A major in English is also good preparation for continued graduate or professional training in areas such as English, law, political science/government, public administration, communications, religious studies (e.g., seminary).

UNC Writing Center — Their ‘handouts’ offer strong, updated advice for astute reading and writing, categorized and very thorough. Here is their excellent ‘handout’ on Annotated Bibliographies: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/annotated-bibliographies/

The OWL: Online Writing Lab at Purdue University — the ‘traditional’, very useful web-based resource for college writing

Rhetoric and Composition — an open access, Creative Commons-licensed online writer’s guide

They Say / I Say — a key rhetoric/writing text that shows great examples of how to phrase ideas with respect to ongoing public discourse. 4th Edition, with Readings.

Literature & Creative Writing Resources

Project Gutenberg:  TONS of FREE online books, including literary classics

Poets.org: GOBS of poetry, poets’ biographies and critical essays

Poets & Writers: Resources for writers including suggestions on publishing

Short Story ideas: Fun, quick way to get a ‘nudge’ toward dreaming up a story idea

You have options, depending on your priority.

• If you are preparing to transfer or earn a degree or certificate, then focus on the Composition and Reading sequence. Academic Counseling will advise you about choosing either ENGL 1A or ENGL 1AS:

English 1A (Composition and Reading — emphasis on expository essays — required for transfer and Associate’s degrees)

English 1AS (Composition and Reading WITH SUPPORT — counts the same as ‘regular’ 1A, but includes extra student-support components and a little more time for working on assignments during class)

• After completing 1A with a C or better grade, transfer-bound students can complete their last transfer-requirement English class:

English 005 (Critical Thinking) – AND / OR –

English 1B (Composition and Reading — Literature)

• If you’re looking to improve your writing skills and do some guided reading with a group of like-minded students, check out the 200-level literature courses (ENGL 230A/B or ENGL 231) or creative writing courses (English 210A/B).

• If you want to major In English, or pursue reading and/or writing in a serious manner, creatively or professionally, then consider literature and creative writing courses numbered below 100, such as ENGL 010A/B – Creative Writing, ENGL 031 – African-American Literature, ENGL 030A – Intro to (Early) American Literature, and ENGL 030B – Intro to (Modern) American Literature.