USEFUL INFORMATION FOR ALL LIBERAL ARTS ENGLISH ADVISEES

(If you have further questions, please page back and contact your specific advisor)

Graduation: if you plan to apply for graduation in December, 2004, the deadline is May 21, 2004.

• First Meeting: If you haven't met with your advisor yet, you should do so soon. This will give you a chance to review all of your courses, ask questions, and make sure you’re on track toward graduation. If you are changing your major to English, bring the Change of Major Form with you, available here in pdf format or in the English Department Office.

Transfer students should bring a Transfer Evaluation sheet to this meeting, and all students should bring an unofficial copy of their NEIU transcript, both of which can be picked up at the Admissions office.

• English 102 Requirement: If you haven’t already taken Writing II (or transferred in an equivalent course) you should do so as soon as possible. This class will prepare you to handle the research and writing you’ll be required to do in many of your major classes.

• Computer Literacy Requirement: If you haven’t already done so, you must complete this requirement ASAP by going to the library reference desk, signing up for a Computer Literacy class (one hour, one meeting) and taking the test. This is actually a very useful class. Recently, one of our “graduation-hopefuls” almost missed the application deadline because she hadn’t taken it. Racing back from the class, proof in hand, she panted, “I’m so mad at myself for not taking that class three years ago. Knowing how to use all those databases would have helped me with my major classes.”

• Portfolio Requirement: Your "portfolio" is a writing sample from one of your English classes, any critical paper or sample of creative writing (clean copy) which you think shows you at your best as an English major, accompanied by a page-long cover letter explaining your choice. This is for departmental "assessment" of the major and will not be used to evaluate you or to determine whether you graduate or not. You will submit the portfolio to your advisor when you apply for graduation. Click HERE for samples of the required cover-letter for your portfolio.

• Course Record Form: Also due when you apply for graduation, this form is available (click for sample) only in the English office and should be filled out as much as possible before you submit it to your advisor.