Department of English

Assistant Professor Wren, Department Chair
Professors: Bonds, Lopez-Esquivel, Thompson
Visiting Assistant Professer: Cardona

Instructor: Laurence

Mission and Goals:

Students successfully completing English department requirements at McMurry University will be able to:

Write essays and media projects using appropriate conceptual methods and researched information.
Use upper-level reading techniques and critical thinking skills to investigate and understand literary and cultural traditions and innovations.
Understand and apply theories of literature and composition and rhetoric to traditional and emerging media.
Participate in the English Club and Sigma Tau Delta, Internships, and Conferences.
Pursue further graduate, professional, or legal education or careers in fields requiring skilled critical thinking and written communication.

First Year Composition Placement:

The English Department wants McMurry students to succeed. Accordingly, we screen all first-time college students or transfers who have not completed ENGL 1310 (or approved equivalent) to place them into the best courses for their success. McMurry University offers placement testing; however, students may also submit TSI (Texas students), Asset, or Accuplacer scores to meet this requirement. Students whose placement results suggest they would benefit from focused support for Reading and Writing skills and Learning strategies will register for Integrated Reading & Writing: ENGL 1310 and ENGL 1033. Academic advisors will assist students in registering for the appropriate level of classes. Declining required testing constitutes acceptance of placement in developmental education classes. Some students may be exempt from the placement tests if ACT/SAT subscores exceed the established cutoff levels listed below.

SAT (2016) Reading 27 or higher
SAT (2016) Writing & Language: 28 or higher
ACT English: 19 or higher

A student whose academic placement results indicate a need for precollege development in writing must register for and continually enroll in the corresponding developmental course(s) until it is passed with a grade of C- or better. Once a student has met this requirement, they must enroll in the corresponding academic course(s). Developmental courses begin with a 1, have a 0 as the second digit and a designator of “D” at the end of the course number. These courses are not college level and do not count towards hours used for graduation. They are calculated in the GPA and are used for semester credit load.

McMurry Writing Center

The Writing Center encourages McMurry students to consult with our trained writing tutors. Our tutors will help with any aspect of student writing, from how to approach specific assignments to how to improve general writing skills, such as revision, editing, formatting, and incorporating research. Tutoring sessions will be one-on-one and can be on a drop-in basis or scheduled in advance.

Special Programs and Opportunities

Sigma Tau Delta. A professional and national honor society for students of literature and language.

Departmental Honors. Please see the description of the Honors Program under the Special Program section earlier in the catalog.

The Galleon. The literary magazine of McMurry University, overseen by Mr. Cole Thompson.

Writing Center Advisor. Under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth Laurence, tutors receive CRLA certification and develop experience advising peers on all phases of the Writing Process.

Claudie Park Wilson and Stanley P. Wilson Scholarship. Awarded each year to an outstanding upper-level English major. Renewable.

Jewell Posey Outstanding English Major. Commemorating one of the 6 original Faculty women, awarded to 1 or more promising English Majors in their first 2 years.

Mary Guillett Award for Outstanding English Graduate. Awarded each year to a graduating senior English student.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor

Certificate

Writing Certificate

Courses

English