The Department of English Composition and Creative Writing introduces the student to university-level writing and seeks to expand their critical abilities. Several types of written work are examined from fiction and non-fiction perspectives as well as academic writing strategies.
3 semester credits. This course adds a critical dimension to writing skills through analysis and advocacy. Students will examine language from the perspectives of logic, induction/deduction, facts, inference, judgements, and formal and informal fallacies of written expression. Reasoning and argumentation approaches are covered and exercised through the writing projects required by the course. Critical writing is also examined according to the awareness of diverse contexts and audiences and developing persuasive claims through reasoning and evidence. Prerequisites: At least one college writing course or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course is based on an introduction to fiction writing. Topics cover the technical elements of fiction writing through lectures and in-class writing exercises that develop dialogue, voice, plot, image, character development, point of view, scene, structure, and other prose skills. Coursework will be further enriched with assignments that students will use in writing more substantial pieces of fiction. Students will learn to critique work from a writer's perspective. Prerequisites: Foundational writing skills are not covered. Students are expected to apply a strong command of syntax, structure, and style according to the course topic.
3 semester credits. This course will allow students to develop foundational vocabulary and grammatical structures in order to communicate in English. Students will develop the key reading, writing, and analytical skills that will enable them to be successful in future levels. They will practice all four skills of language learning – reading, writing, listening, speaking – and be exposed to the English of native speakers via the course instructor and other media focusing on the spoken message in order to comprehend and produce a meaningful response. Students will have the opportunity to practice speaking in structured conversations with their peers. The course involves several projects requiring students to present information to the class using newly acquired language skills. Students will also be asked to read a variety of modified texts to acquire diverse strategies for text comprehension, and have the opportunity to practice grammar structures and new vocabulary by writing a series of short texts. Course content: numbers and time, describing your family, professions, talking about home and where you live, likes and dislikes, shopping, directions, accommodation, travel and transport. Levels covered: A1 and A2
3 semester credits. This intermediate-level course develops linguistic understanding and production by focusing on syntax, continued vocabulary development, reading, listening comprehension, speaking, pronunciation skills, and writing. In this course, students will review grammar fundamentals and progress to more complex elements of grammar and language in order to establish a strong foundation in intermediate-level grammar. Regular speaking and listening practice will build student confidence in dealing with everyday activities such as shopping, ordering at a restaurant, and making social arrangements. Students will develop reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension by reading passages from a variety of sources such as newspapers, magazines, books, and websites. Core vocabulary will be expanding through the study of words commonly used in conversation, reading, and writing to further develop compositional writing skills. Levels covered: B1 Prerequisites: A2 in the CEFR self-assessment grid and/or a beginner/Level 1 English language course.
3 semester credits. This course is designed for upper-level students of the English language who can understand everyday spoken and written English with ease and are confident in most tenses. In this course, students will learn strategies for improving discussion skills and listening comprehension. They will engage with authentic materials and learn how to organize and synthesize information efficiently. Students will also sharpen their linguistic understanding of native English expressed in popular Anglophone culture by engaging in reading, viewing, and listening to cultural readings, popular television series, music, and films. The advanced level further develops reading and writing fluency, accuracy, and comprehension. Through a focus on written composition (including the use of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing), students will understand and evaluate new ideas, emotions, and perspectives found in written texts. Level covered: B2/C1 Prerequisites: B1 in the CEFR self-assessment grid and/or an intermediate/Level 2 English language course.
This online course comprises three sequential modules designed to cultivate essential technological, digital, and information literacy skills within students. The curriculum emphasizes the safe and rigorous navigation of the digital landscape, particularly within an academic environment. Furthermore, it provides foundational instruction in academic writing.
3 semester credits. This is a course for those students interested in autobiographical writing as a means of clarifying their own perception of the world, as an instrument to improve writing skills, and as a source of potential material and ideas for creative writing in both poetry and prose. Students will learn the use of narration and reflection and the distinction between private and personal. Students will regularly share writing exercises with the class for critique and discussion. Reading and analyzing the autobiographical work of major writers will play an integral role in the course. Prerequisites: At least one college writing course or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This class is based on the craft of poetry writing. An important element is the discussion of student poems and the debate on assigned readings featuring major poets. Course topics will be paced to help students to balance the necessary technical skills (rhythm, sound, diction, and shape) with finding their own voice as poets. Students will be required to write and revise a body of original poems and present them for class critique. Prerequisites: Creative Writing, a 300-level writing course, or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course provides students with the fundamental skills of academic writing for undergraduate studies. The aim of the course focuses on the process of writing and how to organize and structure an essay. Students will learn about the phases of preparing (brainstorming, mapping, outlining), drafting, reviewing and revising, and editing papers that successfully analyze topics as required by academic courses and research. Topics also include strategies for improving coherence, discourse, summarization, as well as the proper use and citation of sources.
