Prepare for your future with words 

English and Creative Writing majors at Malone all take ENG 308: English in the City in their sophomore or junior year. This class asks students to consider how their study of words can connect with their future in tangible, practical ways. Students will have conversations with members of the Canton community who work with words in some way to build relationships and learn the discourse of the city.

An example of an assignment in this class is the Career Path assignment, which asks students to do the following:

  • Research the necessary qualifications and skills needed for a specific job they are interested in pursuing
  • Spend time practicing a skill they would need to improve for the job
  • Write a resume they could submit to the job
  • Conduct an interview with someone who has a similar job to the one they are interested in

Work in Canton to sharpen your skillset

Each student who takes English in the City spends 8-10 hours working off-campus using writing, editing, and other language arts skills both as a service to the Canton community and to obtain real-world work experience. Students are then asked to reflect on what they learned about the workplace, about the city of Canton, and about the people they encountered. 

This requirement also prepares students for the 3-4 hours of Professional Practice that all English and Creative Writing Majors are required to complete.

Students who have previously taken the class have worked as a blogger for Cracker Barrel, volunteered at a local elementary school library, and led high school students in writing book reviews. We believe that experiences like these help students to reflect on their calling in the world and learn to utilize their abilities to fulfill that calling.