Literature and writing enrich human experience. Literature helps develop our moral imagination; writing is a powerful means of communication and self-expression. Together they help us become more adept at reading the multitude of texts in our lives -- not just poetry and fiction, but essays, political speeches, films, television shows.

Because literature in English springs from many cultures and cultural sub-groups, it offers a unique and powerful way to encounter the experiences, assumptions, and myths of these diverse cultures. In each culture, it often gives voice to radically different experiences. American literature, for example, has been written by African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, as well as by Anglo-Americans.

Students who want to write poetry or fiction approach the heart of human experience through the expressive and intuitive dimensions of language. They also study writing for a practical reason: the ability to write well bestows power. Those who can communicate clearly and effectively achieve success more readily in the business and professional worlds. Citizens who can speak and write forcefully are more likely to influence their communities' and nation's policies. People who can read accurately, and write and speak clearly, impress potential employers, and have an edge in graduate and professional programs leading to careers in law and business.

As experienced readers and writers, Ohio Wesleyan's English majors become skillful questioners, alert to the subtleties and power of language, prepared for a lifetime of critical learning and articulate expression.
 
 
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