3 semester credits. This course guides students to further strengthen their skills in argumentative and critical reading, writing, and thought processes. By understanding writing as entering a conversation, students will learn how to effectively communicate and organize their thesis and supporting evidence in a sophisticated and efficient manner. Students will also critically identify and decipher aspects of other arguments, written by their peers and prolific authors. Students will work on a variety of brief and long written assignments that examine how knowledge is produced and distributed according to their discipline of study. Prerequisites: Critical Writing, a 300-level writing course, or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This creative writing course will guide students in finding their own voice as a result of their experiences within the city of Florence. Florence and Tuscany have historically provided inspiration for a substantial number of Anglo-Saxon writers - poets ( Percy Bysshe Shelley, Elizabeth Barrett Browning), novelists (George Eliot, D.H. Lawrence, E.M. Forster, Thomas Harris, Sarah Dunant), and travel writers/memoirists (John Ruskin, Mary McCarthy, David Leavitt). After reading and discussing their work, assignments in the form of short stories, poetry, and non-fiction will focus on finding an individual voice, developing ideas, and refining them through drafting and revision. Emphasis will also be placed on the students' ability to evaluate and critique their own work and that of their peers. Visits within the local community will be an important part of the course. Prerequisites: At least one college writing course or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course provides students with the writing skills necessary to produce various genres of writing, including: academic essays, literary analyses, and reflection journals. Students will reinforce critical thinking and cultural competence through the assessment of different texts and they will rely on peer review as a means to enhance their ability to integrate and deliver constructive feedback. The entire writing process will be explored systematically, and students will have the opportunity to bridge theory and practice by working on a variety of writing projects aimed at strengthening their ideas and voices.
3 semester credits. The first of a two-part series on magazine production, this course gives students a professional magazine production experience as an academic course. Students, under the supervision of faculty members, will curate every phase of production brainstorming, design, writing, photos, editing, layouts, production, and distribution of a professional lifestyle magazine produced by the institution. The magazine and its semiannual format will represent the student's approach to living in Florence and topics such as the arts, gastronomy, travel, style, city scenes, etc. from a cutting edge perspective that seeks to challenge and go beyond the surface of a city. Course projects and activities will interact with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of FUA's campus press Ingorda. This project requires additional hours outside of regularly scheduled class times. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.
3 semester credits. This course is aimed at developing and producing the second magazine project after the first semiannual edition. Students will be challenged to explore deeper and more complex topics related to Florence as well as to take on a leadership role for editorial content and overall magazine layout design. Course projects and activities will interact with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of FUA's campus press Ingorda. This project requires additional hours outside of regularly scheduled class times. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. Prerequisites: A layout design course, publishing course, or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course is aimed at developing and producing the second magazine project after the first semiannual edition. Students will be challenged to explore deeper and more complex topics related to Florence as well as to take on a leadership role for editorial content and overall magazine layout design. Course projects and activities will interact with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of FUA's campus press Ingorda. This project requires additional hours outside of regularly scheduled class times. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management. Prerequisites: A layout design course, publishing course, or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course delves into contemporary photographic practices and technologies. By examining the multi-layered nature of photography today, students will develop a strong foundation in both technical and conceptual aspects of the medium. Core camera skills, including manual exposure and working with available light, are emphasized alongside critical thinking and visual literacy. The course also integrates writing exercises to enhance students’ ability to articulate their visual ideas, analyze the work of others, and engage in critical discourse. The first part of the course focuses on building technical camera proficiency through hands-on practice, lectures, and readings. Students will learn camera functions and image processing techniques. In the second half, these skills will be applied to explore diverse photographic concepts and approaches, towards a culminating project, Tiny Florence, challenges students to create images of the city and fostering creative intimate expression and public engagement. Through writing, students will develop their ability to connect their technical skills with their conceptual understanding and develop a more nuanced and sophisticated approach to photography. NOTE: This course is for beginners. The first half of the course will be devoted to understanding camera functions and basic printing. During this period, assignments will emphasize basic camera functions in manual mode. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management.
3 semester credits. This course introduces writing techniques in the fashion industry. Topics bridge the gap between core writing classes and higher-level fashion courses concentrating on merchandising and promotion by presenting writing strategies intended for the different writing styles required in the industry. Students will learn the methods of effective writing for fashion reports and forecasts, fashion show scripts, public relations, catalogue, direct mail, trade and consumer magazines, and online channels. Case studies illustrate examples of effective and ineffective writing. Course projects and activities will contribute with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of AUF’s campus press Ingorda.
3 semester credits. This course looks at a variety of writing practices required of digital journalists and web writers, both in style and in subject matter. Students will gain experience writing diverse types of stories: investigative, news, feature, editorial, sports, entertainment, etc. They will learn how to write effectively for a targeted audience on a variety of digital platforms (such as websites including online versions of established media and wikis, blogs, applications and social media, multi-user communities and spaces, and smart device communication), document sources in a professional way, evaluate and critique their own publications, and about how online writing affects publication and interacts with social and civic participation. This course will also give students a further understanding of the principles, ethics, and practice of journalism in increasingly digitalized formats. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. Prerequisites: Foundational writing skills are not covered. Students are expected to apply a strong command of syntax, structure, and style according to the course topic.