English 471 is the capstone theory course for all English writing majors.  The role of the course is to introduce a subject that is both complicated and basic to the discipline of English.  That topic is "Theory."  Though "theory" is the central subject of this course (and therefore you would think the teacher would know what "theory" is), one of our major questions for the semester will be: "What is theory?"  Jonathan Culler's Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction offers some answers to the question of theory.  "What we take for granted as 'common sense,'" writes Culler, "is in fact a historical construction, a particular theory that has come to seem so natural to us that we don't even see it as a theory" (4).  We use theory to understand how things that seem natural to us are constructed by culture. 

William Stobb teaches the course.  He is available by email at westobb@viterbo.edu, by phone at 796-3486, or in person at his office, Murphy Center 538.  For office hours, questions, or further information see William Stobb's homepage.