial Studies
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2023
Introduces graduate level study of ethnic American and/or postcolonial writing in English, including relevant theoretical discourse. Emphasizes a wide range of genres, forms, historical background, and secondary criticism. Cultivates research skills necessary for advanced graduate study. Topics will vary. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
