English

The English Major's Handbook

For many years, English majors were required to buy a printed literary handbook for use in their classes at Winthrop. However, in this electronic age, the department determined that many of the resources in a print literary handbook were already available on the Internet, making a print version less necessary to students. At the same time, electronic resources can also provide a wide range of supplements to a print handbook, allowing students wider access to information they may need in their studies. Therefore, the department in 2008 moved to an "Electronic English Major's Handbook" of resources for our students. This tool is required for all English majors beginning with the 2008-2009 catalog and is strongly recommended for all English majors, period.  We encourage you to try out these links, let us know if they are useful to you, and suggest others. We want this to be an interactive and up-to-date resource for your needs as you pursue your degree in English at Winthrop University. 

Here's what you'll find in the Electronic Handbook:

• Guidelines and Requirements
• The Reading List (pdf- 120 kb)

Tools for Literary Analysis

Tools for Writing about Literature

Tools for Literary Research

Tools for Your Future

Other Useful Tools

Suggest a Tool

Note: All external websites will open in a new window. 

Tools for Literary Analysis 

• Guides to Literary and Rhetorical Terminology
  • University of Kentucky Glossary of Classical Rhetorical Terms
  • Kip Wheeler's Glossary of Literary Terms
  • Richard Nordquist's Figures, Tropes, and Other Rhetorical Terms
• Literary Timelines
  • WSU's Brief Timeline of American Literature, Pre-1620--1920
  • Timeline of Major Developments in World Lit (orig. from Norton Anthology)
• Guides to Literary Criticism
  • Internet Public Library Guide to Literary Criticsm
  • Kristi Siegel's Guide to Modern Literary Theory
• General Guides to Literary Resources
  • UCSB's Voice of the Shuttle
  • Luminarium Anthology of British Literature through 1660
  • The Labyrinth (Medieval Studies)
  • Donna Campbell's American Literature Resources online
  • University of Virginia Library Digital Texts Collection
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Digital Center
• Suggested Literary Handbooks in Print
  • Harmon and Holman, A Handbook to Literature, 11th ed. (Prentice Hall, 2008)
  • M. H. Abrams, A Glossary of Literary Terms, 9th ed. (Wadsworth, 2008)
  • J. A. Cuddon, Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, 4th ed. (Penguin, 2000)  

Tools for Writing about Literature 

• The Writing Center
• MLA Documentation Guide
• Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab--hundreds of handouts)
• How to Explicate A Poem (UNC Chapel Hill)
• Snappy Guide to Writing a Critical Paper and a paper to practice on "The Little Mermaid's Pact with Satan"- Dr. Bickford

Tools for Literary Research 

• Dacus Online Catalogue
• University of Pennsylvania listing of upcoming scholarly conferences and calls for papers

Tools for Your Future 

• Am I Going to Graduate? Be sure to check the blanket petitions!
• Tips for Seniors
• Careers for English Majors 
• How to ask for a Letter of Recommendation 
• Center for Career Development and Internships

Other Useful Tools 

• Wingspan
• Records and Registration 
• Information for Students with Disabilities
• College of Education Student Academic Services
• Travel Support for Undergraduate Research

Suggest a Tool

If you know of a great website that helps you succeed as an English major, please let us know about it!  Suggest a Tool!