With class registration approaching and requirements needing to be filled, freshmen need to choose which type of English 102 course to take. English professors Anita Appelbaum and Monica Bauer can offer an interesting twist to the program.
A theater-focused EN 102 has been offered since 2007, after Appelbaum came to Quinnipiac and presented an unconventional approach to learning the English language as an art form.
“It’s a writing class, not a theater class,” Appelbaum said. “It’s a continuation to EN 101. One of the big differences is what we’re reading and talking about.”
The course has the same requirements as every other EN 102 course, with a final paper and portfolio. However, in this course, there is a $189 course fee to help cover the transportation cost and tickets to see the plays that are studied.
“Our class is based on theater scripts,” Appelbaum said. “We look at what’s being done locally because this is such a theater rich area.”
Students analyze and interpret three plays, and have the chance to see the plays in February, March and April, two are local productions and one is in New York City.
“Students do not need to have any theater background, they just need to come interested in theater,” Appelbaum said.
Sophomore Catherine Morelli went into the course with great expectations of a different take on English.
“It is a fun course that helps you meet your requirements, but you also learn a lot from it,” Morelli said “It’s interactive and a great approach to an English course.”
Sophomore Brittany Berg also took this course, and says she benefitted from the course in a fun way.
“This course was amazing,” Berg said. “It made me look at English through a different perspective, one that I actually liked.”
The expected plays for the spring semester are “Stones in His Pockets” by Marie Jones showing in Yale and “The Curse of the Starving Class” by actor Sam Shepard at Long Wharf Theatre.
“You don’t have to walk in the door with anything but genuine interest about theatre,” Appelbaum said. “We give you all the tools that you need to write well in this course.”
