FYW-1156 Who Speaks Bad English?

Should English be our official language? What is Black English? Who makes the grammar rules we learn in school –and should those rules be changed? Students will be introduced to basic linguistics and use their knowledge to discuss issues from national language policy to attitudes about “ain’t.” Students will study and write about these ideas in ways structured to develop interpretive, analytical, and argumentative writing skills appropriate for college-level work. 4 credits.